Franklin Templeton Investments wins Lipper Fund Awards - Gulf region

The award-winning funds are:

(a) Templeton Global Bond Fund

Ranked first in the Lipper sector "Bond Global" over three years, the Templeton Global Bond Fund seeks to provide superior risk-adjusted total returns consisting of interest income, capital appreciation and currency gains by identifying sources of investment opportunities worldwide.

Launched in February 1991, the Fund is managed by California-based Michael Hasenstab, Portfolio Manager and Senior Vice President, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group. Michael specializes in global macro economic analysis with a focus on currency, interest rates and sovereign credit analysis of developed and emerging markets countries.

(b) Franklin Mutual European Fund

Ranked first in the Lipper sector "Equity Europe" over three years, the Franklin Mutual European Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by primarily investing in equity securities of companies incorporated or having their principal business activities in European countries.

Using the Mutual Series investment process, the Fund may also invest, to a lesser extent, in undervalued or distressed securities or securities of companies that are involved in mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, liquidations and reorganizations.

The Fund follows a unique value style, seeking to invest in securities perceived by the Fund's managers to be trading at a significant discount to their intrinsic value.

Launched in April 2000, the Fund is managed by New-Jersey based Philippe Brugère-Trelat, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Mutual Series. Philippe has over 24 years of experience in the European equity markets and is familiar with the Mutual Series' approach to investing, having begun his career with Mutual Series in 1984.

(c) Franklin Mutual Discovery Fund

Ranked first in the Lipper sector "Equity Global" over three years, the Franklin Mutual Discovery Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation primarily by investing in equity securities of companies around the world. Using the Mutual Series approach to investing, the Fund focuses on mid and large-cap companies.

Launched in October 2005, the Fund is managed by London-based Anne Gudefin, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Mutual Series. Anne has over 20 years of investment management industry experience and specializes in the analysis of European and Asian equities.

In addition to these awards, the Templeton Asian Bond and the Templeton Global Bond Fund, both managed by Michael Hasenstab, were highly commended in the Lipper sectors "Bond Asia Pacific" and "Bond Global" over three and five years respectively.

Vivek Kudva, Managing Director - India & Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa - Franklin Templeton Investments, said:

"We are delighted that Lipper has recognised the strong, consistent performance of the Templeton Global Bond Fund, Franklin Mutual European and Franklin Mutual Discovery Funds, awarding them the top accolade in their respective categories. With over 60 years of investment experience, Franklin Templeton Investments has continuously broadened its expertise with extensive research capabilities across a number of asset classes. We believe these awards are a great reflection of the firm's commitment to deliver consistent long-term risk-adjusted returns to our investors across the globe."

The Lipper Fund Awards are awarded to funds in 21 countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Lipper designates award-winning funds in most individual classifications for the one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods. Only one fund is honored for each category per performance period.

The branch of Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited in Dubai is authorized and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority and regulated in Dubai by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Franklin Resources, Inc., 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 over $377bn in assets under management as of 28 February 2009.