Franklin US Opportunities A(acc)SGD-H1 |



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Anthony Hardy will join the Franklin US Opportunities strategy as an additional portfolio manager effective Oct. 1, 2024. Hardy, who has been with Franklin for nearly 10 years as a research analyst covering traditional financials and fintech, brings valuable research experience. However, this will be his first role as a portfolio manager, making his performance in this capacity a key area to monitor. In addition to his new portfolio manager responsibilities, Hardy will also serve as the dedicated analyst for the strategy while maintaining his current sector coverage. Balancing these multiple roles will be essential, and it will be important to observe how effectively he contributes to portfolio construction and stock selection over time. This will be a critical watchpoint as the team navigates these changes. Co-portfolio manager Sara Araghi has also reduced her workload, transferring most of her sector responsibilities to another analyst while continuing to cover the apparel industry. Her reduced involvement with Franklin’s venture capital group allows her to focus more on the research process, which has faced challenges in the past. In summary, while these adjustments are positive steps, it remains to be seen how Hardy’s role as a new portfolio manager, Araghi’s increased capacity, and Grant Bowers’ continued status as lead portfolio manager will impact the overall team dynamics and address the concerns we raised about the investment process in our last review. We will continue to monitor these developments closely and provide further updates in our next review. |
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