Franklin Templeton Launches the Franklin Small Cap Enhanced ETF (FSML)

Actively managed FSML blends a proprietary multi-factor model with conviction insights from Franklin Templeton's specialist investment managers

Franklin Templeton, a global investment leader with more than $1.6 trillion in assets under management, today announced the launch of the Franklin Small Cap Enhanced ETF (NYSE:FSML), a new addition to the firm's expanding active ETF lineup in the United States. FSML seeks long-term capital appreciation using a systematic multi-factor investment framework that incorporates a proprietary conviction factor leveraging the insights from Franklin Templeton's specialist managers—an approach designed to offer a more informed and adaptive way to access small-cap opportunities.

FSML is managed by Adrian H. Chan, CFA, Eric Johnson, CFA, and Jacqueline Kenney, CFA, members of the Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions (FTIS) team, the firm's multi-asset and quantitative research unit. The fund invests primarily in equity securities of small-capitalization companies within the Russell 2000 Index universe. Its investment process is built on a proprietary multi-factor model that evaluates companies across quality, value, sentiment, and alternative signals, while incorporating a conviction signal derived from holdings-level views of four Franklin Templeton Specialized Investment Managers: ClearBridge Investments, Franklin Templeton, Royce Investment Partners, and Putnam Investment Management.

A defining feature of the strategy is the proprietary conviction factor, which is derived from benchmark-relative positioning and contributions to risk across the sub-advisors' small-cap portfolios. These insights are incorporated alongside the insights derived from the other four factors leveraged in the portfolio, creating a more nuanced portfolio construction process than traditional factor-only approaches. The strategy is generally rebalanced monthly to maintain its targeted exposures.

"Small-cap markets are shaped by both broad structural forces and company-specific dynamics," said Adrian Chan, Head of Quantitative Investments and Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions. "By systematically capturing well-established factor drivers and integrating the forward-looking perspectives of managers who have navigated small-cap cycles for decades, our approach aims to produce more consistent outcomes in a segment of the market where dispersion is high and informed security selection matters."

"The launch of FSML represents an important milestone in the evolution of our active ETF platform," said David Mann, Head of ETF Product and Capital Markets at Franklin Templeton. "This strategy is a compelling example of how we can connect the quantitative research expertise of FTIS with the real-world conviction of our active managers. By combining systematic insights with the perspectives of seasoned small-cap specialists, we believe FSML offers investors a differentiated way to access small-cap opportunities."

Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80 percent of its net assets in equity securities of small-capitalization companies, including derivatives with similar economic characteristics. The fund may invest up to 10 percent of its assets in foreign securities.

For more information, please visit Franklin Templeton ETFs.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton's mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,600 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and $1.67 trillion in AUM as of November 30, 2025. The Company posts information that may be significant for investors in the Investor Relations and News Center sections of its website, and encourages investors to consult those sections regularly. For more information, please visit investors.franklinresources.com.

Before investing, carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. You can find this and other information in each prospectus, or summary prospectus, if available, at www.franklintempleton.com. Please read it carefully.

The fund is newly organized, with a limited history of operations. Equity securities are subject to price fluctuation and possible loss of principal. International investments are subject to special risks including currency fluctuations, social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. Because this fund expects to hold a concentrated portfolio of securities, and invests in certain regions or industries, it has increased vulnerability to market volatility. These risk considerations are discussed in the prospectus.

ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.

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The Fund has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Fund has filed with the SEC, when available, for more complete information about the Fund and this offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at sec.gov or by visiting franklintempleton.com.

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