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SUMMARY PROSPECTUS

 

Templeton Developing Markets Trust

May 1, 2021  

Franklin Templeton


Class A Class C Class R Class R6 Advisor Class
TEDMX TDMTX TDMRX FDEVX TDADX
 


Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s prospectus, statement of additional information, reports to shareholders and other information about the Fund online at www.franklintempleton.com/prospectus. You can also get this information at no cost by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236 or by sending an e-mail request to prospectus@franklintempleton.com. The Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, both dated May 1, 2021, as may be supplemented, are all incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.



Investment Goal

Long-term capital appreciation.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Franklin Templeton funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and under “Your Account” on page 34 in the Fund's Prospectus and under “Buying and Selling Shares” on page 55 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. In addition, more information about sales charge discounts and waivers for purchases of shares through specific financial intermediaries is set forth in Appendix A - "Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" to the Fund's prospectus.

Please note that the tables and examples below do not reflect any transaction fees that may be charged by financial intermediaries, or commissions that a shareholder may be required to pay directly to its financial intermediary when buying or selling Class R6 or Advisor Class shares.


Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

    Class A  Class C  Class R  Class R6  Advisor Class 
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as percentage of offering price)  5.50%  None  None  None  None 
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as percentage of the lower of original purchase price or sale proceeds)  None1  1.00%  None  None  None 

1. There is a 1% contingent deferred sales charge that applies to investments of $1 million or more (see "Investments of $1 Million or More" under "Choosing a Share Class") and purchases by certain retirement plans without an initial sales charge on shares sold within 18 months of purchase.


Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

    Class A  Class C  Class R  Class R6  Advisor Class 
Management fees  1.04%  1.04%  1.04%  1.04%  1.04% 
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees  0.25%  1.00%  0.50%  None  None 
Other expenses  0.23%  0.23%  0.23%  0.10%1  0.23% 
Total annual Fund operating expenses  1.52%  2.27%  1.77%  1.14%1  1.27% 
Fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement2  -0.14%  -0.14%  -0.14%  -0.14%  -0.14% 
Total annual Fund operating expenses after fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement1, 2  1.38%  2.13%  1.63%  1.00%  1.13% 

1. The transfer agent has contractually agreed to cap transfer agency fees for Class R6 shares of the Fund so that transfer agency fees for that class do not exceed 0.03% until April 30, 2022. During the term, this fee waiver and expense reimbursement agreement may not be terminated or amended without approval of the board of trustees except to add series and classes, to reflect the extension of termination dates or to lower the cap on Fund’s fees and expenses (which would result in lower fees for shareholders).

2. The investment manager has contractually agreed to waive or assume certain expenses so that operating expenses (excluding Rule 12b-1 fees, acquired fund fees and expenses and certain non-routine expenses) for each class of the Fund do not exceed 1.13% until April 30, 2022. During the term, this fee waiver and expense reimbursement agreement may not be terminated or amended without approval of the board of trustees except to add series and classes, to reflect the extension of termination dates or to lower the cap on Fund's fees and expenses (which would result in lower fees for shareholders).

Example

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. The Example reflects adjustments made to the Fund's operating expenses due to the fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements by management for the 1 Year numbers only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

    1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years 
Class A    $ 683  $ 991  $ 1,321  $ 2,252 
Class C    $ 316  $ 696  $ 1,203  $ 2,596 
Class R    $ 166  $ 544  $ 946  $ 2,073 
Class R6    $ 102  $ 348  $ 614  $ 1,374 
Advisor Class    $ 115  $ 389  $ 684  $ 1,522 
If you do not sell your shares: 
Class C    $ 216  $ 696  $ 1,203  $ 2,596 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 18.58% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in securities of companies located or operating in "developing market countries." Developing market countries include those considered to be developing by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the United Nations, or the countries' authorities; countries with a stock market capitalization of less than 3% of the MSCI World Index; or countries included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index or the MSCI Frontier Markets Index. These countries typically are located in the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa. The Fund invests primarily in the equity securities of developing market companies, principally common and preferred stocks.

The Fund's investments in equity securities may include investments in the securities of companies of any capitalization, including small and mid capitalization companies. The Fund also invests in American, Global, and European Depositary Receipts. The Fund, from time to time, may have significant investments in one or more countries, such as China or South Korea, or in particular industries or sectors, such as information technology, based on economic conditions. In addition to the Fund's main investments, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in the securities of issuers in developed market countries.

The Fund is a "non-diversified" fund, which means it generally invests a greater portion of its assets in the securities of one or more issuers and invests overall in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. It is anticipated that the Fund typically will hold the securities of approximately 50-90 issuers.

When choosing equity investments for the Fund, the investment manager applies a fundamental research, value-oriented, long-term approach, focusing on the market price of a company’s securities relative to the investment manager's evaluation of the company's long-term earnings, asset value, cash flow potential, and sustainable earnings power at a discount to intrinsic worth. The investment manager also considers a company’s profit and loss outlook, balance sheet strength, cash flow trends and asset value in relation to the current price of the company's securities.

The investment manager may consider selling an equity security when it believes the security has become overvalued due to either its price appreciation or changes in the company's fundamentals, or when the investment manager believes another security is a more attractive investment opportunity.

Principal Risks

You could lose money by investing in the Fund. Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

Market   The market values of securities or other investments owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The market value of a security or other investment may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all investments. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.

The current global outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has resulted in market closures and dislocations, extreme volatility, liquidity constraints and increased trading costs. Efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in global travel restrictions and disruptions of healthcare systems, business operations and supply chains, layoffs, reduced consumer demand, defaults and credit ratings downgrades, and other significant economic impacts. The effects of COVID-19 have impacted global economic activity across many industries and may heighten other pre-existing political, social and economic risks, locally or globally. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is unpredictable and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

Stock prices tend to go up and down more dramatically than those of debt securities. A slower-growth or recessionary economic environment could have an adverse effect on the prices of the various stocks held by the Fund.

Foreign Securities (non-U.S.)   Investing in foreign securities typically involves more risks than investing in U.S. securities, and includes risks associated with: (i) internal and external political and economic developments – e.g., the political, economic and social policies and structures of some foreign countries may be less stable and more volatile than those in the U.S. or some foreign countries may be subject to trading restrictions or economic sanctions; (ii) trading practices – e.g., government supervision and regulation of foreign securities and currency markets, trading systems and brokers may be less than in the U.S.; (iii) availability of information – e.g., foreign issuers may not be subject to the same disclosure, accounting and financial reporting standards and practices as U.S. issuers; (iv) limited markets – e.g., the securities of certain foreign issuers may be less liquid (harder to sell) and more volatile; and (v) currency exchange rate fluctuations and policies. The risks of foreign investments may be greater in developing or emerging market countries.

There are special risks associated with investments in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization and exchange control regulations (including currency blockage). Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation and interest rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economy and securities markets of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In addition, investments in Taiwan and Hong Kong could be adversely affected by their respective political and economic relationship with China. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are deemed by the investment manager to be emerging markets countries, which means an investment in these countries has more heightened risks than general foreign investing due to a lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks in these countries to support securities markets as well as the possibility for more widespread corruption and fraud. In addition, the standards for environmental, social and corporate governance matters in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan tend to be lower than such standards in more developed economies.

Trade disputes and the imposition of tariffs on goods and services can affect the economies of countries in which the Fund invests, particularly those countries with large export sectors, as well as the global economy. Trade disputes can result in increased costs of production and reduced profitability for non-export-dependent companies that rely on imports to the extent a country engages in retaliatory tariffs. Trade disputes may also lead to increased currency exchange rate volatility.

Investments in South Korean issuers may subject the Fund to legal, regulatory, political, currency, security, and economic risks that are specific to South Korea. In addition, economic and political developments of South Korea’s neighbors or potential hostilities with North Korea may have an adverse effect on the South Korean economy.

Developing Market Countries   The Fund’s investments in securities of issuers in developing market countries are subject to all of the risks of foreign investing generally, and have additional heightened risks due to a lack of established legal, political, business and social frameworks to support securities markets, including: delays in settling portfolio securities transactions; currency and capital controls; greater sensitivity to interest rate changes; pervasiveness of corruption and crime; currency exchange rate volatility; and inflation, deflation or currency devaluation.

The risks of investing in traditional developing markets are magnified in frontier markets countries (which are a subset of developing markets countries) because they generally have smaller economies and less developed capital markets than in traditional developing markets.

Focus   To the extent that the Fund focuses on particular countries, regions, industries, sectors or types of investment from time to time, the Fund may be subject to greater risks of adverse developments in such areas of focus than a fund that invests in a wider variety of countries, regions, industries, sectors or investments.

Information technology companies   Companies operating within information technology related industries may be affected by worldwide technological developments, the success of their products and services (which may be outdated quickly), and investor perception of the company and/or its products or services. These companies typically face intense competition and potentially rapid product obsolescence. They may also have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. Technology companies are also heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by loss or impairment of those rights. Technology companies are also potential targets for cyberattacks, which can have a materially adverse impact on the performance of these companies. The customers and/or suppliers of technology companies may be concentrated in a particular country, region or industry. Any adverse event affecting one of these countries, regions or industries could have a negative impact on these companies.

Small and Mid Capitalization Companies   Securities issued by small and mid capitalization companies may be more volatile in price than those of larger companies and may involve additional risks. Such risks may include greater sensitivity to economic conditions, less certain growth prospects, lack of depth of management and funds for growth and development, and limited or less developed product lines and markets. In addition, small and mid capitalization companies may be particularly affected by interest rate increases, as they may find it more difficult to borrow money to continue or expand operations, or may have difficulty in repaying any loans.

Non-Diversification   Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more sensitive to economic, business, political or other changes affecting individual issuers or investments than a diversified fund, which may result in greater fluctuation in the value of the Fund’s shares.

Value Investing   A value stock may not increase in price as anticipated by the investment manager if other investors fail to recognize the company's value and bid up the price, the markets favor faster-growing companies, or the factors that the investment manager believes will increase the price of the security do not occur or do not have the anticipated effect.

Management   The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.

Performance

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable, compared with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.

The secondary index in the table below shows how the Fund's performance compares to a group of securities in an additional leading emerging markets index.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Class A Annual Total Returns


Best Quarter:  Q4'20  19.44% 
Worst Quarter:  Q1'20  -24.68% 
As of March 31, 2021, the Fund's year-to-date return was 5.59%. 


Average Annual Total Returns
(figures reflect sales charges)

For the periods ended December 31, 2020

    1 Year  5 Years  10 Years 
Templeton Developing Markets Trust - Class A         
         Return Before Taxes  12.14%  14.44%  3.13% 
         Return After Taxes on Distributions  11.47%  14.01%  2.44% 
         Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares  7.61%  11.67%  2.40% 
Templeton Developing Markets Trust - Class C    16.79%  14.88%  2.96% 
Templeton Developing Markets Trust - Class R    18.43%  15.45%  3.48% 
Templeton Developing Markets Trust - Class R6    19.16%  16.22%  5.88%1 
Templeton Developing Markets Trust - Advisor Class    19.01%  16.02%  4.00% 
MSCI Emerging Markets Index-NR (index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  18.31%  12.80%  3.63% 
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  18.69%  13.21%  4.00% 

1. Since inception May 1, 2013.

No one index is representative of the Fund's portfolio.

The after-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown only for Class A and after-tax returns for other classes will vary.

The figures in the average annual total returns table above reflect the Class A maximum front-end sales charge of 5.50%. Prior to September 10, 2018, Class A shares were subject to a maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75%. If the prior maximum front-end sales charge of 5.75% was reflected, performance for Class A in the average annual total returns table would be lower.

Investment Manager

Templeton Asset Management Ltd. (Asset Management)

Sub-Advisor

Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited (FTIML)

Portfolio Manager

Chetan Sehgal, CFA   Portfolio manager of Asset Management and portfolio manager of the Fund since 2017.

Andrew Ness, CFA   Portfolio Manager of FTIML and portfolio manager of the Fund since November 2020.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares of the Fund on any business day online through our website at franklintempleton.com, by mail (Franklin Templeton Investor Services, P.O. Box 33030, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-8030), or by telephone at (800) 632-2301. For Class A, C and R, the minimum initial purchase for most accounts is $1,000 (or $25 under an automatic investment plan). Class R6 and Advisor Class are only available to certain qualified investors and the minimum initial investment will vary depending on the type of qualified investor, as described under "Your Account — Choosing a Share Class — Qualified Investors — Class R6" and "— Advisor Class" in the Fund's prospectus. There is no minimum investment for subsequent purchases.

Taxes

The Fund’s distributions are generally taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account, in which case your distributions would generally be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and
Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.


Franklin Templeton

Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.
One Franklin Parkway
San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
franklintempleton.com

Templeton Developing Markets Trust

Investment Company Act file #811-06378

© 2021 Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

711 PSUM 05/21

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