Franklin Templeton is to get rid of its Martin Currie branding and fold them into the wider Franklin Templeton Group.
The firm acquired the global equity player in 2020 as part of its acquisition of Legg Mason, and it has operated as an independent specialist asset manager with US$18 billion in assets under management.
Under the changes, the firm’s Australian, UK and global emerging markets investment and sustainability teams at Martin Currie will move under ClearBridge Investments, while its global long-term unconstrained team will move under Franklin Equity Group.
Martin Currie’s local and offshore equity expertise is “highly complementary” with ClearBridge’s investment approach and product offering, it said. In Australia, ClearBridge is best known for its integration of the RARE Infrastructure business.
A spokesperson confirmed the changes and said there will be no change to the investment processes or portfolio management teams.
“This alignment reflects Franklin Templeton’s commitment to optimising organisational efficiency while maintaining a strong focus on client needs.
“This new structure optimises the combined strengths of Martin Currie, ClearBridge Investments and Franklin Equity Group. While Martin Currie’s investment teams will maintain their established investment autonomy and processes, all teams will benefit from broader resources, greater scale and enhanced operational efficiencies. The alignment underscores the firm’s focus on meeting evolving client needs while reinforcing its commitment to investment excellence.”
Subject to necessary approvals, the change is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
