UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM N-Q
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
Investment Company Act file number 811-04985
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (954) 527-7500
Date of fiscal year end: 8/31
Date of reporting period: _05/31/17_
Item 1. Schedule of Investments.
TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Quarterly Statement of Investments | See Notes to Statement of Investments. | 1
TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
See Abbreviations on page 8.
Rounds to less than 0.1% of net assets.
aNon-income producing.
bSecurity was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, which exempts from registration securities offered and sold outside of the United States.
Such a security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption
from registration. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Funds Board of Trustees. At May 31, 2017, the aggregate value of these
securities was $4,738,408, representing 1.6% of net assets.
cVariable rate security. The rate shown represents the yield at period end.
dSee Note 5 regarding investments in affiliated management investment companies.
eThe rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
Notes to Statement of Investments (unaudited)
1. ORGANIZATION
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) as a closed-end management investment company and applies the specialized accounting and reporting guidance in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).
2. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT VALUATION
The Fund’s investments in financial instruments are carried at fair value daily. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Fund calculates the net asset value (NAV) per share as of 4 p.m. Eastern time each day the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading. Under compliance policies and procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board), the Fund’s administrator has responsibility for oversight of valuation, including leading the cross-functional Valuation Committee (VC). The VC provides administration and oversight of the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures, which are approved annually by the Board. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value.
Equity securities listed on an exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System are valued at the last quoted sale price or the official closing price of the day, respectively. Foreign equity securities are valued as of the close of trading on the foreign stock exchange on which the security is primarily traded or as of 4 p.m. Eastern time. The value is then converted into its U.S. dollar equivalent at the foreign exchange rate in effect at 4 p.m. Eastern time on the day that the value of the security is determined. Over-the-counter (OTC) securities are valued within the range of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices. Securities that trade in multiple markets or on multiple exchanges are valued according to the broadest and most representative market. Certain equity securities are valued based upon fundamental characteristics or relationships to similar securities.
Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at the closing NAV.
The Fund has procedures to determine the fair value of financial instruments for which market prices are not reliable or readily available. Under these procedures, the VC convenes on a regular basis to review such financial instruments and considers a number of factors, including significant unobservable valuation inputs, when arriving at fair value. The VC primarily employs a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, and other relevant information for the investment to determine the fair value of the investment. An income-based valuation approach may also be used in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The VC employs various methods for calibrating these valuation approaches including a regular review of key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis, and reviews of any related market activity.
Trading in securities on foreign securities stock exchanges and OTC markets may be completed before 4 p.m. Eastern time. In addition, trading in certain foreign markets may not take place on every Fund’s business day. Occasionally, events occur between the time at which trading in a foreign security is completed and 4 p.m. Eastern time that might call into question the reliability of the value of a portfolio security held by the Fund. As a result, differences may arise between the value of the Fund’s portfolio securities as determined at the foreign market close and the latest indications of value at 4 p.m. Eastern time. In order to minimize the potential for these differences, the VC monitors price movements following the close of trading in foreign stock markets through a series of country specific market proxies (such as baskets of American Depositary Receipts, futures contracts and exchange traded
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
2. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT VALUATION (continued)
funds). These price movements are measured against established trigger thresholds for each specific market proxy to assist in determining if an event has occurred that may call into question the reliability of the values of the foreign securities held by the Fund. If such an event occurs, the securities may be valued using fair value procedures, which may include the use of independent pricing services.
When the last day of the reporting period is a non-business day, certain foreign markets may be open on those days that the Funds NAV is not calculated, which could result in differences between the value of the Funds portfolio securities on the last business day and the last calendar day of the reporting period. Any significant security valuation changes due to an open foreign market are adjusted and reflected by the Fund for financial reporting purposes.
3. INCOME TAXES
At May 31, 2017, the cost of investments and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for income tax purposes were as follows:
4. CONCENTRATION OF RISK
Investing in foreign securities may include certain risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities, such as fluctuating currency values and changing local and regional economic, political and social conditions, which may result in greater market volatility. In addition, certain foreign securities may not be as liquid as U.S. securities.
The United States and other nations have imposed and could impose additional sanctions on certain issuers in Russia due to regional conflicts. These sanctions could result in the devaluation of Russias currency, a downgrade in Russian issuers credit ratings, or a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian stocks or other securities. Such sanctions could also adversely affect Russias economy, possibly forcing the economy into a recession. The Fund may be prohibited from investing in securities issued by companies subject to such sanctions. In addition, if the Fund holds the securities of an issuer that is subject to such sanctions, an immediate freeze of that issuers securities could result, impairing the ability of the Fund to buy, sell, receive or deliver those securities. There is also the risk that countermeasures could be taken by Russias government, which could involve the seizure of the Funds assets. These risks could affect the value of the Funds portfolio. While the Fund holds securities of certain companies impacted by the sanctions, the restrictions do not impact the existing investments in those issuers. At May 31, 2017, the Fund had 8.7% of its net assets invested in Russia.
5. INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
The Fund invests in one or more affiliated management investment companies for purposes other than exercising a controlling influence over the management or policies. During the period ended May 31, 2017, the Fund held investments in affiliated management investment companies as follows:
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Fund follows a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Fund’s own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s financial instruments and are summarized in the following fair value hierarchy:
The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level.
For movements between the levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing the transfers as of the date of the underlying event which caused the movement.
A summary of inputs used as of May 31, 2017, in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value, is as follows:
aIncludes common and preferred stocks.
bFor detailed categories, see the accompanying Statement of Investments.
A reconciliation of assets in which Level 3 inputs are used in determining fair value is presented when there are significant Level 3 financial instruments at the end of the period.
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TEMPLETON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED)
7. INVESTMENT COMPANY REPORTING MODERNIZATION
In October 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted new rules and amended existing rules (together, final rules) intended to modernize the reporting and disclosure of information by registered investment companies. In part, the final rules amend Regulation S-X and require standardized, enhanced disclosures about derivatives in investment company financial statements, as well as other amendments. The compliance date for the amendments to Regulation S-X is August 1, 2017. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes the adoption of the amendments to Regulation S-X will not have a material impact on the Funds financial statements and related disclosures.
8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Fund has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of the Statement of Investments and determined that no events have occurred that require disclosure.
For additional information on the Funds significant accounting policies, please refer to the Funds most recent semiannual or annual shareholder report.
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Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Quarterly Schedule of Portfolio Holdings on Form N-Q, the Registrant had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant’s management, including the Registrant’s principal executive officer and the Registrant’s principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls. There have been no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect the internal controls over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation in connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Schedule of Portfolio Holdings on Form N-Q.
Item 3. Exhibits.
(a) Certification pursuant to Section 30a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 of Matthew T. Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Robert G. Kubilis, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
By _/s/Matthew T. Hinkle__
Matthew T. Hinkle
Chief Executive Officer –
Finance and Administration
Date July 27, 2017
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By _/s/Matthew T. Hinkle__
Matthew T. Hinkle
Chief Executive Officer –
Finance and Administration
Date July 27, 2017
By _/s/Robert G. Kubilis_
Robert G. Kubilis
Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Accounting Officer
Date July 27, 2017