BEN Franklin Resources Inc

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.)*

FRANKLIN BSP REAL ESTATE DEBT BDC  

(Name of Issuer)

Common Shares, par value $0.001 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

Not Applicable

(CUSIP Number)

Thomas C. Mandia

Assistant Secretary

Franklin Resources, Inc.

One Franklin Parkway

San Mateo, CA 94403

800‑632‑2350

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to

Receive Notices and Communications)

July 3, 2024

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d‑1(e), 240.13d‑1(f) or

240.13d‑1(g), check the following box.[  ]

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d‑7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the notes hereto).

1.                  NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

             Franklin Resources, Inc.    

      2.     CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

             (a)

             (b) X

      3.     SEC USE ONLY

      4.     SOURCE OF FUNDS

             WC

      5.     CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED

             PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)[ ]

      6.     CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

             Delaware

      NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

      7.     SOLE VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      8.     SHARED VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      9.     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      10.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      11.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

            6,547,746

      12.    CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES

             CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

      13.    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

             100.0%

      14.    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

             HC, CO (See Item 5)

1.   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

             Charles B. Johnson¹

      2.     CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

             (a)

             (b) X

      3.     SEC USE ONLY

      4.     SOURCE OF FUNDS

             AF

      5.     CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED

             PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)[ ]

      6.     CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

             USA

      NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

      7.     SOLE VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      8.     SHARED VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      9.     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      10.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      11.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

            (See Item 5)

      12.    CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES

             CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

      13.    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

             (See Item 5)

      14.    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

             HC,IN

1.   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

             Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.²

      2.     CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

             (a)

             (b) X

      3.     SEC USE ONLY

      4.     SOURCE OF FUNDS

             AF

      5.     CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED

             PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)[ ]

      6.     CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

             USA

      NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

      7.     SOLE VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      8.     SHARED VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      9.     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      10.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      11.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

            (See Item 5)

      12.    CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES

             CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

      13.    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

             (See Item 5)

      14.    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

             HC,IN (See Item 5)

1.       NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

             Franklin Advisers, Inc.

      2.     CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

             (a)

             (b) X

      3.     SEC USE ONLY

      4.     SOURCE OF FUNDS

             OO, WC

      5.     CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED

             PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2I[ ]

      6.     CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

             California

      NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

      7.     SOLE VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      8.     SHARED VOTING POWER

             (See Item 5)

      9.     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

            (See Item 5)

      10.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

             (See Item 5)

      11.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

             6,547,416

      12.    CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES

             CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

      13.    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

             100.0%

      14.    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

             IA,CO (See Item 5)

Item 1. Security and Issuer

This statement relates to Common Shares, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”) of FRANKLIN BSP REAL ESTATE DEBT BDC , a Delaware Statutory Trust (the "Issuer"). The Issuer’s principal executive office is located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 32A, New York, New York 10105.

      Item 2.  Identity and Background

(a), (f)  This Schedule 13D is being filed by Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”), a Delaware corporation, Charles B. Johnson (“C. Johnson”), Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (“R. Johnson, Jr.”), and Franklin Advisers, Inc. (“FAV”), a California corporation (FAV, and together with FRI, C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr., the “Reporting Persons”).  FAV is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of FRI.  C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. are the principal stockholders of FRI. R. Johnson, Jr. is also the Vice Chairman of FRI and C. Johnson is an Executive Consultant to FRI.  C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. are citizens of the United States.

(b)   The address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons is One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, California 94403-1906.  The principal executive officers, directors and principal stockholders of FRI and FAV, their present principal occupations, citizenship and business addresses are listed on Exhibit B.

(c)  The principal business of FRI is to act as a holding company for various subsidiaries engaged in the investment management and related services business. The principal business of FAV is investment management. The principal occupation of each of C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. are listed on Exhibit B.

(d)  During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of the persons listed on Exhibit B, has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)  During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of the persons listed on Exhibit B, was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

The Reporting Persons have invested in the Issuer as follows:

• BSP Fund Holdco (Debt Strategy)L.P.(“Holdco”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of FRI, acquired 60 Shares on June 20, 2024 (prior to the Form 10 of the Issuer becoming effective) for its own account, using its own working capital, for a purchase price of $1,500.00. 

• FAV is the investment adviser to various funds which acquired a total of 6,547,416 Shares, of which 4,199,939 Shares were acquired on June 20, 2024 (prior to the Form 10 of the Issuer becoming effective) and 2,347,417 were acquired on July 3, 2024.  Such Shares were acquired, using their own own working capital, for an aggregate purchase price of $164,998,453.50.

      Item 4.   Purpose of Transaction

Holdco acquired the Shares for investment and to support the Issuer in its investment strategy.  The various funds of which FAV is the investment adviser acquired the Shares for investment purposes.

Except as described above, none of the investment management subsidiaries of FRI, and none of any of the other reporting persons covered by this Schedule 13D, currently has any plans or proposals that relate to or would result in any of the actions described in paragraphs (a) through (j) of the instructions to Item 4 of Schedule 13D, or any present plans or intentions to acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer.

      Item 5.    Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a-b) See cover pages.  FRI is filing this report for itself and its affiliates.  FRI and its investment management subsidiary, FAV, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares for which FAV is the investment adviser pursuant to investment management contracts that grant investment and/or voting power to FAV for purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"). When an investment management contract (including a sub-advisory agreement) delegates to FAV investment discretion or voting power over the securities held in the investment advisory accounts that are subject to that agreement, FRI treats FAV as having sole investment discretion or voting authority, as the case may be, unless the agreement specifies otherwise.

Beneficial ownership by FRI and its affiliates is being reported herein in conformity with the guidelines articulated by the SEC staff in Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998) (the “1998 Release ”) relating to organizations, such as FRI, where related entities exercise voting and investment powers over the securities being reported independently from each other. The voting and investment powers held by each of FRI's affiliates whose ownership of securities is disaggregated from that of FRI in accordance with the 1998 Release ("FRI Disaggregated Affiliates") are exercised independently from FRI and from all other investment management subsidiaries of FRI (FRI, its affiliates and the investment management subsidiaries of FRI other than FRI Disaggregated Affiliates are collectively, "FRI Aggregated Affiliates").  Furthermore, internal policies and procedures of, on the one hand, FRI Disaggregated Affiliates, and, on the other hand, FRI, establish informational barriers that prevent the flow among, on the one hand, FRI Disaggregated Affiliates (including preventing the flow between such entities), and, on the other hand, the FRI Aggregated Affiliates, of information that relates to the voting and investment powers over the securities owned by their respective investment management clients. Consequently, FRI Disaggregated Affiliates report the securities over which they hold investment and voting power separately from the FRI Aggregated Affiliates for purposes of Section 13 of the Act.

C. Johnson and R. Johnson, Jr. (the “Principal Shareholders”) each own in excess of 10% of FRI’s outstanding common stock and are the principal stockholders of FRI.  The Principal Shareholders may be deemed to be, for

purposes of Rule 13d‑3 under the Act, the beneficial owners of securities held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of FRI.  FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and FAV disclaim any pecuniary interest in any of the Shares reported herein, except as reported herein.  In addition, the filing of the Schedule 13D on behalf of FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and FAV should not be construed as an admission that any of them is, and each disclaims that it or he is, the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3, of any of the Shares, except as reported herein.

FRI, FAV, and the Principal Shareholders believe that they are not a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5 under the Act and that they are not otherwise required to attribute to each other the beneficial ownership of the Shares held by any of them. 

The number of Shares as to which each reporting person on this Schedule 13D has:

(i)Sole power to vote or to direct the vote of the Shares:

      Franklin Resources, Inc.:                                                                   0

      Charles B. Johnson:                                                                         0

      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:                                                                     0

      Franklin Advisers, Inc.:                                                            6,547,416

      BSP Fund HoldCo (Debt Strategy) L.P.:                                                      60

(ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote of the Shares                                    0

(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the Shares:

      Franklin Resources, Inc.:                                                                   0

      Charles B. Johnson:                                                                         0

      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:                                                                     0

      Franklin Advisers, Inc.:                                                            6,547,416

      BSP Fund HoldCo (Debt Strategy) L.P.:                                                      60

(iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the Shares:                         0

      (c)    Except as set forth in Exhibit D, none of the Reporting Persons have effected any transactions in the Shares during the past sixty days.

      (d)    The clients of FRI’s investment management subsidiaries, including investment companies registered under

             the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or power to

             direct the receipt of dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein.

             Franklin Income Fund, a series of Franklin Custodian Funds, an investment company registered under the

             1940 Act, has an interest in 6,217,869 shares, or 95.0%, of the class of securities

             reported herein.

      (e)     Not Applicable

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of

      the Issuer. 

Holdco and various funds of which FAV is the investment adviser made a capital commitment (the “Capital Commitments”) to purchase the Shares pursuant to a Subscription Agreement. Each subscriber is required to make capital contributions to purchase the Shares each time the Issuer delivers a drawdown notice, to be delivered at least ten business days prior to the required funding date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed their respective Capital Commitments. All purchases will generally be made pro rata in accordance with the Capital Commitments, at a per-share price as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Issuer in accordance with the limitations under Section 23 of the 1940 Act(which generally prohibits the Issuer from issuing Shares at a price below the then-current net asset value of the Shares as determined within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays, of such issuance (taking into account any investment valuation adjustments from the latest quarterly valuation date in accordance with the Issuer’s valuation policy, subject to certain exceptions); provided that the Issuer retains the right to make non-pro rata capital drawdowns for any reason in the Issuer’s sole discretion, including, without limitation, if the Issuer determines that it is necessary or advisable in light of applicable legal, tax, regulatory and other considerations, such as to comply with Section 12d(1) of the 1940 Act or the ownership limits as set forth in the Issuer’s Declaration of Trust. As set forth in each Subscription Agreement, in the event that there is a failure to pay all or any portion of a drawdown purchase price pursuant to a drawdown notice, and such default remains uncured for a period of thirty days, the Issuer will be permitted to pursue any remedies against the defaulting subscriber available under the Subscription Agreement or at law or at equity, including prohibiting the defaulting subscriber from purchasing additional Shares or causing the defaulting subscriber to forfeit 50% of the defaulting subscriber’s Shares to the other shareholders.

The obligation to purchase additional Shares will be released on the earlier of (i) the date that a Capital Commitment is fully called and (ii) the 18-month anniversary of the initial closing date under the Subscription Agreement, except to the extent deemed necessary by the investment advisor to the Issuer to preserve or enhance the value of the Issuer’s existing investments.

The Issuer may, at any time, and without further notice to or consent from any subscriber, grant security over, and, in connection therewith, transfer its right to draw down capital from any subscriber, and the Issuer’s right to receive the drawdown share purchase price (and any related rights of the Issuer), to lenders or other creditors of the Issuer, in connection with any indebtedness, guarantee or surety of the Issuer.

The Shares may not be transferred unless they are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from such registration thereunder is available.

      Item 7.    Material to be Filed as Exhibits. 

      Exhibit A:  Joint Filing Agreement

      Exhibit B:  Principal Executive Officers, Directors, and Principal Stockholders of FRI and FAV

      Exhibit C:   Limited Powers of Attorney for Section 13 Reporting Obligations

      Exhibit D:  Transactions in the past 60 Days.

      Exhibit E:  Form of Subscription Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Issuer’s Amendment No. 1 to Form 10 filed on June 13, 2024.

                                             Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set

forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

       Dated: July 11, 2024

Franklin Resources, Inc.

Charles B. Johnson

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

Franklin Advisers, Inc.

By:           /s/THOMAS C. MANDIA

                                 ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

                                 Thomas C. Mandia

                                 Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

                                 Attorney‑in‑Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Power of Attorney

                                 attached to this Schedule 13D

                                 Attorney‑in‑Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Power of Attorney

                                attached to this Schedule 13D

               Assistant Secretary of Franklin Advisers, Inc.

Franklin Custodian Funds on behalf of

                     Franklin Income Fund

By:           /s/ALISON E. BAUR

                                 ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

                                 Alison E. Baur

                                 Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Franklin Custodian Funds

EXHIBIT A

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

In accordance with Rule 13d‑1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing with each other of the attached statement on Schedule 13D and to all amendments to such statement and that such statement and all amendments to such statement are made on behalf of each of them.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement on July 11, 2024.

Franklin Resources, Inc.

Charles B. Johnson

Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

Franklin Advisers, Inc.

By:           /s/THOMAS C. MANDIA

                                 ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

                                 Thomas C. Mandia

                                 Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

                                 Attorney‑in‑Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Power of Attorney

                                 attached to this Schedule 13D

                                 Attorney‑in‑Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Power of Attorney

                                attached to this Schedule 13D

               Assistant Secretary of Franklin Advisers, Inc.

Franklin Custodian Funds on behalf of

                     Franklin Income Fund

By:            /s/ALISON E. BAUR

                                 ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

                                 Alison E. Baur

                                 Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Franklin Custodian Funds

                                                  EXHIBIT B

          PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS OF FRI AND FAV

Except where otherwise noted, each of the individuals named below is a citizen of the

United States with a principal business address as indicated below.

     FRI:     Franklin Resources, Inc.

              One Franklin Parkway

              San Mateo, CA 94403‑1906

     FRI is primarily engaged, through various subsidiaries, in providing investment management to the open-end investment companies in the Franklin Group of Funds and the Templeton Family of Funds and to domestic and international managed and institutional accounts.  FRI’s principal line of business is providing investment management, administration, distribution and related services to the Franklin Templeton Funds, managed accounts and other investment products. 

     FAV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FRI. Its principal business is at One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403 and its principal line of business is investment management.

EXHIBIT C

LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

FOR SECTION 13 AND 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

               Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Alison E. Baur, Thomas C. Mandia, Beth McAuley O’Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H. Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas and Navid J. Tofigh each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

      1. prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms ID, Schedules 13D and 13G, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto and any related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges relating to Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”) and/or any registered closed-end company to which an affiliate of FRI is an investment adviser (each, a “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under Regulation S-T and Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and

      2. seek or obtain, as the undersigned’s representative and on the undersigned’s behalf, information on transactions in the securities of any Reporting Entity from any person, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and

      3. perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

      The undersigned acknowledges that:

      1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information;

      2. any documents prepared and/or executed by any such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

      3. none of FRI, any Reporting Entity nor any of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and

      4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

      The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney, and indemnifies each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact against any loss of any nature whatsoever arising in connection therewith.

      This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11^th day of December, 2023.

                                                             /s/CHARLES B. JOHNSON

                                                             Signature

                                                             Charles B. Johnson

                                                             Print Name

LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

FOR SECTION 13 AND 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

             Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Alison E. Baur, Thomas C. Mandia, Beth McAuley O’Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H. Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas and Navid J. Tofigh each acting individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to:

      1. prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms ID, Schedules 13D and 13G, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto and any related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges relating to Franklin Resources, Inc. (“FRI”) and/or any registered closed-end company to which an affiliate of FRI is an investment adviser (each, a “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable under Regulation S-T and Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the “Exchange Act”); and

      2. seek or obtain, as the undersigned’s representative and on the undersigned’s behalf, information on transactions in the securities of any Reporting Entity from any person, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and

      3. perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing.

      The undersigned acknowledges that:

      1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information;

      2. any documents prepared and/or executed by any such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

      3. none of FRI, any Reporting Entity nor any of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and

      4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned’s obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

      The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney, and indemnifies each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact against any loss of any nature whatsoever arising in connection therewith.

      This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of December, 2023.

                                                              /s/RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.

                                                              Signature

                                                              Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

                                                              Print Name

                                                    EXHIBIT D

                                         TRANSACTIONS IN THE PAST 60 DAYS

     The transactions described below are private purchases effected in non-exchange traded transactions: