Templeton Investment Counsel, Llc

Allegations: ON AUGUST 27, 2018, THE SEC ISSUED AN ORDER THAT FOUND THAT LEGG MASON HAD VIOLATED SECTION 13(B)(2)(B) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 BY FAILING TO DEVISE AND MAINTAIN A SYSTEM OF APPROPRIATE INTERNAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLS WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF INTRODUCING BROKERS AND OTHER INTERMEDIARIES IN EMERGING MARKETS, INCLUDING LIBYA, AND THAT IMPOSED A CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER ON LEGG MASON WITH RESPECT TO ANY VIOLATIONS OR FUTURE VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 13(B)(2)(B). PREVIOUSLY, LEGG MASON HAD SUBMITTED AN OFFER OF SETTLEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE MATTER WHICH THE SEC DETERMINED TO ACCEPT. THE ORDER RESOLVED A FCPA INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF LEGG MASON'S FORMER PERMAL BUSINESS IN CONNECTION WITH MANAGING ASSETS OF LIBYAN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN STRUCTURES ESTABLISHED BY A THIRD-PARTY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. THOSE INVESTMENTS WERE MADE IN CALENDAR YEARS 2005-2007 AND ALL WERE TERMINATED BY 2012. THE MATTER DOES NOT RELATE TO ANY CURRENT BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OR CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS OF LEGG MASON OR ANY AFFILIATE, AND WAS FOCUSED ON THE ACTIONS OF FORMER PERMAL EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT THAT FIRM IN 2013. LEGG MASON BECAME AN ADVISORY AFFILIATE OF REGISTRANT IN JUNE 2021. Status: Final Sanction Detail: THE ORDER REQUIRED LEGG MASON TO PAY DISGORGEMENT OF $27,594,729 AND PREJUDGMENT INTEREST OF $6,907,765 TO THE SEC. THE SEC DID NOT IMPOSE ITS OWN PENALTY BASED UPON THE PENALTY PAID TO RESOLVE A DOJ INVESTIGATION ARISING OUT OF THE SAME MATTER, AS DESCRIBED IN THE RESPONSE TO ITEM 2 ABOVE. Summary: ON AUGUST 27, 2018, THE SEC ISSUED AN ORDER THAT CONTAINED FINDINGS THAT LEGG MASON HAD VIOLATED SECTION 13(B)(2)(B) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT BY FAILING TO DEVISE AND MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE INTERNAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLS WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF INTRODUCING BROKERS AND OTHER INTERMEDIARIES IN EMERGING MARKETS, INCLUDING LIBYA, AND THAT IMPOSED A CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER ON LEGG MASON WITH RESPECT TO ANY VIOLATIONS OR FUTURE VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 13(B)(2)(B). PREVIOUSLY, LEGG MASON HAD SUBMITTED AN OFFER OF SETTLEMENT WHICH THE SEC DETERMINED TO ACCEPT. THE ORDER RESOLVED A FCPA INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF LEGG MASON'S FORMER PERMAL BUSINESS IN CONNECTION WITH MANAGING ASSETS OF LIBYAN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES IN STRUCTURES ESTABLISHED BY A THIRD-PARTY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. PURSUANT TO THE ORDER, THE SEC ORDERED LEGG MASON TO CEASE AND DESIST FROM COMMITTING OR CAUSING ANY VIOLATIONS AND FUTURE VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 13(B)(2)(B) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND TO PAY DISGORGEMENT OF $27,594,729 AND PREJUDGMENT INTEREST OF $6,907,765 FOR A TOTAL PAYMENT OF $34,502,944. SEPARATELY, ON JUNE 4, 2018 LEGG MASON AGREED TO PAY A PENALTY AND DISGORGEMENT TO RESOLVE A DOJ INVESTIGATION ARISING OUT OF THE SAME MATTER, AS DESCRIBED IN THE RESPONSE TO ITEM 2 ABOVE.