Filing Details

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.  )*

 

Templeton Emerging Markets Fund

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Stock, without par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

880191101

(CUSIP Number)

 

December 31, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 

¨	Rule 13d-1(b)
¨	Rule 13d-1(c)
x	Rule 13d-1(d)

 

*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 in 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).

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 880191101
	1.	Names of Reporting Persons Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust
	2.	Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
		(a)		¨
		(b)		¨
	3.	SEC Use Only
	4.	Citizenship or Place of Organization State of Washington
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With			5.		Sole Voting Power -0-
			6.		Shared Voting Power 785,358 (1)
			7.		Sole Dispositive Power -0-
			8.		Shared Dispositive Power 785,358 (1)
	9.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 785,358 (1)
	10.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ¨
	11.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 5.1% (2)
	12.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) OO

(1)

For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), all common stock (“Common Stock”) of Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (the “Issuer”) beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

 

(2)

Based on 15,508,539 shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 11, 2023, as reported on the Issuer’s Schedule 14A filed on January 4, 2024.

 

 

CUSIP No. 880191101
	1.	Names of Reporting Persons William H. Gates III
	2.	Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
		(a)		¨
		(b)		¨
	3.	SEC Use Only
	4.	Citizenship or Place of Organization United States of America
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With			5.		Sole Voting Power -0-
			6.		Shared Voting Power 785,358 (1)
			7.		Sole Dispositive Power -0-
			8.		Shared Dispositive Power 785,358 (1)
	9.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 785,358 (1)
	10.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ¨
	11.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 5.1% (2)
	12.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN

(1)

The Trust beneficially owns 785,358 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer. For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, all Common Stock beneficially owned by the Trust may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

 

(2)

Based on 15,508,539 shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 11, 2023, as reported on the Issuer’s Schedule 14A filed on January 4, 2024.

 

 

CUSIP No. 880191101
	1.	Names of Reporting Persons Melinda French Gates
	2.	Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
		(a)		¨
		(b)		¨
	3.	SEC Use Only
	4.	Citizenship or Place of Organization United States of America
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With			5.		Sole Voting Power -0-
			6.		Shared Voting Power 785,358 (1)
			7.		Sole Dispositive Power -0-
			8.		Shared Dispositive Power 785,358 (1)
	9.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 785,358 (1)
	10.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) ¨
	11.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 5.1% (2)
	12.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN

(1)

The Trust beneficially owns 785,358 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer. For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, all Common Stock beneficially owned by the Trust may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

 

(2)

Based on 15,508,539 shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 11, 2023, as reported on the Issuer’s Schedule 14A filed on January 4, 2024.

 

 

Item 1.
	(a)	Name of Issuer: Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (the “Issuer”)
	(b)	Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices: 300 S.E. 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-1923
Item 2.
	(a)	Name of Person Filing: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”), William H. Gates III (“WHG”), and Melinda French Gates (“MFG”, and together with the Trust and WHG, the “Reporting Persons”) (1)
	(b)	Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: The Trust – 2365 Carillon Point, Kirkland, Washington 98033 WHG – 500 Fifth Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109 MFG – 500 Fifth Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109
	(c)	Citizenship: The Trust is a charitable trust organized under the laws of the State of Washington. WHG is a citizen of the United States of America. MFG is a citizen of the United States of America.
	(d)	Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, without par value
	(e)	CUSIP Number: 880191101
Item 3.	If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
	Not Applicable.
Item 4.	Ownership.
	Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
	(a)	Amount beneficially owned: See the responses to Item 9 on the attached cover pages.
	(b)	Percent of class: See the responses to Item 11 on the attached cover pages.
	(c)	Number of shares as to which the person has:
		(i)	Sole power to vote or to direct the vote See the responses to Item 5 on the attached cover pages.
		(ii)	Shared power to vote or to direct the vote See the responses to Item 6 on the attached cover pages.
		(iii)	Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of See the responses to Item 7 on the attached cover pages.
		(iv)	Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of See the responses to Item 8 on the attached cover pages.

 

(1)

Neither the present filing nor anything contained herein shall be construed as an admission that the Reporting Persons constitute a “group” for any purpose and each expressly disclaims membership in a group.

 

 

Item 5.	Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
	If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following ¨.
Item 6.	Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
	Not Applicable.
Item 7.	Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.
	Not Applicable.
Item 8.	Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
	Not Applicable.
Item 9.	Notice of Dissolution of Group.
	Not Applicable.
Item 10.	Certification.
	Not Applicable.

 

 

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.

 

Date: February 13, 2024	BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TRUST
	By:	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (1)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact for each of the Co-Trustees,
			William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates
	WILLIAM H. GATES III
	By:	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (1)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact
	MELINDA FRENCH GATES
	By:	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (1)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact
	* By:	/s/ Alan Heuberger
		Alan Heuberger

 

(1)

Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees, filed as Exhibit 99.5 to Cascade Investment, L.L.C.’s Schedule 13D with respect to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., on May 7, 2009, SEC File No. 005-60431, and incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

We, the signatories of the statement to which this Joint Filing Agreement is attached, hereby agree that such statement is filed, and any amendments thereto filed by any or all of us, will be filed, on behalf of each of us.

 

Date: February 13, 2024	BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TRUST
	By:	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (1)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact for each of the Co-Trustees,
			William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates
	WILLIAM H. GATES III
	By:	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (1)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact
	MELINDA FRENCH GATES
	By:	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (1)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact
	* By:	/s/ Alan Heuberger
		Alan Heuberger

 

(1)

Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees, filed as Exhibit 99.5 to Cascade Investment, L.L.C.’s Schedule 13D with respect to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., on May 7, 2009, SEC File No. 005-60431, and incorporated by reference herein.