Form: SC 13G/A

Schedule filed to report acquisition of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of a class of equity securities by passive investors and certain institutions

September 11, 2023

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 1 of 15

 

 

                                                                             UNITED STATES

                                                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                                                    Washington, D.C. 20549

 

                                                                              SCHEDULE 13G

 

                                                 Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                                                        (Amendment No. 1)*

 

                                                                    BENITEC BIOPHARMA INC.

                                                                          (Name of Issuer)

 

                                                           Common Stock, par value $0.0001

                                                            (Title of Class of Securities)

 

                                                                                 08205P209

                                                                            (CUSIP Number)

 

                                                                           August 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:

 

    [X] Rule 13d‑1(b)

    [ ] Rule 13d‑1(c)

    [ ] 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. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 2 of 15

 

 

          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.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      Delaware

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

          5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                      588,2351

 

          10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                      28.5%

 

          12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                      HC, CO (See Item 4)

 


1 This figure does not include 13,108,808 warrants. A holder of warrants does not have the right to exercise any portion of its warrants, if the holder (together with such holder’s affiliates, and any persons acting as a group together with such holder or any of such holder’s affiliates) would beneficially own a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of 4.99% (or, upon election by a holder prior to the issuance of any warrants, 9.99%) of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

.


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 3 of 15

 

 

          1.    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

 

                      Charles B. Johnson

 

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

 

                      (a)

                      (b) X

 

          3.    SEC USE ONLY

 

          4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      USA

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

          5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                      HC, IN (See Item 4)

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 4 of 15

 

 

          1.    NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.    

 

                      Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

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

 

                      (a)

                      (b) X

 

          3.    SEC USE ONLY

 

          4.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      USA

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

          5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                      (See Item 4)

 

          12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                      HC, IN (See Item 4)

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 5 of 15

 

 

          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.    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

                      California

 

          NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

 

          5.    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                      588,235

 

          6.    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                      0

 

          7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      588,235

 

          8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                      0

 

          9.    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

                      588,235

 

          10.   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES

                      CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

 

          11.   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

                      28.5%

 

          12.   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

 

                      IA, CO (See Item 4)

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 6 of 15

 

 

          Item 1.

 

          (a)   Name of Issuer

 

                      BENITEC BIOPHARMA INC.

 

          (b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

 

           3940 Trust Way

           Hayward, CA 94545

 

          Item 2.

 

          (a)   Name of Person Filing

                      (i):   Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

                      (ii):  Charles B. Johnson

 

                      (iii): Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

                      (iv):  Franklin Advisers, Inc.

 

 

          (b)   Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence

 

                      (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv):

                                  One Franklin Parkway

                                  San Mateo, CA 94403‑1906

 

          (c)   Citizenship

 

                      (i):     Delaware

 

                      (ii) and (iii): USA

 

                      (iv): California

 

 

          (d)   Title of Class of Securities

 

                      Common Stock, par value $0.0001

 

          (e)   CUSIP Number

 

                      08205P209

 

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 7 of 15

 

 

        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:

                      (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

 

                      (b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 

                      (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C.

                                      78c).

 

                      (d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company

                                      Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a‑8).

 

                      (e) [X] An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

 

                      (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with

                                      §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

 

                      (g) [X] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with

                                      §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

 

                      (h) [ ] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit

                                      Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

 

                      (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment

                                      company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15

                                      U.S.C. 80a‑3);

 

                      (j) [ ] A non‑U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(ii)(J);

 

                      (k) [ ] Group, in accordance with §240.13d 1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

 

                      If filing as a non‑U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d‑1(b)(1)(ii) (J).

                      please specify the type of institution:

 

          Item 4. Ownership

 

            The securities reported herein are beneficially owned by one or more open or closed end

            investment companies or other managed accounts that are investment management clients of

            investment managers that are direct and indirect subsidiaries (each, an “Investment

            Management Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Investment Management Subsidiaries”) of

            Franklin Resources Inc. (“FRI”), including the Investment Management Subsidiaries listed

            in this Item 4.  When an investment management contract (including a sub advisory

            agreement) delegates to an Investment Management Subsidiary investment discretion or

            voting power over the securities held in the investment advisory accounts that are

            subject to that agreement, FRI treats the Investment Management Subsidiary as having sole

            investment discretion or voting authority, as the case may be, unless the agreement

            specifies otherwise. Accordingly, each Investment Management Subsidiary reports on

            Schedule 13G that it has sole investment discretion and voting authority over the

            securities covered by any such investment management agreement, unless otherwise noted in

            this Item 4.  As a result, for purposes of Rule 13d‑3 under the Act, the Investment

            Management Subsidiaries listed in this Item 4 may be deemed to be the beneficial owners

            of the securities reported in this Schedule 13G.

 

            Beneficial ownership by Investment Management Subsidiaries and other FRI affiliates is

            being reported 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 (FRI, its

 

 

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 8 of 15

 

          affiliates and the Investment Management Subsidiaries 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.

 

          Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. (the “Principal Shareholders”) each own in

          excess of 10% of the outstanding common stock of FRI and are the principal stockholders

          of FRI.  FRI and the Principal Shareholders may be deemed to be, for purposes of Rule

          13d‑3 under the Act, the beneficial owners of securities held by persons and entities for

          whom or for which FRI subsidiaries provide investment management services.  The number of

          shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned and the percentage of the class of

          which such shares are a part are reported in Items 9 and 11 of the cover pages for FRI

          and each of the Principal Shareholders. FRI, the Principal Shareholders and each of the

          Investment Management Subsidiaries disclaim any pecuniary interest in any of such

          securities. In addition, the filing of this Schedule 13G on behalf of the Principal

          Shareholders, FRI and the FRI Aggregated Affiliates, as applicable, should not be

          construed as an admission that any of them is, and each of them disclaims that it is, the

          beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d‑3, of any of the securities reported in this

          Schedule 13G.

 

          FRI, the Principal Shareholders, and each of the Investment Management Subsidiaries

          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 securities held by any of them or by any persons or entities for whom or for which

          the Investment Management Subsidiaries provide investment management services.

 

                      (a)  Amount beneficially owned:

 

                                588,235

 

                      (b)  Percent of class:

 

                                28.5%

 

                      (c)  Number of shares as to which the person has:

 

                                (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

 

                                        Franklin Resources, Inc.:                                          0

 

                                        Charles B. Johnson:                                                0

 

                                        Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:                                            0

 

                                        Franklin Advisers, Inc.:                                     588,235

 

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

 

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

 

                                        Franklin Resources, Inc.:                                          0

 

                                        Charles B. Johnson:                                                0

 

                                        Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.:                                            0

 

                    Franklin Advisers, Inc.:                                     588,235

 

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


 
 

 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 9 of 15

 

 

          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

 

                            The clients of the Investment Management Subsidiaries, including investment

                            companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 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 Biotechnology Discovery Fund, a series of Franklin Strategic Series, an

              investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, has an

              interest in 364,886 shares, or 17.7% of class of securities reported herein and

              the Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund, a sub-fund of Franklin Templeton

              Investment Funds, a Luxembourg Registered SICAV has an interest in 223,349

              shares, or 10.8% of class of securities reported herein.

 

          Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the

                            Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company

 

                            See Attached Exhibit C

 

          Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

 

                            Not Applicable

 

          Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group

 

                            Not Applicable

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 10 of 15

 

          Item 10.  Certification

 

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities

          referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and

          were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or

          influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are

          not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose

          or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under §

          240.14a‑11.

 

          This report shall not be construed as an admission by the persons filing the report

          that they are the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this report.

 

          Exhibits.

                            Exhibit A Joint Filing Agreement

                            Exhibit B Limited Powers of Attorney for Section 13 Reporting Obligations

                            Exhibit C Item 7 Identification and Classification of Subsidiaries

 

                                                                                  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:  September 8, 2023

 

          Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

          Charles B. Johnson

 

          Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

     Franklin Templeton Investment Funds on behalf of

                      Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund

 

          By:     /s/KIMBERLY H. NOVOTNY

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

                         Kimberly H. Novotny

            Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

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

                         attached to this Schedule 13G

 

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

                         attached to this Schedule 13G

 

 

                         Attorney-in-Fact for Franklin Templeton Investment Funds pursuant to

             Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G

 

 

     Franklin Advisers, Inc.

     Franklin Strategic Series on behalf of

                Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund

    

 

          By:     /s/ALISON E. BAUR

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

                         Alison E. Baur

            Assistant Secretary of Franklin Advisers, Inc.

 

            Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Franklin Strategic Series

 


 
 

 

 

          CUSIP NO. 08205P209                       13G                             Page 11 of 15

 

 

          EXHIBIT A

 

          JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

          By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities

          referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were

          not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or

          influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not

          held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or

          effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement on September 8, 2023.

 

          Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

          Charles B. Johnson

 

          Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

 

     Franklin Templeton Investment Funds on behalf of

                      Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund

 

          By:     /s/KIMBERLY H. NOVOTNY

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

                         Kimberly H. Novotny

            Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

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

                         attached to this Schedule 13G

 

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

                         attached to this Schedule 13G

 

 

                         Attorney-in-Fact for Franklin Templeton Investment Funds pursuant to

             Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G

 

 

     Franklin Advisers, Inc.

     Franklin Strategic Series on behalf of

                Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund

    

 

          By:     /s/ALISON E. BAUR

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

                        Alison E. Baur

            Assistant Secretary of Franklin Advisers, Inc.

 

            Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Franklin Strategic Series

 

 


 
 

CUSIP NO.    08205P209                           13G                            Page 12 of 15

 

    EXHIBIT B

 

                                                                            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, Steven J. Gray, Beth McAuley O’Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H.

  Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas, Navid J. Tofigh and Lori A. Weber 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 16th day of August, 2021.

                                                             /s/CHARLES B. JOHNSON

                                                             Signature

                                                             Charles B. Johnson

                                                             Print Name

 

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 13 of 15

 

                                                                                               

                                                                       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, Steven J. Gray, Beth McAuley O’Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H.

  Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas, Navid J. Tofigh and Lori A. Weber 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 16th day of August, 2021.

                                                             /s/RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.

                                                             Signature

                                                             Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.

                                                             Print Name

 

 


 
 

      CUSIP NO. 08205P209                           13G                            Page 14 of 15

                                      LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

                                                FOR

                                   SECTION 13 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

 

        Know all by these presents, that we Franklin Templeton Investment Funds (the

“Issuer”). an entity organized and existing in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and

having our registered office at 8A rue Albert Borschette, L-1246 Luxembourg, in the person

of Gregory Johnson and Vijay Advani, Directors of the Issuer, hereby makes, constitutes

and appoints each of Lori Weber and Kimberly Novotny, 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 Schedules 13D and 13G (including

any amendments thereto or any related documentation) with the United States Securities

and Exchange Commission, any national securities exchanges and Franklin Resources, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation (the “Reporting Entity”), as considered necessary or advisable

under Section 13 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)   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 either 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) neither the Reporting Entity nor either of such attorneys in fact assumes (i) any

liability for the undersigned’s responsibility to comply with the requirements of the

Exchange Act or (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such

requirements; 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 13 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.

 

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 13th day of October, 2015.

                                                                  For and on behalf of

                                                   Franklin Templeton Investment Funds

 

                                                                    /s/Gregory Johnson

                                                                              Director

 

                                                                       /s/Vijay Advani

                                                                              Director


 
 

CUSIP NO. 08205P209                              13G                              Page 15 of 15

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Franklin Advisers, Inc.                                          Item 3 Classification: 3(e)