Edgar Filing: FRANKLIN FLOATING RATE TRUST

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-23C-3

Notification of Repurchase Offer
PURSUANT TO RULE 23C-3 (17 CFR 270.23C-3)

1. Investment Company Act File Number Date of Notification

811-08271 March 1, 2003
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Exact name of investment company as specified in registration statement:

FRANKLIN FLOATING RATE TRUST
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Address of principal executive office: (number, street, city, state, zip
code)

One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403-1906
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Check one of the following:

A. [X] The notification pertains to a periodic repurchase offer under
paragraph (b) of rule 23c-3.

B. [ ] The notification pertains to a discretionary repurchase offer
under paragraph (c) of rule 23c-3.

C. [ ] The notification pertains to a periodic repurchase offer
under paragraph (b) of rule 23c-3 and a discretionary repurchase
offer under paragraph (c) of rule 23c-3.

By /s/ Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
---------------------------
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
(Name)

President
--------------------------
(Title)

FRANKLIN TEMPLETON
INVESTMENTS
[Insert Franklin Templeton Investments Logo]

Franklin Templeton
Investor Services, LLC
3344 Quality Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6608

tel 1-800/632-2301
Franklintempleton.com

March 1, 2003

Dear Franklin Floating Rate Trust Shareholder:

This notice is to inform you of the Fund's next regular quarterly repurchase
offer to repurchase for cash up to 25% of its outstanding shares. The purpose of
this repurchase offer (or "tender offer") is to provide the Fund's shareholders
with a way to sell their shares at their net asset value (NAV). Fund shares can
normally be repurchased by the Fund only during one of the Fund's regular
quarterly repurchase offers. The NAV of the Fund on February 20, 2003, was $8.15
per Share.

The repurchase offer, described in the enclosed Repurchase Offer/Request Form,
begins on March 3, 2003 and ends at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on April 1, 2003
(the "Repurchase Request Deadline"). We must RECEIVE a telephone redemption
request (if eligible), the properly completed Franklin Floating Rate Trust
Repurchase Offer/Request Form (enclosed), or a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery by
the Repurchase Request Deadline if you want to sell shares of Franklin Floating
Rate Trust this quarter. All requests for repurchase of shares during this
period will be processed after that time.

You can sell your shares to the Fund at their NAV during this repurchase period,
subject to the terms of the repurchase offer, if you do one of the following by
the Repurchase Request Deadline:

1.Ask your financial advisor to make the repurchase request for you, through
their affiliated securities firm.
2.Make a Telephone Redemption request, if eligible. Generally requests to
tender Common Shares with a value of $100,000 or less can be made over the
phone provided you do not hold share certificates and you have not changed
your address by phone within the last 15 days.
3.Complete the enclosed Repurchase Offer/Request Form and return it (with
related share certificates you have, if any) to arrive at the Fund's transfer
agent, Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC, by the deadline.*
4.Complete and submit a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery by the deadline and send
follow-up documents, as described in the Repurchase Offer/Request Form.*

If you have no need or desire to sell Fund shares, simply disregard this notice.
Rest assured that we will contact you again next quarter to remind you of your
share sale privileges.

If you have any questions, please refer to the enclosed Repurchase Offer/Request
Form, contact your financial advisor, or call Franklin Templeton Shareholder
Services at 1-800/632-2301.

Sincerely,

Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC

*If you have an FTB&T employer sponsored retirement plan account and wish to
take a distribution by selling shares, YOU MUST COMPLETE A DISTRIBUTION REQUEST
FORM AND SEND IT WITH THE COMPLETED REPURCHASE OFFER/REQUEST FORM. The
distribution request form must contain all necessary signatures and must be
received in advance of the Repurchase Request Deadline. Please contact
Retirement Services at 1-800/527-2020 for a distribution request form and
further instructions.

020 LSHTO 03/03

FRANKLIN FLOATING
RATE TRUST REPURCHASE
OFFER/REQUEST FORM

IF YOU CHOOSE TO SELL YOUR SHARES AT THIS TIME:

o You may be eligible for Telephone Redemptions if your request to tender is
for a value of $100,000 or less. Please contact your investment
representative, or call us at 1-800/632-2301 for more information.

o You may complete this form and return it to us in the envelope provided.

Return to: Attn: Floating Rate Trust Dept.
Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, LLC
PO Box 997152
Sacramento, CA 95899-9983

Overnight Delivery/Certified
or Registered Mail: Franklin/Templeton Investor Services, LLC
3344 Quality Dr.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670-6608

[Insert Franklin Templeton Ben Head]
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENTS

TO: FRANKLIN FLOATING RATE TRUST

Please repurchase the shares designated below at a price equal to their net
asset value per share on the Repurchase Pricing Date (as defined on page 6). By
asking the Fund to repurchase shares, I (we) accept the Fund's repurchase offer
as provided in this form, the accompanying cover letter and the Fund's
prospectus.

NAMES OF REGISTERED SHAREHOLDER(S): (Please print EXACTLY as registered.)

-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------

-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
ACCOUNT NUMBER

-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
DAYTIME TELEPHONE FAX OR E-MAIL

SHARES TENDERED: (PLEASE CHECK AND COMPLETE ONE)

[ ] Partial Tender - Please repurchase shares from my (our) account.
------------------------------------
[ ] Full Tender - Please repurchase all shares from my (our) account.

[ ] Dollar Amount - Please repurchase enough shares from my (our)
account to net $ , after early withdrawal charges, if any.
-----------------------
[ ] Exchange - Please exchange shares from my
------------------------
(our) account for shares of the Fund.
--------------------------
(By checking this option, I (we) certify receipt of a
current prospectus for such fund.)

A SHAREHOLDER WHO HOLDS SHARES THROUGH A BROKER, DEALER, COMMERCIAL BANK, TRUST
COMPANY OR OTHER NOMINEE MUST INSTRUCT SUCH BROKER OR OTHER NOMINEE TO EFFECT
THE REPURCHASE ON HIS OR HER BEHALF AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM TO
FRANKLIN/TEMPLETON INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC ("Investor Services"). A broker or
other nominee may charge a fee for processing the transaction on the tendering
shareholder's behalf.

SHARE CERTIFICATES (IF ANY). IF YOU ARE TENDERING SHARES REPRESENTED BY
CERTIFICATES, YOU MUST INCLUDE THE CERTIFICATES WITH THIS FORM and list them on
page 2. Any shares represented by certificates that are not delivered with this
Form will be excluded from the shares repurchased.

Certificate Number(s)/Issue Date Number of Shares Represented Number of Shares Tendered*
by Share Certificate(s)

-------------------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------

* PARTIAL TENDERS. If you desire to tender fewer than all shares evidenced by a
share certificate listed above, please indicate in this column the number of
shares you wish to tender. A new share certificate for the untendered shares
will be sent, without expense to the person(s) signing this form as soon as
practicable after the deadline to submit this form. All shares represented by
share certificate(s) delivered to Investor Services will be deemed to have been
tendered unless otherwise indicated.

[ ] Check here if you would like to credit to your book entry account any
certificated shares accompanying this form which either are not tendered or are
not accepted for repurchase.

If the share certificates are registered in the name of a person other than the
undersigned, or if payment is to be made to, or share certificates for
unpurchased shares are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the
registered shareholder, then the tendered certificates must be endorsed or
accompanied by appropriate stock powers, signed exactly as the name or names of
the registered holder or holders appear on the share certificates, with the
signatures on the share certificates or stock powers guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution. For information, contact your investment representative or call
Shareholder Services at 1-800/632-2301.

IF YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) HAS BEEN LOST OR DESTROYED, please contact
Shareholder Services at 1-800/632-2301 as soon as possible. The time it takes to
replace your share certificate(s) or credit your book entry account for the
missing shares may make it impossible to meet the deadline to have your shares
repurchased in this current repurchase offer.

SPECIAL PAYMENT AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS: The check will be issued in the name
of the registered shareholder(s) and mailed to the address of record unless
Special Payment and Delivery Instructions are given. The undersigned recognizes
that the Fund has no obligation pursuant to the Special Payment and Delivery
Instructions to transfer any shares from the name of the registered holder
thereof if the Fund does not accept for payment any of the shares tendered
hereby. If special payment or delivery is required, please provide instructions
here and signature guarantee on page 5:

1. Issue [ ] check to: Name:
---------------------------------
[ ] share certificate Address:
------------------------------

2. Mail [ ] check to: Name:
---------------------------------
[ ] share certificate Address:
------------------------------

[ ] EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE WAIVER:
Check this box if your shares were purchased subject to a waiver of the early
withdrawal charge, for example, shares purchased through dividend or capital
gains distributions from any Franklin Templeton Fund (Class A, Advisor Class or
Class Z only); shares purchased by officers, trustees, directors and full-time
employees of Franklin Templeton Investments and their family members; or shares
purchased with annuity payments received under an annuity option or from death
benefit proceeds, under certain circumstances. Refer to details in a current
Fund prospectus.

State the basis for such waiver of the early withdrawal charge:
-----------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. IF YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATES ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY
AVAILABLE OR TIME WILL NOT PERMIT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO REACH INVESTOR
SERVICES BY THE REPURCHASE REQUEST DEADLINE, YOU CAN STILL TENDER YOUR SHARES
FOR REPURCHASE IF YOU:

o Obtain a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery form from an investment
representative or from Shareholder Services by calling 1-800/632-2301;

o Complete the notice and have it executed by, and sent to Investor Services
through, an Eligible Institution (described on page 4);

o Ensure Investor Services receives by the Repurchase Request Deadline, the
properly completed and executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery; and

o Ensure the share certificates, if any, for all tendered shares for
transfer, together with a properly completed and duly executed Repurchase
Offer/Request Form, are received in proper form by Investor Services within
five New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date Investor Services
receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not intended for shareholders whose share
certificates have been lost or destroyed.

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS FOR NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
INCLUDE a brokerage firm or financial institution that is a member of a
securities approved medallion program, such as Securities Transfer Agents
Medallion Program, Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or New York Stock Exchange,
Inc. Medallion Signature Program.

[ ] CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED
DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO INVESTOR SERVICES BY AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION AND
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
------------------------------------------------
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:
-----------------------------
Name of Eligible Institution which Guaranteed Delivery:
-------------------------

PLEASE SIGN PAGE 5 AND NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT POINTS:

o Your signature(s) on page 5 MUST CORRESPOND EXACTLY with the name(s) in
which the shares are registered.

o If the shares are held of record by two or more joint account holders, ALL
MUST SIGN.

o If the signer of the document is a trustee, executor, administrator,
guardian, attorney in fact, officer of a corporation, authorized official
of the custodian of an IRA account or others acting in a fiduciary or
representative capacity, they must so indicate when signing, and submit
proper evidence satisfactory to the Fund of their authority to so act.

o If the shares are held in an individual or employer-sponsored retirement
plan, plan distribution requirements may not be met due to the Fund's
restrictions on tender offers, potentially resulting in additional taxes
and penalties for which the undersigned assumes full responsibility.

IN THE FOLLOWING CASES, ALL SIGNATURES MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
INSTITUTION (AS DEFINED ABOVE):

o the proceeds for the tendered shares will amount to $100,000 or more,

o the Repurchase Offer/Request Form is signed by an agent rather than the
registered holder of the shares tendered with the form,

o the proceeds for tendered shares are to be sent to a payee other than the
registered owner of such shares,

o the proceeds for the tendered shares are not being sent to the address of
record, preauthorized bank account, or preauthorized brokerage firm
account, or

o the Fund believes a signature guarantee would protect the Fund against
potential claims based on the instructions received.

SIGNATURE(S) OF SHAREHOLDER(S): (Sign EXACTLY as registered.)

Date:
---------------------

X
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capacity: if applicable

Tax Identification number or Social Security number:
----------------------------

SIGNATURE GUARANTEED BY:
--------------------------------------------------------

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS FORM, PLEASE CALL 1-800/632-2301.

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

REPURCHASE OFFER AND TENDER OF SHARES

This repurchase offer (the "Offer") of Franklin Floating Rate Trust (the "Fund")
and acceptance of the Offer by tender of shares of the Fund are made upon the
terms and conditions stated in this Repurchase Offer/Request Form and the Fund's
prospectus and statement of additional information ("SAI").

1. THE OFFER. The Fund is offering to repurchase for cash up to the percentage
set forth in the accompanying cover letter of its issued and outstanding
shares of beneficial interest ("Shares") on the Repurchase Request Deadline
(defined below) at a price equal to the net asset value ("NAV") as of the
close of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") on the Repurchase Pricing
Date (defined below) less any applicable early withdrawal charge (described
below). The Offer is not conditioned upon the tender for repurchase of any
minimum number of Shares.

2. REPURCHASE REQUEST DEADLINE. The Offer will expire on the date set forth in
the accompanying cover letter to shareholders which is the Repurchase
Request Deadline. All requests for repurchase of Shares or Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery forms MUST be received in proper form by the Fund on or
before the Repurchase Request Deadline.

3. REPURCHASE PRICING DATE. The NAV for the repurchase must be determined no
later than 14 days after the Repurchase Request Deadline, or the next
business day if the fourteenth day is not a business day. The Fund intends,
HOWEVER, to determine the NAV for the repurchases immediately after the
Repurchase Request Deadline, or as soon as possible thereafter, if doing so
is not likely to result in significant dilution of either Shares that are
tendered for repurchase or Shares that are not tendered.

4. PAYMENT FOR SHARES REPURCHASED. Payment for all Shares repurchased pursuant
to this Offer will be made not later than 7 days after the Repurchase
Pricing Date.

5. NO REPURCHASE FEE; EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE. The Fund will not impose a
repurchase fee for repurchases related to the Offer. An early withdrawal
charge of 1% may be imposed on those Shares accepted for repurchase that
have been held for less than 12 months, unless a waiver of such charge
applies and the shareholder indicates the basis for the waiver on this
form. Please check your share holdings and the Fund's prospectus.

6. NET ASSET VALUE. The Shareholders must decide whether to tender their
Shares prior to the Repurchase Request Deadline, but the NAV at which the
Fund will repurchase Shares will not be calculated until the Repurchase
Pricing Date. The NAV of the Shares may fluctuate between the date of the
shareholder's repurchase request or the Repurchase Request Deadline and the
Repurchase Pricing Date. There can be no assurance that the NAV of the
Shares on the Repurchase Pricing Date will be as high as the NAV of the
Shares on the date of the shareholder's repurchase request or the
Repurchase Request Deadline. Please call Shareholder Services at
1-800/632-2301 for current NAV information.

7. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF SHARES REPURCHASED; PRO RATA REPURCHASE. If
shareholders tender for repurchase more Shares than the Fund is offering to
repurchase (the "Offer Amount"), the Fund may (but is not obligated to)
increase the amount repurchased by up to 2% of the Fund's outstanding
Shares on the Repurchase Request Deadline. If Fund shareholders tender more
Shares than the Fund decides to repurchase, whether the Offer Amount or the
Offer Amount plus the 2% extra, the Fund will purchase the Shares tendered
on a pro rata basis, rounded down to the nearest full share. The Fund may,
however, in its discretion accept all Shares tendered by persons who own,
beneficially or of record, an aggregate of less than 100 Shares and who
tender all of their Shares, before prorating the Shares tendered by other
persons. If the Fund determines that Shares will be repurchased on a pro
rata basis, there may be a delay in payment because of the difficulty in
determining the precise number of Shares validly tendered. The Fund will
not pay for Shares until the final proration factor is known, but not later
than 7 days after the Repurchase Pricing Date.

8. WITHDRAWAL OF REQUEST FOR REPURCHASE. Shareholders may withdraw all or some
of their Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer at any time prior to the
Repurchase Request Deadline. Shareholders whose accounts are maintained
through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee
should notify such nominee in sufficient time to ensure timely withdrawal
or modification of their tenders. Shareholders whose Shares are registered
in their own name must submit written notice of such withdrawal or
modification (the "Change Notice") to Investor Services. To be effective, a
Change Notice must be timely received by Investor Services. Any Change
Notice must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be
withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the
registered holder if different from that of the person who tendered such
Shares. If Share certificates representing such Shares have been delivered
or otherwise identified to Investor Services, the tendering shareholder
must also submit the Share certificate numbers shown on the particular
Share certificates evidencing such Shares and the signature on the Change
Notice must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (defined above),
except in the case of Shares tendered by an Eligible Institution.

9. SUSPENSION OR POSTPONEMENT OF OFFER. The Fund may not suspend or postpone
the Offer except by vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees (including
a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" of the Fund,
the Fund's investment adviser or its affiliates (as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and only: (A) if the
repurchases would cause the Fund to lose its status as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended; (B) for any period during which the NYSE or any market in which
the securities owned by the Fund are principally traded is closed, other
than customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which trading in
such market is restricted; (C) for any period during which any emergency
exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities owned by it
is not reasonably practicable, or during which it is not reasonably
practicable for the Fund fairly to determine its NAV; or (D) for such other
periods as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by order permit for
the protection of shareholders of the Fund. If the Offer is suspended or
postponed, the Fund will notify shareholders. If the Fund suspends or
postpones the Offer, the NAV for the Shares tendered will be determined as
of the close of the NYSE on an extended repurchase pricing date. During any
such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not purchased or
withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer. If the Fund renews the Offer,
it will send a new notification to all shareholders.

10. TAX CONSEQUENCES. Shareholders should review the tax information in the
Fund's prospectus and SAI. Shareholders should also consult their tax
advisers regarding the specific tax consequences, including the state,
local or foreign tax consequences, of participating in the repurchase.
Under federal income tax laws, Investor Services may be required to
withhold 30% of the amount of any payment made to certain shareholders
pursuant to the Offer. In order to avoid such backup withholding, each
tendering shareholder must provide Investor Services with the shareholder's
correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") by completing the Substitute
Form W-9 in the account application for Shares. In general, if a
shareholder is an individual, the TIN is the Social Security Number of such
individual. If Investor Services is not provided with the correct TIN, the
shareholder may be subject to a penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue
Service.

11. DOCUMENTS IN PROPER FORM. All questions as to the validity, form,
eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders of Shares
will be determined by the Fund, in its sole discretion, which determination
shall be final and binding. The Fund reserves the absolute right to reject
any or all tenders of Shares determined to be in appropriate form or to
refuse to accept for payment, purchase or pay for any Shares if, in the
opinion of the Fund's counsel, accepting, purchasing or paying for such
Shares would be unlawful. The Fund also reserves the absolute right to
waive any of the conditions of the Offer or any defect in any tender of
Shares whether generally or with respect to any particular Share(s) or
shareholders. The Fund's interpretations of the terms and conditions of the
Offer shall be final and binding. Unless waived, any defects or
irregularities in connection with tenders of Shares must be cured within
such times as the Fund shall determine. Tenders of Shares will not be
deemed to have been made until the defects or irregularities have been
cured or waived.

NEITHER THE FUND, FRANKLIN ADVISERS, INC. (THE FUND'S INVESTMENT ADVISER),
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON SERVICES, INC. (THE FUND'S ADMINISTRATOR), INVESTOR SERVICES,
NOR ANY OTHER PERSON IS OR WILL BE OBLIGATED TO GIVE NOTICE OF ANY DEFECTS OR
IRREGULARITIES IN TENDERS, NOR SHALL ANY OF THEM INCUR ANY LIABILITY FOR FAILURE
TO GIVE ANY SUCH NOTICE.

NEITHER THE FUND NOR ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION TO ANY
SHAREHOLDER AS TO WHETHER TO TENDER OR REFRAIN FROM TENDERING SHARES. EACH
SHAREHOLDER MUST MAKE AN INDEPENDENT DECISION WHETHER TO TENDER SHARES AND, IF
SO, HOW MANY SHARES TO TENDER.

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATION ON BEHALF OF THE FUND
AS TO WHETHER SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD TENDER SHARES PURSUANT TO THIS OFFER. NO
PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED HEREIN
OR IN THE PROSPECTUS, SAI OR ACCOUNT APPLICATION. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
RECOMMENDATION AND SUCH INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON
AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND.

FOR PER SHARE NET ASSET VALUE AND OTHER INFORMATION, OR FOR A COPY OF THE FUND'S
PROSPECTUS, CALL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AT 1-800/632-2301 OR CONTACT YOUR
INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIVE.

OKO BKRO 03/03