Franklin Resources, Inc. : Announces Month-End Assets Under Management

SAN MATEO, CA, Jan 10, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin Templeton Investments) (NYSE: BEN) today reported preliminary month-end assets under management by the company's subsidiaries of $670.3 billion at December 31, 2011, compared to $675.8 billion at November 30, 2011, and $670.7 billion at December 31, 2010.

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT

                     Preliminary
(In billions)         31-Dec-11   30-Nov-11  30-Sep-11  30-Jun-11  31-Dec-10
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Franklin Templeton
 Investments:
 Equity:
   Global/
    international    $     194.5 $    198.7 $    185.8 $    226.2 $    219.1
   United States            75.7       75.5       68.4       83.6       77.0
                     -------------------------------------------------------
   Total equity            270.2      274.2      254.2      309.8      296.1
                     -------------------------------------------------------

 Hybrid                     96.4       94.6      101.3      115.1      106.1

 Fixed-Income:
   Tax-free                 74.1       72.3       72.0       69.6       71.4
   Taxable:
     Global/
      international        174.7      179.4      178.8      185.4      144.7
     United States          48.9       48.1       46.9       48.1       45.9
                     -------------------------------------------------------
   Total fixed-
    income                 297.7      299.8      297.7      303.1      262.0
                     -------------------------------------------------------

 Cash Management             6.0        7.2        6.7        6.2        6.5

                     -------------------------------------------------------
Total                $     670.3 $    675.8 $    659.9 $    734.2 $    670.7
                     =======================================================

Franklin Resources, Inc. is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, Darby and Bissett investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience. For more information, please visit franklinresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements The financial results in this press release are preliminary. Statements in this press release regarding Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin") and its subsidiaries, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, words or phrases generally written in the future tense and/or preceded by words such as "will," "may," "could," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "seek," "estimate," "preliminary" or other similar words are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, some of which are listed below, that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.

These and other risks, uncertainties and other important factors are described in more detail in Franklin's recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, in Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Franklin's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011:

--  Volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and
    adverse changes in the global economy, may significantly affect our
    results of operations and may put pressure on our financial results.
--  The amount and mix of our assets under management are subject to
    significant fluctuations.
--  We are subject to extensive and complex, overlapping and frequently
    changing rules, regulations and legal interpretations.
--  Regulatory and legislative actions and reforms have made the
    regulatory environment in which we operate more costly and future
    actions and reforms could adversely impact our assets under
    management, increase costs and negatively impact our profitability and
    future financial results.
--  Changes in tax laws or exposure to additional income tax liabilities
    could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of
    operations and liquidity.
--  Any significant limitation, failure or security breach of our software
    applications, technology or other systems that are critical to our
    operations could constrain our operations.
--  Our investment management business operations are complex and a
    failure to properly perform operational tasks or the misrepresentation
    of our products and services could have an adverse effect on our
    revenues and income.
--  We face risks, and corresponding potential costs and expenses,
    associated with conducting operations and growing our business in
    numerous countries.
--  We depend on key personnel and our financial performance could be
    negatively affected by the loss of their services.
--  Strong competition from numerous and sometimes larger companies with
    competing offerings and products could limit or reduce sales of our
    products, potentially resulting in a decline in our market share,
    revenues and income.
--  Changes in the third-party distribution and sales channels on which we
    depend could reduce our income and hinder our growth.
--  Our increasing focus on international markets as a source of
    investments and sales of investment products subjects us to increased
    exchange rate and other risks in connection with our income and
    earnings generated overseas.
--  Poor investment performance of our products could affect our sales or
    reduce the level of assets under management, potentially negatively
    impacting our revenues and income.
--  We could suffer losses in our revenues and income if our reputation is
    harmed.
--  Our future results are dependent upon maintaining an appropriate level
    of expenses, which is subject to fluctuation.
--  Our ability to successfully integrate widely varied business lines can
    be impeded by systems and other technological limitations.
--  Our inability to successfully recover should we experience a disaster
    or other business continuity problem could cause material financial
    loss, loss of human capital, regulatory actions, reputational harm, or
    legal liability.
--  Certain of the portfolios we manage, including our emerging market
    portfolios, are vulnerable to significant market-specific political,
    economic or other risks, any of which may negatively impact our
    revenues and income.
--  Our revenues, income and earnings could be adversely affected if the
    terms of our management agreements are significantly altered or these
    agreements are terminated by the funds and other sponsored investment
    products we advise.
--  Regulatory and governmental examinations and/or investigations,
    litigation and the legal risks associated with our business, could
    adversely impact our assets under management, increase costs and
    negatively impact our profitability and/or our future financial
    results.
--  Our ability to meet cash needs depends upon certain factors, including
    the market value of our assets, operating cash flows and our perceived
    creditworthiness.
--  Diverse and strong competition limits the interest rates that we can
    charge on consumer loans.
--  Our business could be negatively affected if we or our banking
    subsidiaries fail to remain well capitalized, and liquidity needs
    could affect our banking business.
--  We are dependent on the earnings of our subsidiaries.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Contact:
Franklin Resources, Inc.
Corporate Communications:
Matt Walsh
[phone]

Investor Relations:
Brian Sevilla
[phone]
franklinresources.com

SOURCE: Franklin Resources, Inc.