Who Owns Franklin Resources Company?

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Who Owns Franklin Resources?

Franklin Resources, globally recognized as Franklin Templeton, is a major investment management firm with a rich history dating back to 1947. Founded in New York City, the company has grown into one of the largest independent investment managers worldwide. As of June 30, 2025, it oversees approximately $1.61 trillion in assets under management (AUM).

Understanding the ownership of Franklin Resources is key to grasping its strategic direction and operational influences. The company's substantial market presence is shaped by its ownership structure, which includes public shareholders, institutional investors, and significant insider holdings.

The ownership of Franklin Resources is primarily distributed among its public shareholders, institutional investors, and insiders. This blend influences the company's strategic decisions and governance. For instance, the Franklin Resources BCG Matrix analysis often reflects the diverse interests of these stakeholders. The company's journey from its founding to its current status as a global leader highlights the impact of its ownership evolution.

Franklin Resources, Inc. traces its origins back to 1947 in New York, founded by Rupert H. Johnson Sr. He established Franklin Distributors, Inc., drawing inspiration from Benjamin Franklin's principles of thrift and careful investing. The company's initial focus was on conservative investment management through its Franklin Custodian Funds.

Founding Vision

Rupert H. Johnson Sr. founded the company with a vision for prudent saving and investing. This philosophy was embedded in the company's initial product offerings.

Early Offerings

The company's first products were the Franklin Custodian Funds. These were a series of conservatively managed equity and bond funds.

Leadership Transition

In 1957, Rupert H. Johnson Sr. retired, passing leadership to his son, Charles B. Johnson. Charlie took over as president and CEO at the young age of 24.

Early Asset Management

When Charles B. Johnson assumed leadership, the company was managing approximately $2 million in assets. Specific early shareholding details are not publicly available.

Family Involvement

The family's influence grew with Rupert H. Johnson Jr., Charlie's brother, joining the company in 1965. This further solidified the family's control and continuity.

Company Naming

The name Franklin Distributors, Inc. was chosen to evoke Benjamin Franklin's association with frugality and prudence. This reflected the company's investment approach.

The early ownership structure of Franklin Resources was predominantly family-centric, with Rupert H. Johnson Sr. laying the foundation and his son, Charles B. Johnson, taking the helm at a pivotal moment. This familial succession ensured a consistent vision and management style from the outset. The company's growth trajectory and its eventual public offering would later broaden its ownership base, but the initial years were defined by the Johnson family's direct control and commitment to their founding principles, which are still evident in the company's operations today and contribute to its understanding of Revenue Streams & Business Model of Franklin Resources.

Key Early Developments

The initial phase of Franklin Resources was marked by a clear family-driven leadership and a focus on conservative investment strategies. This period laid the groundwork for the company's future expansion and its eventual status as a major player in the asset management industry.

• Founded in 1947 by Rupert H. Johnson Sr.
• Initially named Franklin Distributors, Inc.
• Pioneered the Franklin Custodian Funds.
• Charles B. Johnson took over leadership in 1957.
• Rupert H. Johnson Jr. joined in 1965, reinforcing family control.

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Franklin Resources, now widely known as Franklin Templeton, has undergone significant ownership transformations since its public debut in 1971. Key acquisitions, notably the 1992 purchase of Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger Ltd., fundamentally reshaped its shareholder base and brand identity, integrating substantial ownership from the Templeton family and associates.

The ownership structure of Franklin Resources Inc. reflects a blend of institutional backing, insider control, and public float. As of April 1, 2024, institutional investors collectively hold a substantial 48% stake, highlighting their considerable influence on the company's direction. Insiders, comprising key executives and board members, own 40%, with Rupert Johnson being the largest individual shareholder at 20%. The general public, including retail investors, accounts for the remaining 11%. This distribution suggests that while institutional investors and insiders are major stakeholders, the company remains accessible to a broad base of shareholders.

Franklin Resources Inc. Shareholder Landscape

Franklin Resources' ownership is characterized by a strong presence of institutional investors and significant insider holdings. Recent strategic acquisitions have further solidified its market position and diversified its asset management capabilities.

• Institutional investors own 48% of Franklin Resources as of April 1, 2024.
• Insiders, including executives, hold 40% of the company's shares.
• Rupert Johnson is the largest individual shareholder, with 20% ownership.
• The general public accounts for 11% of the ownership.
• Strategic acquisitions have expanded assets under management to a record $1.68 trillion as of September 30, 2024.

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As of January 8, 2025, Franklin Resources, Inc. has a Board of Directors consisting of 11 members. Key leadership roles on the board are held by Jennifer M. Johnson, President and CEO; Gregory E. Johnson, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board; and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., Vice Chairman. Mariann Byerwalter serves as the Lead Director.

Franklin Resources operates under a one-share-one-vote structure for its common stock. As of the December 9, 2024, record date, there were 523,982,812 shares of common stock outstanding, with each share granting one vote. Shareholders of record for specific funds on January 10, 2025, and December 16, 2024, also have voting rights. The company facilitates voting through the internet, telephone, or mail. Proxy holders include Gregory E. Johnson, Rupert H. Johnson, Jr., Jennifer M. Johnson, and Thomas C. Merchant. While institutional investors hold 48% and insiders hold 40% as of April 1, 2024, proxy policies state that voting decisions are made in the best interests of shareholders. There are no reported proxy battles, activist campaigns, or governance controversies.

Understanding Franklin Resources Ownership and Voting

Franklin Resources Inc shareholders have a direct say in company matters through a one-share-one-vote system. Understanding who owns Franklin Templeton and how voting power is distributed is key to grasping the company's governance structure.

• Franklin Resources Inc shareholders are entitled to one vote per share.
• As of December 9, 2024, over 523 million shares of common stock were outstanding.
• Institutional ownership stands at 48%, with insider ownership at 40% as of April 1, 2024.
• The company encourages shareholder participation in voting.
• For a deeper dive into the company's past, explore the Brief History of Franklin Resources.

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Over the last three to five years, Franklin Templeton has strategically expanded its operations through significant acquisitions, reshaping its ownership profile. These moves have notably increased the proportion of institutional assets under management, reflecting a broader trend in the asset management industry.

These strategic acquisitions have significantly altered Franklin Resources' ownership landscape. Institutional AUM has grown from 25% to 45% over the past five years. As of September 30, 2024, acquired specialist investment managers now account for 64% of the company's total AUM, underscoring the impact of these strategic integrations on the overall ownership structure.

Capital Returns to Shareholders

In fiscal year 2024, Franklin Resources returned $946 million to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. The company also bought back 0.5 million shares for $10.0 million in Q1 2025.

Assets Under Management Growth

As of June 30, 2025, preliminary AUM reached $1.61 trillion. Despite some outflows, excluding Western Asset Management, net inflows were flat in April 2025 and positive in June 2025.

Innovation in Digital Assets

The Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund has attracted $800 million in assets as of 2025. This highlights a growing institutional interest in tokenized investments.

Democratizing Tokenized Investments

Through collaborations like the one with the Benji app, the company is working to make tokenized investments more accessible to retail investors. This aligns with broader industry trends in financial technology and accessibility, as detailed in our analysis of the Target Market of Franklin Resources.

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