Franklin Resources Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Franklin Templeton (NYSE: BEN) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Apera Asset Management, a European private credit firm managing over €5 billion in assets. The acquisition will expand Franklin Templeton's global alternatives platform and enhance its direct lending capabilities in Europe's lower middle market. Post-acquisition, Franklin Templeton's alternative credit AUM would increase to $87 billion, with total alternative asset AUM reaching approximately $260 billion. Founded in 2016, Apera specializes in senior secured private capital solutions for private equity-backed companies in Western Europe, with offices in London, Germany, France, and Luxembourg. Apera recently closed its third flagship fund at €2.9 billion, demonstrating strong investor demand. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (WIW) announced its May 2025 distribution details and fiscal year-to-date allocations. The Fund declared a monthly distribution of $0.0625 per share, with 100% sourced from net investment income. The cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution is $0.3065 per share. The Fund's 5-year average annual total return through April 30, 2025, was 3.19%, with an annualized distribution rate of 7.68%. The Fund maintains a managed distribution policy aimed at delivering long-term total return potential through regular monthly distributions. While distributions may come from various sources including net investment income and capital gains, shareholders are cautioned that returns of capital may occur if distributions exceed the Fund's investment income and realized gains.

Meta (META) shareholders are set to vote on a critical child safety resolution at the company's Annual General Meeting. The resolution, filed by Proxy Impact and supported by 18 institutional investors, demands Meta assess and report on its child safety impacts and harm reduction efforts. This comes after reports revealed serious concerns with Instagram Teens, including promotion of inappropriate content.

The initiative follows alarming statistics: 1 in 8 children under 16 reported unwanted sexual advances on Instagram within a week, approximately 100,000 children faced daily sexual harassment on Meta platforms in 2021, and a 1,325% increase in AI-related child exploitation reports from 2023. Additionally, 41 States and DC have filed lawsuits against Meta for allegedly creating addictive features harmful to young users.

Franklin Templeton has announced the liquidation of its Franklin FTSE Hong Kong ETF (FLHK), with the final dissolution scheduled for July 8, 2025. Key dates include:

- Last day for creation orders: June 10, 2025
- Final trading day on NYSE Arca: July 1, 2025
- Trading halt: July 2, 2025
- Liquidation proceeds distribution: July 8, 2025

Shareholders can either sell their shares on NYSE Arca until market close on July 1, 2025, or wait for automatic redemption at net asset value, including any capital gains and dividends. During the liquidation process, the fund will deviate from its investment strategy, holding cash and securities not aligned with its original goals.

Franklin Templeton has announced the liquidation of two ETFs: Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF (WINC) and Western Asset Total Return ETF (WBND). The liquidation was approved by the Fund's board on May 21, 2025, and is scheduled for August 29, 2025. Key dates include: August 1, 2025 (last day for creation orders), August 22, 2025 (last trading day on NASDAQ), and August 23, 2025 (trading halt). During liquidation, the funds will hold cash and securities that may deviate from their investment objectives. Shareholders can sell their shares until market close on August 22, 2025, or wait for automatic redemption at NAV on August 29, 2025. The liquidation may have tax implications, with shareholders potentially recognizing taxable gains or losses.

Franklin Resources (NYSE:BEN) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share, maintaining the same level as the previous quarter. The dividend will be paid on July 11, 2025, to stockholders of record as of June 27, 2025. This dividend represents a 3.2% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year, demonstrating the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Franklin Templeton (BEN) has appointed Surajit Ray as the new Head of Portfolio Construction and Quantitative Risk in its Franklin Equity Group (FEG). Ray, who brings 24 years of experience in risk measurement and management, will be based in New York City and report to FEG's CIO Jonathan Curtis. In this newly created position, Ray will enhance systematic risk-aware portfolio construction processes across FEG's strategies, which manage over $120 billion in assets.

Ray previously served as Head of Investment Risk Analysis at Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and spent 14 years at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Iowa, specializing in econometrics.

Franklin Templeton (BEN) has announced plans to convert 10 Putnam municipal bond mutual funds into ETFs, expanding its municipal bond ETF lineup following the Putnam Investments acquisition in January 2024. The conversions, scheduled between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, include state-specific tax-exempt funds for California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, along with other tax-exempt funds.

The conversion aims to deliver municipal bond strategies in a more cost-efficient, flexible, and transparent structure. Franklin Templeton's U.S. ETF platform currently manages $32 billion across over 70 ETFs as of May 15, 2025. Municipal bonds offer federally tax-exempt income and historically low default rates, serving as valuable portfolio diversifiers.

Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser announced distributions for two closed-end funds (WIA and WIW) for June, July, and August 2025. The Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund (WIA) will distribute $0.05200 per share monthly, while the Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund (WIW) will distribute $0.06250 per share monthly. Both funds maintain their previous distribution rates with no changes. According to tax accounting records, 100% of the fiscal year-to-date distributions for both funds are derived from income. The distributions will be paid according to each fund's managed distribution policy, which aims to maintain consistent distribution levels from income and capital gains.