Franklin Resources, Inc. Announces Pricing of Notes Offering

Rhea-AI Summary

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) announced a public offering of $750 million in 1.600% Notes due 2030 at an issue price of 99.778%. The offering, managed by BofA Securities and Citigroup, is expected to close on October 19, 2020. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including repaying long-term debt and possibly retiring a portion of Legg Mason’s 6.375% and 5.45% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2056. The offering is part of Franklin’s ongoing strategy to manage its financial obligations effectively.

Positive

• Public offering of $750 million at favorable interest rate of 1.600% represents strong market confidence.
• Intended use of proceeds includes repaying long-term debt, which may strengthen financial position.

Negative

• None.

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: BEN) today announced the pricing of its public offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of its 1.600% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) at an issue price of 99.778% of principal amount. The offering is expected to close on October 19, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. BofA Securities, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

The offering is being made pursuant to an effective registration statement filed by Franklin Resources, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2020.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, redeeming, satisfying and discharging, defeasing or otherwise repaying or retiring any long-term debt of the Company or its subsidiaries, including all or a portion of the $250 million aggregate principal amount of Legg Mason, Inc.’s (“Legg Mason”) 6.375% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2056 and/or the $500 million aggregate principal amount of Legg Mason’s 5.45% Junior Subordinated Notes due 2056. The foregoing does not constitute a notice of redemption for or an obligation to issue a notice of redemption for any outstanding notes.

The offering of the Notes may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus related to the offering, copies of which may be obtained by calling BofA Securities, Inc. at 1-800-294-1322 or Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 1-800-831-9146. Electronic copies of these documents may be obtained free of charge on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 165 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company brings extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, alternatives and custom multi-asset solutions. With offices in over 30 countries and 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has more than 70 years of investment experience and approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of September 30, 2020. The Company posts information that may be significant for investors in the Investor Relations and News Center sections of its website, and encourages investors to consult those sections regularly.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding Franklin Resources, Inc. 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, that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. While forward-looking statements are our best prediction at the time that they are made, you should not rely on them and are cautioned against doing so. 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. 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 our 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 our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

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.