Franklin Resources, Inc. - BEN STOCK NEWS

Franklin Templeton hosted the "North American Black Experience Panel" on February 24, 2023, as part of its Black History Month events organized by the Black Empowerment Network (BEN). The panel featured insights from employees on the theme of "Black Resilience," following a talk by organizational psychologist John Amaechi. Participants discussed the importance of resilience and ways to improve diversity in the workplace. Amaechi emphasized that while resilience is commendable, it can have emotional costs. Franklin Templeton continues to focus on enhancing psychological safety and diversity within its workforce.

Franklin Templeton is launching the Franklin Income Focus ETF this summer to enhance income generation for U.S. investors. The ETF will employ a multi-asset strategy, dynamically adjusting its portfolio across various asset classes, including equity and debt securities, to respond to changing market conditions. Managed by a team with over 60 years of experience, the ETF aims to maximize income over complete market cycles. Currently, Franklin Templeton offers 58 ETFs, managing approximately $10 billion in assets. The firm has a substantial history, managing $1.4 trillion in assets as of February 28, 2023.

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1,416.5 billion as of February 28, 2023, down from $1,451.9 billion at the end of January. The decrease is attributed to negative market conditions, although $7.5 billion in institutional net inflows across fixed income strategies provided some offset. Key metrics show a decline in fixed income AUM from $512.1 billion to $502.4 billion and equity AUM from $445.5 billion to $431.9 billion. Despite the overall decline, long-term net inflows remain significant for the firm.

Franklin Templeton has appointed Barbara Ziegler and Tim Quagliarello as Senior Vice Presidents in Client Advisors for US Institutional services. Ziegler, based in Southern California, has over 30 years of industry experience, previously managing institutional relationships at DoubleLine Capital. Quagliarello, who brings 14 years of experience, most recently served at PIMCO. Their roles will focus on expanding partnerships with institutional clients, enhancing Franklin Templeton’s robust asset management capabilities. This follows a series of strategic hires aimed at strengthening the firm's institutional investment services.

Royce Value Trust, Inc. (NYSE:RVT) has announced a quarterly distribution of $0.27 per share on its Common Stock, payable on March 24, 2023. Shareholders can opt for cash or additional shares through a specific election, with the ex-dividend date set for March 10, 2023. The Trust's distribution policy reflects a 7% annual rate based on the rolling average of net asset values. Notably, a portion of the distribution may be classified as a return of capital. For the 2023 year-to-date, the estimated sources of distribution include net investment income, short-term and long-term gains, and return of capital, with 56% of the distribution potentially being a return of capital.

Franklin Templeton has appointed Tony Davidow as the new Senior Alternatives Investment Strategist at the Franklin Templeton Institute. Davidow brings over 30 years of experience in alternative investments, previously working with major firms like Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim. He is tasked with enhancing advisors' understanding of alternative investments, coinciding with increased access to private market investments. As of December 31, 2022, Franklin Templeton manages approximately $257 billion in alternative assets globally. Davidow aims to leverage this expertise to deliver insights and support to clients.

Franklin Templeton partnered with Junior Achievement of Northern California on February 9, 2023, to host Aragon High School students in a FinTech event aimed at educating youth about the integration of technology in finance.

The event, held at Franklin Templeton's San Mateo campus, included presentations from company experts and tours of the FinTech Incubator. This initiative is part of Franklin Templeton's commitment to fostering financial literacy and career readiness among students, helping them connect academic success to future opportunities in financial services and entrepreneurship.