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

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin Templeton Investments) (NYSE:BEN) today
reported preliminary month-end assets under management by the company`s
subsidiaries of $416.2 billion at December 31, 2008, compared to $404.6 billion
at November 30, 2008 and $643.7 billion at December 31, 2007.

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT
Preliminary
(In billions) 31-Dec-08 30-Nov-08 30-Sep-08 30-Jun-08 31-Dec-07
Franklin Templeton Investments:
Equity:
Global/international $142.6 $137.5 $190.3 $233.7 $286.1
Domestic (U.S.) 55.2 53.9 72.9 82.5 95.8
Total equity 197.8 191.4 263.2 316.2 381.9

Hybrid 78.8 75.3 93.9 109.5 116.4

Fixed-Income:
Tax-free 56.1 56.6 59.7 61.6 59.3
Taxable:
Global/international 45.9 43.9 52.7 54.3 48.3
Domestic (U.S.) 29.8 29.0 30.5 31.6 31.5
Total fixed-income 131.8 129.5 142.9 147.5 139.1

Money Market 7.8 8.4 7.3 7.0 6.3

Total $416.2 $404.6 $507.3 $580.2 $643.7

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 call 1-800/DIAL BEN or visit
franklintempleton.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

The financial results in this press release are preliminary. 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
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These 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 the actual
results and outcomes to differ materially from any future results or outcomes
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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, 2008.

* We are subject to extensive and often 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.
* The amount or mix of our assets under management are subject to significant
fluctuations and could negatively impact our revenues and income.
* Our ability to maintain the beneficial tax treatment we anticipate with
respect to non-U.S. earnings we have repatriated is based on current
interpretations of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the "Jobs Act") and
permitted use of such amounts in accordance with our domestic reinvestment plan
and the Jobs Act.
* Any significant limitation or failure of our software applications and other
technology systems that are critical to our operations could constrain our
operations.
* 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 net income.
* Changes in the distribution and sales channels on which we depend could reduce
our revenues 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 earnings and income 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 earnings or revenue 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, earnings and income could be adversely affected if the terms of
our management agreements are significantly altered or these agreements are
terminated by the funds we advise.
* Diverse and strong competition limits the interest rates that we can charge on
consumer loans.
* Regulatory and governmental examinations and/or investigations, civil
litigation relating to previously settled regulatory and governmental
investigations, 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 our
asset value, credit worthiness and the market value of our stock.
* Our ability to access the capital markets in a timely manner should we seek to
do so depends on a number of factors.

Franklin Resources, Inc.
Corporate Communications: Matt Walsh, 650-312-2245
Investor Relations: Brian Sevilla, 650-312-4091
franklintempleton.com

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