Form 4: Franklin Resources Executive Chairman Boosts Direct Shareholding via Estate Planning Trust

Gregory E. Johnson, Executive Chairman of Franklin Resources Inc., significantly increased his direct beneficial ownership of company common stock by 458,790 shares through a trust maturity payment.

Summary

• Gregory E. Johnson, the Executive Chairman and a Director of Franklin Resources Inc. (BEN), acquired 458,790 shares of common stock on June 23, 2025.
• This acquisition was classified as an 'Other acquisition' (Transaction Code J) and involved shares received as a maturity payment from an independent trustee of a separate irrevocable grantor retained annuity trust, established for estate planning purposes.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Johnson's direct beneficial ownership of Franklin Resources common stock increased to 2,664,868 shares.
• His indirect holdings include 7,576.3639 shares in the Franklin Templeton 401(k) Retirement Plan (as of April 11, 2025), 2,573,100 shares through a business limited partnership, 252,415 shares held by children or as trustee for children (beneficial ownership disclaimed), 26,444 shares held by his spouse (beneficial ownership disclaimed), and 396,000 shares through a venture limited partnership (beneficial ownership disclaimed for children's trusts portion).

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The acquisition of a substantial number of shares by the Executive Chairman, even through an estate planning trust, is generally viewed positively as it increases insider alignment and demonstrates long-term commitment to the company's equity.

Positives

• The Executive Chairman, Gregory E. Johnson, significantly increased his direct beneficial ownership of Franklin Resources common stock by 458,790 shares.
• The acquisition, stemming from an estate planning trust, indicates a long-term strategic alignment and continued confidence in the company by a key executive.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing is specific to an individual insider's share ownership changes and does not provide broader industry context or trends. It reflects an internal estate planning transaction rather than a market-driven strategic move.

Related Party Transactions

• Gregory E. Johnson received 458,790 shares as a maturity payment from an independent trustee of a separate irrevocable grantor retained annuity trust, which is a related entity for estate planning purposes.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders may view the increased direct ownership by the Executive Chairman as a positive signal of management's confidence and long-term commitment to the company's value.

Key Dates

Keywords

Franklin Resources, BEN, Gregory E. Johnson, Executive Chairman, Insider Trading, Share Acquisition, Beneficial Ownership, SEC Form 4, Estate Planning, Trust Maturity