Investigations
Franklin Resources, Inc.
Overview
Overview
- Deadline:
- Upcoming
| Company Name: | Company Name: Franklin Resources, Inc. |
| Stock Symbol: | Stock Symbol: BEN |
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN): Franklin Resources is being investigated for violations of the federal securities laws in connection with potential false and misleading statements made to investors and subsequent significant price declines in the stock.
If you incurred losses on your investments in Franklin Resources, you are encouraged to submit your information.
Why is Franklin Resources being Investigated?
Franklin Resources is a $1.7 trillion asset management company better known as Franklin Templeton. One of its key divisions is Western Asset Management (“WAM”), which is a fixed income manager. During the relevant period, Franklin Resources stated the company was focused on “the long-term investment performance of our investment products” and “building strong partnerships by delivering superior client service.”
The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed
On July 26, 2024, Franklin Resources revealed that “following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select” WAM accounts, “WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice.” The news caused a 2.4% decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock, from a closing price of $23.64 per share on July 25, 2024, to $23.08 per share on July 26, 2024.
On August 21, 2024, Franklin Resources disclosed that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been placed on leave “effective immediately” after he received a Wells Notice from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company further stated that, “[i]n light of Mr. Leech’s leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients’ best interests.” On the same day, Bloomberg reported that federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are investigating whether Leech allocated winning trades to favored accounts, as part of a criminal probe into a practice known as “cherry-picking.” This news caused a significant 13% decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock, from a closing price of $22.62 per share on August 20, 2024, to $19.78 per share on August 21, 2024.
Then, on November 4, 2024, Franklin Resources announced its preliminary fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results. The company reported $31.3 billion in long-term net outflows of its total assets under management for the quarter ended September 30, 2024—a staggering 354% increase over the prior year’s quarter—inclusive of $37 billion of long-term net outflows at WAM, alone. The company also announced a quarterly net loss of $84.7 million, as compared to net income of $174 million for the previous quarter. This news caused a 3% decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock, from a closing price of $20.84 per share on November 1, 2024, to $20.18 per share on November 4, 2024.
What are my Rights?
If you incurred losses on your investments in Franklin Resources, you are encouraged to submit your information to speak with an attorney about your rights.
You can also contact:
Ross Shikowitz
ross@bfalaw.com
212-789-3619
All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The Firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
If you incurred losses on your investments in Franklin Resources, you are encouraged to submit your information.
Why is Franklin Resources being Investigated?
Franklin Resources is a $1.7 trillion asset management company better known as Franklin Templeton. One of its key divisions is Western Asset Management (“WAM”), which is a fixed income manager. During the relevant period, Franklin Resources stated the company was focused on “the long-term investment performance of our investment products” and “building strong partnerships by delivering superior client service.”
The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed
On July 26, 2024, Franklin Resources revealed that “following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select” WAM accounts, “WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice.” The news caused a 2.4% decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock, from a closing price of $23.64 per share on July 25, 2024, to $23.08 per share on July 26, 2024.
On August 21, 2024, Franklin Resources disclosed that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been placed on leave “effective immediately” after he received a Wells Notice from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company further stated that, “[i]n light of Mr. Leech’s leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients’ best interests.” On the same day, Bloomberg reported that federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are investigating whether Leech allocated winning trades to favored accounts, as part of a criminal probe into a practice known as “cherry-picking.” This news caused a significant 13% decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock, from a closing price of $22.62 per share on August 20, 2024, to $19.78 per share on August 21, 2024.
Then, on November 4, 2024, Franklin Resources announced its preliminary fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 results. The company reported $31.3 billion in long-term net outflows of its total assets under management for the quarter ended September 30, 2024—a staggering 354% increase over the prior year’s quarter—inclusive of $37 billion of long-term net outflows at WAM, alone. The company also announced a quarterly net loss of $84.7 million, as compared to net income of $174 million for the previous quarter. This news caused a 3% decline in the price of Franklin Resources stock, from a closing price of $20.84 per share on November 1, 2024, to $20.18 per share on November 4, 2024.
What are my Rights?
If you incurred losses on your investments in Franklin Resources, you are encouraged to submit your information to speak with an attorney about your rights.
You can also contact:
Ross Shikowitz
ross@bfalaw.com
212-789-3619
All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The Firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.
Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?
BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.
Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.