Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

(MARK ONE)

  x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006

 

or

 

  ¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                  to                 

 

Commission file number 001-09318

 

FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   13-2670991

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation

or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, California   94403
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 312-2000

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $.10 per share   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

                    x  YES    ¨  NO

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

 

                    ¨  YES    x  NO

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

                    x  YES    ¨  NO

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x            Accelerated filer  ¨            Non-accelerated filer  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 

                    ¨  YES    x  NO

 

The aggregate market value of the voting common equity (“common stock”) held by non-affiliates of the registrant, as of March 31, 2006 (the last business day of registrant’s second quarter of fiscal year 2006), was approximately $16.2 billion based upon the last sale price reported for such date on the New York Stock Exchange. For purposes of this calculation, shares of common stock held by executive officers and directors of the registrant and by persons who hold more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock have been treated as shares held by affiliates. However, such treatment should not be construed as an admission that any such person is an “affiliate” of the registrant. The registrant has no non-voting common equity.

 

Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at November 30, 2006: 253,537,899

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

 

Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after September 30, 2006, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 



Table of Contents

INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

FORM 10-K

ITEM

       

PAGE

NUMBER

PART I      
  ITEM 1.   

BUSINESS

   3
    

General

   3
    

Company History and Acquisitions

   3
    

Lines of Business

   5
    

Investment Management and Related Services

   5
    

Banking/Finance

   22
    

Financial Information About Segments and Geographic Areas

   23
    

Regulatory Considerations

   23
    

Competition

   25
    

Intellectual Property

   27
    

Employees

   27
    

Available Information

   27
  ITEM 1A.   

RISK FACTORS

   27
  ITEM 1B.   

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

   35
  ITEM 2.   

PROPERTIES

   35
  ITEM 3.   

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   35
  ITEM 4.   

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

   38
    

Executive Officers of the Registrant

   39
PART II      
  ITEM 5.   

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

   42
  ITEM 6.   

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

   43
  ITEM 7.   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   43
  ITEM 7A.   

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   73
  ITEM 8.   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

   75
  ITEM 9.   

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

   125
  ITEM 9A.   

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   125
  ITEM 9B.   

OTHER INFORMATION

   125
PART III      
  ITEM 10.   

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

   126
  ITEM 11.   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

   126
  ITEM 12.   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

   126
  ITEM 13.   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

   127
  ITEM 14.   

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

   127
PART IV      
  ITEM 15.   

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

   128
 

SIGNATURES

   137

EXHIBIT INDEX

  

 

2


Table of Contents

PART I

 

Forward-looking Statements. In addition to historical information, this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including the risks and other factors discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”), 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. When used in this report, words or phrases generally written in the future tense and/or preceded by words such as “will”, “may”, “could”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, or other similar words are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Moreover, statements in Risk Factors, MD&A and elsewhere in this report that speculate about future events are “forward-looking statements”. While forward-looking statements are our best prediction at the time that they are made, you should not rely on them. If a circumstance occurs after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K that causes any of our forward-looking statements to be inaccurate, we do not have an obligation, and we undertake no obligation, to announce publicly the change to our expectations, or to make any revision to our forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

 

Item 1. Business.

 

GENERAL

 

Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin Resources, Inc.” or the “Company”) is an investment management company, which is regulated as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”), and has elected to be a financial holding company under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the “GLB Act”). Through our wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries, we provide investment management and fund administration services (“investment management services”) to open-end and closed-end investment companies (including our own family of retail mutual funds), institutional accounts, high net-worth families, individuals and separate accounts in the United States (“U.S.”) and internationally. Our “sponsored investment products” include a broad range of domestic (U.S.) and global/international equity, hybrid, fixed-income and money market mutual funds, as well as other investment products, which are sold to the public under the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Bissett, Fiduciary Trust and Darby brand names. As of September 30, 2006, we had $511.3 billion in assets under our management with approximately 17.7 million billable shareholder accounts worldwide. In support of our primary business and operating segment, we provide investment management services and other related services, including shareholder services, transfer agency, underwriting, distribution, custodial, trustee and other fiduciary services (collectively “investment management and related services”). In our secondary business and operating segment, banking/finance, we provide clients with select retail-banking and consumer lending services through our bank subsidiaries. The common stock of the Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “BEN” and on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FRK”, and is included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The “Franklin® Templeton® Investments” brand name refers to Franklin Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively “Franklin Templeton Investments”). In this report, words such as “we”, “us”, “our” and similar terms collectively refer to Franklin Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

COMPANY HISTORY AND ACQUISITIONS

 

Franklin Templeton Investments and its predecessors have been engaged in the investment management and related services business since 1947. Franklin Resources, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in November 1969. We originated our mutual fund business with the Franklin family of funds, which is now known as the Franklin Funds. We expanded our business, in part, by acquiring companies engaged in the investment management and/or related services business.

 

3


Table of Contents

In October 1992, we acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the investment management and related services business of Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger Ltd. This acquisition added the Templeton family of funds to our organization. The Templeton funds are known for their international and global investment strategies and value style of investing.

 

In November 1996, we acquired certain assets and liabilities of Heine Securities Corporation, which provided investment management services to various accounts and investment companies, including Mutual Series Fund Inc., now known as Franklin Mutual Series Fund Inc. (“Mutual Series”). Mutual Series is known for its value oriented equity funds.

 

We expanded our business in Korea in July 2000 when we purchased all of the remaining outstanding shares of a Korean asset management company, Ssangyong Templeton Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd. (currently known as Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd.), in which we previously held a partial interest. With assets under management of approximately $3.6 billion in Korea as of September 30, 2006, we are now one of the larger independent foreign money managers in that country.

 

We acquired all of the outstanding shares of Bissett & Associates Investment Management Ltd. (“Bissett”) in October 2000. Bissett now operates as part of our Canadian subsidiary, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. With the addition of Bissett, we added Bissett’s family of mutual funds to our existing Canadian based funds (some of which we previously acquired as part of the Templeton family of funds) and expanded our investment management services throughout Canada to a broad range of clients, including institutional clients such as pension plans, municipalities, universities, charitable foundations and private clients.

 

In April 2001, we acquired Fiduciary Trust Company International, a bank organized under the New York State Banking Law (“Fiduciary Trust”). Following the acquisition, Fiduciary Trust became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. Fiduciary Trust provides investment management and related services to institutional clients and high net-worth families and individuals. With the acquisition of Fiduciary Trust, we also added Fiduciary Trust’s U.S. and non-U.S. mutual funds to our product line.

 

In July 2002, our subsidiary, Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Private Limited, acquired all of the outstanding shares of Pioneer ITI AMC Limited (“Pioneer”). Pioneer was an Indian asset management company that had approximately $800 million in assets under management as of the purchase date. The acquisition has made us one of the largest private sector asset managers in India, with assets under management of approximately $5 billion, and approximately 1.9 million shareholder accounts, as of September 30, 2006.

 

In October 2003, we acquired Darby Overseas Investments, Ltd. and Darby Overseas Partners, L.P. (collectively, “Darby”). We had previously owned 12.66% of Darby. Darby, based in Washington, D.C., sponsors and manages funds for institutional investors and high net-worth individuals that invest primarily in emerging markets, private equity and mezzanine finance transactions, including regional and specialized sector funds.

 

In July 2006, we completed the purchase of all of the remaining interests in a Brazilian asset management company, Bradesco Templeton Asset Management Ltda., in which we previously held a partial interest. Upon acquisition, the company was renamed Franklin Templeton Investimentos (Brasil) Ltda. and is licensed to manage investment products in Brazil. The acquisition resulted in the addition of approximately $0.2 billion in assets under management as of the acquisition date.

 

4


Table of Contents

LINES OF BUSINESS

 

I. Investment Management and Related Services

 

We derive substantially all of our revenues from providing investment management and related services to our retail mutual funds, and to institutional, high net-worth and separately-managed accounts and other investment products. Our revenues depend to a large extent on the amount of assets under management. Underwriting and distribution fees, also a large source of revenue, consist of sales charges and commissions derived from sales of our sponsored investment products and distribution fees. When used in this report, unless the context otherwise makes clear, the term “funds” means all of the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, and Bissett mutual funds; similarly, unless the context otherwise makes clear, “sponsored investment products” means all of the funds together with closed-end investment companies, foreign-based investment products, and other U.S. and international private, institutional, high net-worth and separate accounts.

 

A. Assets Under Management (“AUM”)

 

Fees for providing investment management and fund administration services (“investment management fees”), a large source of our revenue, are generally based upon the monetary value of assets in the accounts that we advise. As of September 30, 2006, the types of assets under management by investment category held by investors on a worldwide basis were:

 

Type of Asset

   Value in Billions    % Total of AUM  

Equity

     

Growth potential, income potential or various combinations thereof

   $ 302.0    59.1 %

Fixed-Income

     

Both long-term and short-term

   $ 112.4    22.0 %

Hybrid

     

Asset allocation, balanced, flexible and income-mixed funds

   $ 90.6    17.7 %

Money Market

     

Short-term liquid assets

   $ 6.3    1.2 %

 

Broadly speaking, the change in the net assets of the sponsored investment products depends primarily upon two factors: (1) the increase or decrease in the market value of the securities held in the portfolio of investments; and (2) the level of sales (inflows) as compared to the level of redemptions (outflows). We are subject to the risk of asset volatility, resulting from changes in the domestic and global financial and equity markets. In addition, because we generally derive higher revenues and income from our equity assets, a shift in assets from equity to fixed-income and hybrid funds reduces total revenue and, thus, net income. Despite such a risk of volatility, we believe that we are more competitive as a result of the greater diversity of sponsored investment products available to our customers.

 

B. Types of Investment Management and Related Services

 

A majority of our revenues are derived from providing investment management and related services to our sponsored investment products. We advise, manage and implement the investment and administrative activities necessary to operate our U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds or series, separately-managed accounts and our many non-U.S. based sponsored investment products.

 

5


Table of Contents
  1. Investment Management Services

 

We earn investment management fees by providing investment management services pursuant to agreements with each sponsored investment product, including each fund, or, if applicable, each person or legal entity acting on behalf of a sponsored investment product. This business is primarily conducted through our direct and indirect subsidiaries, including, among others, the following:

 

Fiduciary International, Inc., a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), provides investment management services to certain of our sponsored investment products, including separate accounts for institutional clients;

 

Fiduciary Investment Management International, Inc., a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to separate accounts for institutional and private clients;

 

Fiduciary Trust, a New York state-chartered bank, provides investment management, custody and related services to high net-worth individuals, families and institutions;

 

Fiduciary Trust Company of Canada (“FTCC”), a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser with many of the Canadian provincial and territorial securities commissions, provides investment management services to certain Canadian registered retail funds and to separate accounts for private clients primarily in Canada;

 

Fiduciary Trust International Limited, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), provides investment management services to certain of our funds and separate accounts for institutional and private clients;

 

Franklin Advisers, Inc., a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to certain of our funds, non-affiliated entities and institutional and separate accounts;

 

Franklin Advisory Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to certain of our funds and to certain non-affiliated entities;

 

Franklin Investment Advisory Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to fund clients;

 

Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to the Mutual Series funds and also to certain other funds;

 

Franklin Templeton Alternative Strategies, Inc., a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and a registered Commodity Pool Operator under the Commodity Exchange Act, provides investment management services to certain of our sponsored investment products with mandates in alternative investments;

 

Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Private Limited, an “Asset Management Company” approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, provides investment management services to certain of our funds and to institutional and private accounts in India and other jurisdictions;

 

Franklin Templeton Asset Management S.A., a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in France, provides investment management services to certain of our funds and separate accounts;

 

Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC (“FTI”), a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to institutional clients and certain of our sponsored investment products;

 

6


Table of Contents

Franklin Templeton Investimentos (Brasil) Ltda., a registered foreign equivalent of an investment adviser in Brazil, provides investment management services to certain of our sponsored investment products and separate accounts in Brazil;

 

Franklin Templeton Investment Management Limited, a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in the U.K. and a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to certain of our investment companies registered in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions, including Europe, and separate accounts;

 

Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd., a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in Korea, provides investment management services to equity and fixed income products;

 

Franklin Templeton Investments (Asia) Limited, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and a foreign equivalent of an investment adviser in Hong Kong, provides investment management services to certain of our sponsored investment products and to institutional and private accounts in Hong Kong and other jurisdictions;

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited, a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in Australia, provides investment management services to institutional clients in Australia;

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Corp., a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser with many of the Canadian provincial and territorial securities commissions, a mutual fund broker/dealer with the Ontario Securities Commission and Alberta Securities Commission and an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management and related services to Canadian registered retail funds and investment management services to certain institutional and separate accounts;

 

Franklin Templeton Investments Japan Limited, an authorized manager in Japan which is a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser, provides investment management services to certain of our funds and separate accounts in Japan and manages and sub-advises Japan equity funds that are sold in other regions;

 

Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc., a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to separate accounts and in connection with third party broker/dealer separately managed accounts or “wrap fee” programs;

 

Templeton Asset Management Ltd., a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in Singapore and Hong Kong, provides investment management services to certain Templeton “developing market” funds and portfolios, and investment management services to institutional and private accounts in Singapore, Hong Kong and other jurisdictions;

 

Templeton Global Advisors Limited, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act and a registered foreign equivalent investment adviser in The Bahamas, provides investment management services to certain of our funds and institutional and separate accounts; and

 

Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC, a registered investment adviser under the Advisers Act, provides investment management services to certain of our funds and to institutional and private accounts.

 

Our subsidiaries conducting investment management services perform investment research and determine which securities the U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds will purchase, hold or sell under the supervision and oversight of the funds’ boards of directors or trustees. In addition, these subsidiaries take all steps necessary to implement such decisions, including selecting brokers and dealers

 

7


Table of Contents

and executing and settling trades in accordance with detailed criteria set forth in the management agreement for each fund, internal policies, and applicable law and practice. In addition, certain of our subsidiaries provide similar investment management services to a number of non-U.S. open-end and closed-end investment companies. We also provide certain investment management services to U.S. and non-U.S. separate and institutional accounts.

 

Generally, the funds themselves have no paid employees. Through our subsidiaries, including Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC and Franklin Templeton Services, LLC (“FTS”), we provide and pay the salaries of personnel who serve as officers of our U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds, including the administrative personnel necessary to conduct such funds’ day-to-day business operations. FTS either provides or arranges for the provision of: office space, telephone, office equipment and supplies; trading desk facilities (unless these facilities are provided by another subsidiary); authorization of expenditures and approval of bills for payment; preparation of annual and semi-annual reports to fund shareholders, notices of dividends, capital gains distributions and tax credits, and other regulatory reports; the daily pricing of fund investment portfolios, including collecting quotations from pricing services; accounting services, including preparing and supervising publication of daily net asset value quotations, periodic earnings reports and other financial data; services to ensure compliance with securities regulations, including recordkeeping requirements; preparation and filing of tax reports; the maintenance of accounting systems and controls; and other administrative services. In some cases FTS is compensated, based on a percentage of assets under management, under separate administration agreements with the funds. In other cases, FTS is compensated by our investment management subsidiary from the fees received from our funds and clients. The funds generally pay their own expenses, such as external legal, custody and independent audit fees, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and state registration fees and other related expenses. The funds also share in board and shareholder meeting and reporting costs.

 

Our investment management services include fundamental investment research and valuation analyses, including original economic, political, industry and company research (including the utilization of such sources as company public records and activities, management interviews, company prepared information, and other publicly available information, as well as company visits and inspections), and analyses of suppliers, customers and competitors. In addition, research services provided by brokerage firms are used to support our findings.

 

Investment management services are provided pursuant to agreements in effect with each of our U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds. Agreements are in effect with foreign-registered funds and separate and institutional accounts. In general, the investment management agreements for our U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds must be renewed each year (after an initial two year term), and must be specifically approved at least annually by a vote of each fund’s board of directors or trustees as a whole and separately by the directors/trustees that are not interested persons of such fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ '40 Act”), or by a vote of the holders of a majority of such fund’s outstanding voting securities. Foreign-registered funds and separate and institutional accounts have various termination rights, and review and renewal provisions.

 

Under the majority of investment management agreements, the U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds pay us a fee payable monthly in arrears based upon a fund’s average daily net assets. Annual fee rates under the various global investment management agreements generally range from 0.15% to a maximum of 2.50% and are often reduced as net assets exceed various threshold levels.

 

We use a “master/feeder” fund structure in certain situations. This structure allows an investment adviser to manage a single portfolio of securities at the “master fund” level and have multiple “feeder funds” that invest all of their respective assets into the master fund. Individual and institutional shareholders invest in the “feeder funds” which can offer a variety of service and distribution options. A management fee

 

8


Table of Contents

typically is charged at the master fund level, and administrative and shareholder servicing fees are charged at the feeder fund level, although with certain funds all fees may be charged at the feeder fund level only.

 

Each U.S. investment management agreement between certain of our subsidiaries and each fund automatically terminates in the event of its “assignment”, as defined in the '40 Act. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement without penalty after written notice ranging from 30 to 60 days. If agreements representing a significant portion of our assets under management were terminated, it would have a material adverse impact on us. To date, none of our agreements with any of our retail funds has been involuntarily terminated.

 

Our investment management agreements permit us to provide investment management services to more than one fund so long as our ability to render services to each of the funds is not impaired, and so long as purchases and sales of portfolio securities for various advised funds are made on an equitable basis.

 

Our management personnel and the fund directors or trustees regularly review the investment management services fee structures in light of fund performance, the level and range of services provided, industry conditions and other relevant factors. Investment management services fees are generally waived or voluntarily reduced when a new fund is established and then increased to contractual levels within an established timeline or as net asset values reach certain levels.

 

  2. Underwriting and Distribution

 

A significant portion of our revenues under the investment management and related services operating segment are generated from providing underwriting and distribution services. Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc. (“FTDI”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of shares of most of our U.S.-registered open-end funds. Certain of our foreign subsidiaries provide underwriting and distribution services to our non-U.S.-registered funds in Canada and in Europe. We earn underwriting and distribution fees primarily by distributing the funds pursuant to distribution agreements between FTDI and the funds. Under each distribution agreement, we offer and sell the fund’s shares on a continuous basis and pay certain costs associated with underwriting and distributing the fund’s shares, including the costs of developing and producing sales literature and printing prospectuses, which may be then either partially or fully reimbursed by the funds.

 

Most of our U.S. and non-U.S.-registered retail funds are distributed with a multi-class share structure. We adopted this share structure to provide investors with greater sales charge alternatives for their investments. Class A shares represent a traditional fee structure whereby, in most cases, the investor pays a commission at the time of purchase unless minimum investment criteria are met. Class B shares, which are available in some of our non-U.S. funds, have no front-end sales charges, but instead have a declining schedule of sales charges (called contingent deferred sales charges) if the investor redeems within a number of years from the original purchase date. The U.S. funds that had offered Class B shares ceased offering these shares to new investors and existing shareholders effective during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Existing Class B shareholders may continue to exchange shares into Class B shares of different funds. Existing Class B shareholders may also continue to reinvest dividends on Class B shares in additional Class B shares. Class C shares have no front-end sales charges, but do have a back-end sales charge for redemptions within 12 months from the date of purchase. Class R shares are available for purchase by certain retirement, college savings and health savings plan accounts in the United States only. Outside of the United States, we offer additional share classes to respond to local needs.

 

In the United States, we offer Advisor Class shares in many of our funds, and we offer Class Z shares in the Mutual Series funds on a limited basis, both of which have no sales charges. Franklin Global Trust offers eight series of funds, seven of which are sold with no sales charge primarily to high net-worth or

 

9


Table of Contents

institutional investors. The Advisor and Class Z shares are available to our current and former officers, trustees, directors and full-time employees and are also offered to institutions and to investment management clients (both affiliated and unaffiliated) who have assets held in accounts managed by an investment management subsidiary of the Company. In the United States, we also sell money market funds to investors without a sales charge. Under the terms and conditions described in the prospectuses or the statements of additional information for some funds, certain investors can purchase shares at net asset value or at reduced sales charges. In addition, investors may generally exchange their shares of a fund at net asset value for shares within the same class of another fund without having to pay additional sales charges. Outside the United States, we offer share classes similar to the Advisor Class shares to certain types of investors, although depending upon the fund and the country(ies) in which the fund is domiciled and/or may be offered the non-U.S. share class may be offered on a more restrictive or less restrictive basis than the similar U.S. Advisor Class shares.

 

Some of our insurance product funds offered for sale in the United States offer a three-class share structure, Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 shares, which are offered at net asset value without a sales charge directly to insurance company separate accounts (the shareholder).

 

Globally, we offer types of share classes based on the local needs of the investors in a particular market. In the majority of cases, investors in any class of shares within the United States or globally may exchange their shares for a like class of shares in another fund, subject to certain fees that may apply.

 

The following table summarizes the sales charges and distribution and service fee structure that generally apply to various share classes of our U.S.-registered retail funds; however, there are exceptions to this schedule for some funds.

 

Sales Charges and Distribution and Service Fees that Generally Apply to U.S.-Registered Retail Funds

 

U.S. Retail Funds

  

Class A Shares

  

Class B Shares (c)

  

Class C Shares (d)

  

Class R Shares

Maximum Sales Charge at Time of Investment

           

Equity

   5.75%(a)    0.0%    0.0%    0.0%

Fixed-income

   4.25%(a)    0.0%    0.0%    0.0%

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

   None.(b)    4% maximum declining to zero after 6 years of each investment.    1% if share-holder sells shares within 12 months of investment.    None.

Maximum Yearly Rule 12b-1 Plan Fees

           

Equity

   0.35%    1.00%    1.00%    0.50%

Fixed-income

           

Taxable

   0.25%    0.65%    0.65%    0.50%

Tax-free

   0.10%    0.65%    0.65%    0.0%

Types of Investors That May Purchase

This Share Class

   Any.    See Note(c) below.    Any.    See Note(f) below.

 

10


Table of Contents

U.S. Retail Funds

  

Advisor Class Shares

  

Class Z Shares (e)

Sales Charge at Time of Investment

   None.    None.

Equity

     

Fixed-income

     

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

  

None.

  

None.

Yearly Rule 12b-1 Plan Fees

  

None.

  

None.

Types of Investors That May Generally

Purchase This Share Class

   Current and former officers, trustees, directors and full-time employees of Franklin Templeton Investments; institutional clients and investment management clients who have assets held in accounts managed by an investment management subsidiary of the Company.    Current and former officers, trustees, directors and full-time employees of Franklin Templeton Investments; institutional clients and investment management clients who have assets held in accounts managed by an investment management subsidiary of the Company.

(a) Reductions in the maximum sales charges may be available depending upon the amount invested and the type of investor. In some cases noted in each fund’s prospectus or statement of additional information, certain investors may invest in Class A shares at net asset value (with no load). In connection with certain of these no-load purchases, FTDI may make a payment out of its own resources to a broker/dealer involved with that sale.
(b) For net asset value purchases over $1 million, a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% may apply to shares redeemed within 18 months.
(c) Class B shares convert to Class A shares after eight years of ownership. In the United States, the U.S. funds that had offered Class B shares ceased offering these shares to new investors and existing shareholders effective during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Existing Class B shareholders may continue to exchange shares into Class B shares of different funds. Existing Class B shareholders may also continue to reinvest dividends on Class B shares in additional Class B shares.
(d) FTDI pays a 1.00% broker/dealer commission to broker/dealers of record of Class C shares. FTDI recovers a portion of the amount it pays to broker/dealers by retaining certain Rule 12b-1 fees assessed during the first 12 months and from collecting contingent deferred sales charges on any redemptions made within 12 months of the time of sale.
(e) When the Company entered into investment management contracts for the Mutual Series funds, the outstanding shares of Mutual Series funds were reclassified as Class Z shares on October 31, 1996. Current shareholders who held shares of any Mutual Series funds on October 31, 1996 may continue to purchase Class Z shares of any Mutual Series fund. Class Z shareholders may exchange into Class A shares of other funds at net asset value, which are subject to Rule12b-1 fees. FTDI may make a payment out of its own resources to a broker/dealer involved in selling Class Z shares.
(f) The types of investors that may purchase Class R shares include employer sponsored retirement plans, any trust or plan established as part of a qualified tuition program under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts, either as a direct investment or as a separate or managed account.

 

Our non-U.S.-registered funds, including Corporate Class shares offered in Canada, have various sales charges and fee structures that are not discussed in this report.

 

The distribution agreements with the U.S.-registered funds generally provide for FTDI to pay commission expenses for sales of fund shares to broker/dealers. These broker/dealers receive various sales commissions and other fees from FTDI, including fees from the investors in the funds and the funds themselves, for services in matching investors with funds whose investment objectives match such investors’ goals and risk profiles. Broker/dealers may also receive fees for their assistance in explaining the operations of the funds, in servicing the investor’s account, reporting and various other distribution services. Fund shares are sold primarily through a large network of independent intermediaries, including broker/dealers, banks and other similar financial advisers. We are heavily dependent upon these distribution channels and business relationships. FTDI may make payments to certain broker/dealers who provide

 

11


Table of Contents

marketing support services, which may include business planning assistance, advertising, educating broker/dealer personnel about the funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the broker/dealer’s list of offered funds, and access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the broker/dealer. There is increasing competition for access to these channels, which has caused our distribution costs to rise and could cause further increases in the future as competition continues and service expectations increase. As of September 30, 2006, over 3,400 local, regional, and national securities brokerage firms offered shares of our U.S.-registered funds for sale to the investing public. In the United States, we have approximately 90 general wholesalers who, together with other wholesalers working with Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc. and retirement plans, interface with the broker/dealer community.

 

Most of the U.S.-registered funds, with the exception of certain of our money market funds, have adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) under Rule 12b-1 promulgated under the '40 Act (“Rule 12b-1”). The Plans are established for an initial term of one year and, thereafter, must be approved annually by each fund’s board of directors or trustees and by a majority of its directors or trustees who are not interested persons of the fund under the '40 Act (the “disinterested fund directors/trustees”). All of these Plans are subject to termination at any time by a majority vote of the disinterested fund directors/trustees or by the particular fund shareholders. Fees from the Plans are paid primarily to third-party broker/dealers who provide services to the shareholder accounts and engage in distribution activities. The Plans permit the funds to bear certain expenses relating to the distribution of their shares, such as expenses for marketing, advertising, printing and sales promotion. FTDI may also receive reimbursement from the funds for various expenses that FTDI incurs in distributing the funds, such as marketing, advertising, printing and sales promotion, subject to the Plans’ limitations on amounts. Each fund has a percentage limit for these types of expenses based on average daily net assets under management.

 

Similar arrangements exist with the distribution of our global funds and where, generally, the distributor of the funds in the local market arranges for and pays commissions.

 

Class C shares are generally more costly to us in the year of sale, but they allow us to be competitive by increasing our presence in various distribution channels. Historically, Class B and certain of our Class C deferred commission assets (“DCA”) arising from our U.S., Canadian and European operations have been financed through sales to or other arrangements with a company in which we hold a 49% ownership interest. The holder of the 51% ownership interest in this company is a subsidiary of an international banking institution which is not affiliated with the Company. Repayments under these financing arrangements are limited to the asset-based distribution fees paid by the funds pursuant to the distribution agreements the funds have with their distributors and to the contingent deferred sales charges collected in connection with early redemptions. The U.S. funds that had offered Class B shares ceased offering these shares to new investors and existing shareholders effective during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. As of December 2005, our DCA have been financed generally by an independent third party.

 

12


Table of Contents

The sales commissions and payments below, payable to qualifying broker/dealers and other intermediaries, generally apply to our U.S.-registered retail funds; however, there are exceptions to this schedule for some funds.

 

Sales Commissions and Other Payments Paid to Qualifying Broker/Dealers and Other Intermediaries that Generally Apply to U.S.-Registered Retail Funds

 

U.S. Retail Funds

   Class A Shares     Class C Shares     Class R Shares  

Maximum Broker/Dealer Commission at Time of Investment

      

Equity

   5.00 %   1.00 %   0.0 %

Fixed-income

   4.00 %   1.00 %   0.0 %

Maximum Yearly Rule 12b-1 Plan Fees

      

Equity

   0.25 %(a)   1.00 %(b)   0.50 %

Fixed-income

      

Taxable

   0.25 %(a)   0.65 %(c)   0.50 %

Tax-free

   0.10 %   0.65 %(c)   0.0 %

(a) The fees referenced above generally apply; however, there are certain individual funds that may apply a different fee structure, including certain equity funds whose Rule 12b-1 fees are 0.35% and certain taxable fixed-income funds whose Rule 12b-1 fees are 0.15%.
(b) FTDI retains a fee equal to 0.75% and pays 0.25% to the broker/dealer on the average assets in the account for the first 12 months following the sale, after which the full Rule 12b-1 fee is paid to the broker/dealer.
(c) FTDI retains a fee equal to 0.50% and pays 0.15% to the broker/dealer on the assets in the account for the first 12 months following the sale, after which the full Rule 12b-1 fee is paid to the broker/dealer.

 

Two of the three share classes of our insurance product funds also have adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1. Class 2 and Class 3 shares allow the fund to pay FTDI, the fund’s underwriter, the insurance company or others for distribution, including servicing; Class 3 shares, which are offered by three of the insurance funds, may also assess a 1.00% redemption fee when contract owners redeem units of interest from an insurance company sub-account held for less than 60 days. The Rule 12b-1 distribution fees are generally assessed quarterly at the current annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the class.

 

Our foreign subsidiaries that provide underwriting and distribution services for our non-U.S.-registered funds pay various sales commissions and other payments to qualifying broker/dealers and other intermediaries that are not discussed in this report.

 

FTDI and/or its affiliates may make the following additional payments out of FTDI’s or its affiliates’ own assets to broker/dealers that sell shares of our funds:

 

Marketing support payments. FTDI may make payments to certain broker/dealers who are holders or dealers of record for accounts in one or more of our funds. A broker/dealer’s marketing support services may include business planning assistance, advertising, educating broker/dealer personnel about the funds and shareholder financial planning needs, placement on the broker/dealer’s list of offered funds, and access to sales meetings, sales representatives and management representatives of the broker/dealer. FTDI compensates broker/dealers differently depending upon, among other factors, sales and assets levels, redemption rates and the level and/or type of marketing and educational activities provided by the broker/dealer. Such compensation may include financial assistance to broker/dealers that enable FTDI to participate in and/or present at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs for invited registered representatives and other employees, client and investor events and other broker/dealer-sponsored events. These payments may vary depending upon the nature of the event. FTDI, on an annual basis, determines whether to continue such payments. In the case of any one broker/dealer, marketing support payments will not exceed the sum of 0.10% of that broker/

 

13


Table of Contents

dealer’s current year’s total sales of our funds and 0.05% (or 0.03%) of the total assets of equity (or fixed income) funds attributable to that broker/dealer, on an annual basis. The statement of additional information for each fund provides a list of broker/dealers that receive such marketing support payments. Marketing support payments made to organizations located outside the United States, with respect to investments in a fund by non-U.S. persons, may exceed the above-stated limitations.

 

Transaction support payments. FTDI may pay ticket charges of up to $20 per purchase or exchange order placed by a broker/dealer or one time payments for ancillary services, such as setting up funds on a broker/dealer’s fund trading system.

 

Other payments. From time to time, FTDI, at its expense, may make additional payments to broker/dealers that sell or arrange for the sale of shares of the funds. FTDI routinely sponsors due diligence meetings for registered representatives during which they receive updates on various funds and are afforded the opportunity to speak with portfolio managers. Invitation to these meetings is not conditioned on selling a specific number of shares. Those who have shown an interest in our funds, however, are more likely to be considered. To the extent permitted by their firm’s policies and procedures, registered representatives’ expenses in attending these meetings may be covered by FTDI.

 

Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”). FTDI makes payments for events it deems appropriate, subject to FTDI’s guidelines and applicable law.

 

  3. Shareholder and Transfer Agency Services

 

One of our subsidiaries, Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC (“FTIS”), provides shareholder record keeping services and acts as transfer agent and dividend-paying agent for the U.S.-registered open-end funds. FTIS is registered with the SEC as a transfer agent under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Generally, FTIS is compensated under an agreement with each fund on the basis of an annual per account fee, which varies with the fund and the type of services being provided. FTIS also is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. In some instances, certain funds compensate FTIS based on assets under management. Other subsidiaries provide the same services to the funds offered for sale in Canada, Europe, Asia and other non-U.S. regions under similar fee arrangements.

 

FTIS may also pay servicing fees, which are reimbursed by the funds, in varying amounts to certain financial institutions (primarily to help offset costs associated with client account maintenance support, statement preparation and transaction processing) that: (i) maintain omnibus accounts with the fund in the institution’s name on behalf of numerous beneficial owners of fund shares; or (ii) provide support for fund shareholder accounts by sharing account data with FTIS through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) networking system. FTIS will also receive a fee from the funds for services provided in support of beneficial owners and NSCC networking system accounts.

 

C. High Net-Worth Investment Management and Related Services

 

Through Fiduciary Trust (including its trust company subsidiaries), we provide investment management services to, among others, high net-worth individuals and families. Similarly, through our Canadian high net-worth business unit, FTCC, we provide investment management services and offer sponsored investment products to high net-worth individuals and families. At Fiduciary Trust, these services, that focus on managing family wealth from generation to generation, include wealth management, estate planning, private funds, private banking, tax and custody services. Our high net-worth client business seeks to maintain relationships that span generations and help families plan the most appropriate method of intergenerational wealth transfer.

 

14


Table of Contents

Individual client assets are typically held in accounts separately managed by individual portfolio managers. These portfolio managers determine asset allocation and stock selection for client accounts, taking into consideration each client’s specific long-term objectives while utilizing our macroeconomic and individual stock research.

 

We offer clients personalized attention and estate planning expertise in an integrated package of services known as Family Resource Management® (“FRM”). Services under FRM provide clients with an integrated strategy to optimize wealth accumulation and maximize after-tax wealth transfer to the next generation. These services include advice concerning strategic planning and asset allocation, management, and custody and reporting. Evaluation of third party investment management products or services is performed by the Strategic Advisory Group.

 

D. Institutional Management

 

We provide a broad array of investment management services to institutional clients, focusing on foundations, endowment funds and government and corporate pension funds. Our subsidiaries offer a wide range of both domestic and international equity, fixed-income and specialty strategies through a variety of investment vehicles, including separate and commingled accounts and open-end and closed-end domestic and offshore funds.

 

We operate our institutional business under the trade name “Franklin Templeton Institutional”. Through various legal entities, including FTI, we distribute and market globally the different investment management capabilities of our various investment management subsidiaries under the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Bissett, Fiduciary Global Advisors and Darby brand names. We primarily attract new institutional business through our strong relationships with pension and management consultants, and through additional mandates from our existing client relationships.

 

The Retirement Group, a division of FTDI, works closely with sponsors of defined contribution plans, including 401(k) plans, bundled defined contribution plans, variable annuity products and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). This business unit allows us to focus on expanding sales of our asset management capabilities to the U.S. retirement industry by offering a number of investment options, including sub-advised portfolios, funds, education savings plans and variable insurance trusts.

 

E. Separately-Managed Accounts

 

Through Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, Inc., which does business as Franklin Portfolio Advisors and Templeton Portfolio Advisors, we provide investment management services through third party broker/dealer “wrap fee” programs. Another of our subsidiaries, Templeton/Franklin Investment Services, Inc., also serves as a direct marketing broker/dealer for institutional investors for certain of our funds. Through our various subsidiaries, we also market and distribute our sponsored investment products to individually managed and separate accounts.

 

F. Trust and Custody

 

Through various trust company subsidiaries, including Fiduciary Trust, we offer a wide range of investment management and related services, including trust services, custody and administration, estate planning, tax planning, and private banking, to high net-worth individuals, families, foundations and institutional clients in the United States and abroad. In addition, we also offer our clients a series of other services, including foreign exchange, performance measurement, securities lending and brokerage services. We provide planned giving administration and related custody services for non-profit organizations, including pooled income funds, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and gift annuities, for which we may or may not act as trustee.

 

15


Table of Contents

Our other subsidiaries involved in the trust business, either as trust companies or companies investing in trust companies, include: Fiduciary Investment Corporation, which is incorporated under the New York State Banking Law and serves as an indirect holding company for several of our trust company subsidiaries; FTCC, a trust company incorporated under the Trust and Loan Companies Act in Canada; Fiduciary Trust International of the South, a Florida state-chartered limited purpose trust company; Fiduciary Trust International of California, a California state-chartered limited purpose trust company; Fiduciary Trust International of Delaware, a Delaware state-chartered limited purpose trust company; FTCI (Cayman) Ltd., an offshore trust company holding an unrestricted trust license in the Cayman Islands; and Franklin Templeton Bank & Trust, F.S.B. (“FTB&T”), a chartered federal savings bank. All of the trust companies referenced above have full trust powers. FTB&T, among other functions, exercises full trust powers and serves primarily as custodian of IRAs and business retirement plans.

 

G. Private Equity Investment Management

 

Darby is primarily engaged in sponsoring and managing investment funds that invest in private equity and mezzanine finance transactions in emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe. Darby offers these investment funds through private placements to institutional and high net-worth individual investors.

 

H. Summary of Our Sponsored Investment Products

 

Our sponsored investment products are offered to retail, institutional, high net-worth and separate account clients, which include individual investors, qualified groups, trustees, tax-deferred (such as IRAs in the United States and retirement saving plans, or RSPs, in Canada) or money purchase plans, employee benefit and profit sharing plans, trust companies, bank trust departments and institutional investors. Clients in our sponsored investment products were located in approximately 150 countries at September 30, 2006.

 

  1. Investment Objectives

 

The sponsored investment products that we offer accommodate a variety of investment goals, spanning the spectrum of our clients’ risk tolerance – from capital appreciation (with our more growth-oriented products) to capital preservation (with our fixed-income offerings). In seeking to achieve such objectives, each portfolio emphasizes different strategies and invests in different types of securities.

 

Our equity investment products include some that are considered value-oriented, others that are considered growth-oriented, and some that use a combination of growth and value characteristics, generally identified as blend or core products. Value investing focuses on identifying companies that our research analysts and portfolio managers believe are undervalued based on a number of different factors, usually put in the context of historical ratios such as price-to-earnings or price-to-book value; however, we also consider the future earnings potential of each individual company on a multi-year basis. Our growth portfolios maintain a philosophy of identifying future drivers of growth that are not reflected in a company’s current stock price, as determined by our research analysts and portfolio managers. Paramount to all of our different equity products is the incorporation of independent, fundamental research through our own in-house investment professionals. Our approach, across the variety of equity products we manage, emphasizes bottom-up stock selection within a disciplined portfolio construction process, and is complimented with our ongoing assessment of risk at both the security and portfolio levels.

 

Portfolios seeking income generally focus on one or more of the following securities: taxable and tax-exempt money market instruments; tax-exempt municipal bonds; global fixed-income securities; and fixed-income debt securities of corporations, of the U.S. government and its sponsored agencies and instrumentalities, such as the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage

 

16


Table of Contents

Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or of the various states in the United States. Still others focus on investments in particular countries and regions, such as emerging markets.

 

  2. Types of Sponsored Investment Products

 

As of September 30, 2006 we had $511.3 billion in assets under management. Our U.S.-registered open-end funds (excluding our insurance products trust) accounted for $279.6 billion of our assets under management. As of September 30, 2006, the net assets under management of our five largest funds were Franklin Income Fund ($46.9 billion), Templeton Growth Fund ($32.1 billion), Mutual Shares Fund ($19.2 billion), Templeton Foreign Fund ($18.1 billion) and Franklin California Tax-Free Income Fund ($13.7 billion). These five funds represented, in the aggregate, approximately 25% of all sponsored investment product assets under management.

 

Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust, our insurance products trust, offers 22 funds to U.S. investors, with assets of $28.3 billion as of September 30, 2006. Our insurance products funds are available as investment options through variable insurance contracts. Most of these funds have been fashioned after some of our more popular U.S. retail funds offered to the general public and are managed, in most cases, by the same investment advisors.

 

We also provide investment management and related services to a number of closed-end investment companies whose shares are traded on various major U.S. stock exchanges. Our U.S. closed-end funds accounted for $4.5 billion of our assets under management. On a company-wide basis, institutional, separate and high net-worth accounts accounted for $101.2 billion of assets under management.

 

In addition, $81.9 billion of our assets under management were held in open-end and closed-end funds and other accounts that are sold outside of the United States, and whose investment objectives vary, but are primarily international and global equity-oriented. We provide investment management, marketing and distribution services to SICAV (Société d’Investissement à Capital Variable) funds and umbrella unit trusts organized in Luxembourg and Ireland, respectively, which are distributed in non-U.S. market places, as well as to locally organized funds in various countries outside the United States. In some countries, we offer products for the particular local market. For example, in the People’s Republic of China, Franklin Templeton Sealand Fund Management Co., Ltd., an unconsolidated Sino-foreign joint venture fund management company established by Templeton International, Inc. and a local securities firm, Sealand Securities Co., Ltd., to manage local assets for Chinese investors, had approximately $400 million of assets under management at September 30, 2006.

 

Our sponsored investment products include portfolios managed for some of the world’s largest corporations, endowments, charitable foundations, pension funds, wealthy individuals and other institutions. We use various investment techniques to focus on specific client objectives for these specialized portfolios.

 

17


Table of Contents

The following table shows the various types of our U.S.-registered open-end funds and dedicated insurance product funds as of September 30, 2006, and is categorized using the investment classifications set forth below:

 

U.S.-REGISTERED OPEN-END FUNDS (a)

 

CATEGORY

(and approximate amount of assets under

management, as of September 30, 2006)

 

In Billions

  

INVESTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS

 

NO. OF

MUTUAL

FUNDS

 

NO. OF

INSURANCE

PRODUCT

FUNDS

I.    EQUITY FUNDS ($177.8)

      

A. Capital Appreciation Funds ($29.6)

   Seeks capital appreciation; dividends are not a primary consideration.    

1. Aggressive Growth Funds

   Invests primarily in common stocks of small, growth companies.   5   1

2. Growth Funds

   Invests primarily in common stocks of well-established companies.   15   2

3. Sector Funds

   Invests primarily in companies in related fields.   8   2

B. World Equity Funds ($100.0)

   Invests primarily in stocks of non-U.S. companies.    

1. Emerging Market Funds

   Invests primarily in companies based in developing regions of the world.   2   1

2. Global Equity Funds

   Invests primarily in equity securities traded worldwide, including those of U.S. companies.   11   2

3. International Equity Funds

   Invests primarily in equity securities of companies located outside the United States.   6   1

4. Regional Equity Funds

   Invests in companies based in a specific part of the world.   2   0

C. Total Return Funds ($48.2)

   Seeks a combination of current income and capital appreciation.    

1. Growth and Income Funds

   Invests primarily in common stocks of established companies with the potential for growth and a consistent record of dividend payments.   9   5

2. Income Equity Funds

   Invests primarily in equity securities of companies with good dividend-paying records.   1   0

II.    HYBRID FUNDS ($52.4)

   Invests in a mix of equities, fixed-income securities, and derivative instruments.    

A. Asset Allocation Funds ($0.4)

   Invests in various asset classes including, but not limited to, equities, fixed-income securities, and money market instruments.   17   1

 

18


Table of Contents

CATEGORY

(and approximate amount of assets under

management, as of September 30, 2006)

 

In Billions

  

INVESTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS

 

NO. OF

MUTUAL

FUNDS

 

NO. OF

INSURANCE

PRODUCT

FUNDS

B. Income-Mixed Funds ($52.0)

   Invests in a variety of income-producing securities, including equities and fixed-income instruments.   8   1

III.    TAXABLE BOND FUNDS ($20.3)

      

A. High Yield Funds ($3.0)

   Invests two-thirds or more of their portfolios in lower-rated U.S. corporate bonds (Baa or lower by Moody’s and BBB or lower by Standard & Poor’s rating services).   2   1

B. World Bond Funds ($4.4)

   Invests in debt securities offered by foreign companies and governments.    

1. Global Bond Funds:

General

   Invests in debt securities worldwide with no stated average maturity or an average maturity of five years or more.   1   2

2. Global Bond Funds:

Short Term

   Invests in debt securities worldwide with an average maturity of one to five years.   1   0

3. Other World Bond Funds

   Invests in international bond and emerging market debt securities, such as foreign government and corporate debt instruments.   1   0

C. Government Bond Funds ($8.1)

   Invests in U.S. government bonds of varying maturities.    

1. Government Bond Funds:

Intermediate Term

   Invests two-thirds or more of their portfolios in U.S. government securities with an average maturity of five to ten years.   0   1

2. Government Bond Funds:

Short Term

   Invests two-thirds or more of their portfolios in U.S. government securities with an average maturity of one to five years.   1   0

3. Mortgage-Backed Funds

   Invests two-thirds or more of their portfolios in pooled mortgage-backed securities.   3   0

D. Strategic Income Funds ($2.5)

   Invests in a combination of U.S. fixed-income securities.   4   1

E. Corporate Bond Funds ($2.3)

   Seeks current income by investing in high-quality debt securities issued by U.S. corporations.    

1. Corporate Bond Funds:

Short Term

   Invests two-thirds or more of their portfolios in U.S. corporate bonds with an average maturity of one to five years.   2   0

 

19


Table of Contents

CATEGORY

(and approximate amount of assets under

management, as of September 30, 2006)

 

In Billions

  

INVESTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS

 

NO. OF

MUTUAL

FUNDS

 

NO. OF

INSURANCE

PRODUCT

FUNDS

IV.    TAX-FREE BOND FUNDS ($53.0)

      

A. State Municipal Bond Funds ($37.0)

   Invests primarily in municipal bonds issued by a particular state.    

1. State Municipal Bond Funds:

General

   Invests primarily in single-state municipal bonds with an average maturity of greater than five years or no specific stated maturity. The income from these funds is largely exempt from federal as well as state income tax for residents of the state.   29   0

2. State Municipal Bond Funds:

Short Term

   Invests primarily in single-state municipal bonds with an average maturity of one to five years. The income from these funds is largely exempt from federal as well as state income tax for residents of the state.   2   0

B. National Municipal Bond Funds ($16.0)

   Invests primarily in bonds of various municipal issuers in the United States.    

1. National Municipal Bond Funds:

General

   Invests primarily in municipal bonds with an average maturity of more than five years or no specific stated maturity.   4   0

2. National Municipal Bond Funds:

Short Term

   Invests primarily in municipal bonds with an average maturity of one to five years.   1   0

V.    MONEY MARKET FUNDS ($4.4)

      

A. Taxable Money Market Funds ($3.6)

   Invests in short-term, high-grade money market securities with average maturities of 90 days of less.    

1. Taxable Money Market Funds:

Non-Government

   Invests primarily in a variety of money market instruments, including certificates of deposit from larger banks, commercial paper, and bankers’ acceptances.   6   1

B. Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds ($0.8)

   Invests in short-term municipal securities and must have average maturities of 90 days or less.    

1. National Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds

   Invests in short-term securities of various U.S. municipal issuers.   1   0

2. State Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds

   Invests primarily in short-term securities of municipal issuers in a single state to achieve tax-free income for residents of the state.   2   0

 

20


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the types of our non-U.S. open-end funds as of September 30, 2006 and is categorized by investment classifications and sales region.

 

NON-U.S. OPEN-END FUNDS (a)

 

CATEGORY

(and approximate amount of assets under
management, as of September 30, 2006)

 

In Billions

  

INVESTMENT CLASSIFICATIONS

  

NO. OF

MUTUAL

FUNDS BY SALES

REGION

I.    EQUITY FUNDS ($53.1)

       

A. Global/International Equity  ($50.5)

   Invests in securities of companies traded world-wide, including foreign and U.S. companies.   

Asia Pacific:

Canada:

U.K./Europe:

Latin America:

  37
20
39
3

B. Domestic (U.S.) Equity ($2.6)

   Invests in equity securities of U.S. companies.   

Asia Pacific:

Canada:

U.K./Europe:

  1
5
12

II.    FIXED-INCOME FUNDS ($19.8)

    

A. Global/International Fixed- Income ($11.2)

   Invests world-wide in debt securities offered by foreign companies and governments. These funds may invest assets in debt securities offered by companies located in the United States.   

Asia Pacific:

Canada:

U.K./Europe:

  31
5
13

B. Domestic (U.S.) Fixed-Income ($8.6)

   Invests in debt securities offered by U.S. companies and the U.S. government and/or municipalities located in the United States.   

Asia Pacific:

Canada:

U.K./Europe:

  2
2
5

III.    HYBRID FUNDS ($3.2)

   Invests in a mix of global equity, fixed-income securities and derivative instruments.   

Asia Pacific:

Canada:

U.K./Europe:

  20
6
10

IV.    TAXABLE MONEY FUNDS      ($1.9)

   Invests in securities issued or guaranteed by domestic or global governments or agencies.   

Asia Pacific:

Canada:

U.K./Europe:

  4
4
2

(a) Does not include the Franklin Templeton Global Fund, the Fiduciary Emerging Markets Bond Fund plc, and fund-of-funds. For purposes of this table, we consider the sales region to be where a fund is based and primarily sold and not necessarily the region where a particular fund is invested. Many funds are also distributed across different sales regions (e.g., SICAV funds are based, primarily sold in, and, therefore, considered to be within the U.K./Europe sales region, although also distributed in the Asia Pacific sales region), but are only designated a single sales region in the table.

 

  3. Fund Introductions, Mergers and Liquidations

 

In an effort to address changing market conditions and evolving investor needs, we periodically introduce new funds, merge existing funds or liquidate existing funds. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 (“fiscal year 2006”), we introduced a number of funds within the United States, Canada and other non-U.S. regions.

 

In the United States, we selectively added 7 funds to the retail product lineup during fiscal year 2006. For the growing retirement marketplace, we added the Franklin Templeton 2015, 2025, 2035 and 2045 Retirement Target Funds. We also launched the Franklin Balanced Fund, for conservative investors seeking growth of capital and income, the Franklin Global Real Estate Fund to address interest in global real estate

 

21


Table of Contents

investing, and the Templeton BRIC Fund, the first U.S.-registered mutual fund to focus on the growing markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

 

In Canada, we converted the Bissett American Equity Fund into the Franklin Templeton U.S. Rising Dividends Fund and we also introduced a Corporate Class version of the Franklin Templeton U.S. Rising Dividends Fund. We also introduced the Templeton Global Income Fund to meet the continued demand for income generating products. In September 2006, we launched the Franklin Templeton Managed Yield Class and the Franklin Templeton Short-Term Yield Class. These funds generate earnings that are treated as capital gains, thus providing clients with a higher after-tax return. To meet market demand in the institutional and high net-worth spaces, we converted the Bissett American Bond Trust into the Bissett Long Term Bond Trust and we launched the Bissett Balanced Trust.

 

In other non-U.S. regions, we strategically launched new core funds and investment products that address the unique needs of local markets. In Europe, we continued to expand our local product offering through the introduction of six new SICAV funds. To expand our product range, a fund of funds SICAV also has been launched offering three different investment funds. In the U.K., we continued to expand our product range, launching a Global REIT Fund in April.

 

In India, four new closed-end fixed income sub-funds, one new closed-end equity sub-fund and one new open-end equity sub-fund were introduced to provide investors with choices in their asset allocations. The Templeton India Equity Income Fund, an open-end equity fund, was the first fund launched in India to take advantage of the liberalization of investments in foreign securities by funds in India. In other country specific markets, including Australia, Brazil, Korea, and Singapore, we initiated new products to support these expanding businesses. Darby launched regional mezzanine funds in Asia and Central/Eastern Europe, and with Hana Bank established the Korea Emerging Infrastructure Fund in Korea.

 

During fiscal year 2006, the following fund mergers and liquidations, among others, occurred: one U.S.-registered open-end fund was merged into another U.S.-registered open-end fund; one “529” portfolio was liquidated; one insurance product fund matured and was liquidated; three non-U.S.-registered open-end funds were merged into other non-U.S.-registered open-end funds; and 27 non-U.S.-registered open-end funds were liquidated. In Canada, we merged the Franklin World Telecom Fund, Franklin World Telecom Fund Corporate Class and Franklin Technology Fund into Franklin Technology Corporate Class and we also merged Franklin U.S. Large Cap Growth Fund, Franklin U.S. Large Cap Growth Fund Corporate Class and Franklin Flex Cap Growth Fund into Franklin Flex Cap Growth Corporate Class. Further, in Canada, we also merged Franklin World Growth Fund into Franklin World Growth Corporate Class and we closed the Templeton Retirement Equity Trust. In India, one sub-fund matured and, in Hong Kong, one local guarantee fund matured.

 

II. Banking/Finance

 

Our secondary business segment is banking/finance, which offers select retail-banking and consumer lending services.

 

One of our subsidiaries, Fiduciary Trust, a New York state-chartered bank, is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and provides private banking services primarily to high net-worth clients who maintain trust, custody and/or management accounts with Fiduciary Trust in the United States. Fiduciary Trust’s private banking and credit products include, among others, loans secured by marketable securities, foreign exchange services, deposit accounts and other banking services. Fiduciary Trust also offers investment management, custody and related services to institutional accounts and high net-worth individuals and families.

 

22


Table of Contents

Another of our subsidiaries, Franklin Capital Corporation (“FCC”), engages primarily in the purchase, securitization and servicing of retail installment sales contracts (“automobile contracts”) originated by independent automobile dealerships. FCC is incorporated and headquartered in Utah and conducts its business primarily in the Western region of the United States. As of September 30, 2006, FCC’s total assets included $427.6 million of outstanding automobile contracts and $2.4 million in other fixed term assets. During fiscal year 2006, FCC securitized approximately $348.2 million of automobile contract receivables for which it maintains servicing rights. As of September 30, 2006, FCC was servicing $514.8 million of receivables that had been securitized to date. See Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Our securitized automobile contracts business is subject to marketplace fluctuation and competes with businesses with significantly larger portfolios. Auto loan portfolio losses can be influenced significantly by trends in the economy and credit markets, which reduce borrowers’ ability to repay loans. A more detailed analysis of loan losses and delinquency rates in our consumer lending and dealer auto loan business is contained in Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See also “Risk Factors” below.

 

Our subsidiary FTB&T, with total assets of $143.3 million, as of September 30, 2006, provides deposit accounts insured by the FDIC and general consumer loan products, such as credit card loans, unsecured loans, loans secured by marketable securities, mortgage loans, debit card products and auto loans. FTB&T (formerly known as Franklin Bank) became chartered as a federal savings bank on May 1, 2000 when the Office of Thrift Supervision (the “OTS”) approved FTB&T’s application to convert from a California state banking charter to a federal thrift charter. Immediately following the conversion of FTB&T’s state charter to a federal thrift charter, Franklin Templeton Trust Company, a California chartered trust company, was merged into FTB&T and continues to perform its prior activities as a division of FTB&T.

 

Our other banking subsidiaries include, among others, FTCI (Cayman) Ltd., which is an offshore trust company that holds an unrestricted trust license in the Cayman Islands.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

 

Certain financial information by business segment and geographic area is contained in Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (in Item 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K), which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

 

Virtually all aspects of our business, including those conducted through our various subsidiaries, are subject to various federal, state, and foreign regulation and supervision. Domestically, we are subject to regulation and supervision by, among others, the SEC, the NASD, the Federal Reserve Board (the “FRB”), the FDIC, the OTS and the New York State Banking Department (“NYSBD”). Globally, we are subject to regulation and supervision by, among others, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada as well as provincial and territorial regulators of financial services and securities and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Securities Commission of The Bahamas, the Financial Services Authority in the U.K., the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier in Luxembourg, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers in France, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany, the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa in Italy, the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores in Spain, the Autoriteit Financiële Markten in The Netherlands, the Finansinspektionen in Sweden, the Swiss Federal Banking Commission, the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, the Korean Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Financial Supervisory Commission and the Financial Supervisory Services in Korea, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Taiwan Securities and Futures Bureau, the Ministry of Finance, and the

 

23


Table of Contents

Commerce Department, Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan, the Financial Services Agency in Japan, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission in Australia, the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission in Brazil, and the Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores in Mexico. The Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on our subsidiaries, which are registered in the United States as investment advisers, including record keeping, operating and marketing requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities. The ‘40 Act imposes similar obligations on the investment companies that are advised by our subsidiaries. The SEC is authorized to institute proceedings and impose sanctions for violations of the Advisers Act and the ‘40 Act, ranging from fines and censure to termination of an investment adviser’s registration.

 

The Company and many of the investment companies advised by our various subsidiaries are subject to federal securities laws and state securities and corporate laws, including those affecting corporate governance, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules adopted by the SEC. As an NYSE-listed company, we are also subject to the rules of the NYSE, including its corporate governance standards. The federal securities laws have also been augmented by other measures, including the USA Patriot Act of 2001.

 

Since 1993, the NASD Conduct Rules have limited the amount of aggregate sales charges which may be paid in connection with the purchase and holding of investment company shares sold through broker/dealers. The effect of the rule is to limit the amount of fees that could be paid pursuant to a fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan to FTDI, our principal underwriting and distribution subsidiary in the United States, which earns underwriting commissions on the distribution of fund shares in the United States.

 

Following the acquisition of Fiduciary Trust in April 2001, the Company registered as a bank holding company under the BHC Act and became subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the FRB. The Company also has elected to be a financial holding company. Under FRB policy, a bank holding company, including a financial holding company, is expected to act as a source of financial strength to each of its banking subsidiaries. In addition, bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available from the previous fiscal year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with anticipated future needs and financial condition.

 

The FRB also has adopted a system of risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the capital adequacy of most bank holding companies, including the Company. Under these guidelines, the Company currently is well capitalized. In addition, each of Fiduciary Trust and FTB&T is well capitalized as of September 30, 2006, as such term is defined by the FDIC and OTS, respectively. A depository institution generally is prohibited from making capital distributions, including paying dividends, or paying management fees to a holding company if the institution would thereafter be undercapitalized. Moreover, undercapitalized institutions may not accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits. Bank regulators are required to take prompt corrective action to resolve any problems associated with insured depository institutions, including Fiduciary Trust and FTB&T, whose capital levels become undercapitalized. The GLB Act, however, generally prohibits the FRB from imposing similar capital requirements on regulated non-bank subsidiaries of a financial holding company.

 

Pursuant to the GLB Act, a bank holding company may also elect to become a financial holding company to engage in a broader range of activities that are financial in nature, including securities underwriting, dealing and market making, securitizing assets, sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies, engaging in insurance underwriting and brokerage activities and investing (without providing routine management) in companies engaged in nonfinancial activities. To qualify as a financial holding company, each of a bank holding company’s domestic subsidiary banks and other depository institution subsidiaries, which are not subject to an exemption, must be and remain at all times well capitalized and well managed. In addition, each such subsidiary must have achieved at least a “satisfactory” rating under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) in the evaluation preceding the financial holding company election. We elected to become a financial

 

24


Table of Contents

holding company in 2001, and, accordingly, FTB&T is subject to CRA requirements, although Fiduciary Trust is exempt from such requirements because it qualifies as a special purpose bank. If, however, we do not continue to meet all of the requirements for status as a financial holding company, we would, depending on which requirement is not met, be required to (i) cause Fiduciary Trust or FTB&T to meet such requirement and, in the meantime, seek prior FRB approval to undertake certain new activities or certain banking and non-banking acquisitions, or (ii) either discontinue our banking (but not our thrift) business, or discontinue those activities not generally permissible for bank holding companies.

 

The BHC Act generally requires that a bank holding company obtain prior approval of the FRB before acquiring control of any bank. In addition, the FRB may impose limitations, restrictions, or prohibitions on the activities or acquisitions of a financial holding company if the FRB believes that the financial holding company does not have appropriate financial and managerial resources. The GLB Act establishes the FRB as the umbrella supervisor for financial holding companies and adopts an administrative approach to regulation that generally requires the FRB to defer to the actions and requirements of the U.S. “functional” regulators of subsidiary broker/dealers, investment advisers, investment companies, insurance companies, and other regulated non-depository institutions. The FRB, however, retains broad authority to prohibit activities of bank holding companies and their non-banking subsidiaries that represent unsafe and unsound banking practices or that constitute violations of law or regulation. Civil money penalties may be imposed for certain activities conducted on a knowing or reckless basis if those activities caused a substantial loss to the bank holding company.

 

Each of our banking subsidiaries is subject to restrictions under federal law that limit transactions with the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries, including loans and other extensions of credit, investments or asset purchases. These and various other transactions, including any payment of money to the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries, must be on terms and conditions that are, or in good faith would be, offered to companies that are not affiliated with these entities. In addition, these laws and related regulations may limit our ability to obtain funds from subsidiary banks or affiliates.

 

The operations and activities of Fiduciary Trust are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC and NYSBD while the operations and activities of our other subsidiaries, including FTB&T, are subject to oversight by the OTS and various state regulators. The laws and regulations of these regulators generally impose restrictions and requirements, with which we must comply, on capital adequacy, management practices, liquidity, branching, earnings, loans, dividends, investments, reserves against deposits and the provision of services.

 

The federal banking agencies and the NYSBD have broad enforcement powers, including the power to terminate deposit insurance, impose substantial fines and other civil and criminal penalties and appoint a conservator or receiver. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and supervisory agreements could subject the Company, our thrift and banking subsidiaries, as well as officers, directors and other so-called “institution-affiliated parties” of these organizations to administrative sanctions and potentially substantial civil money penalties. In addition, the appropriate federal banking agency may appoint the FDIC as conservator or receiver for a banking institution, or the FDIC may appoint itself if any one or more of a number of circumstances exist.

 

COMPETITION

 

The financial services industry is highly competitive and has increasingly become a global industry. There are approximately 8,000 open-end investment companies of varying sizes, and with varying investment policies and objectives, whose shares are being offered to the public in the United States. Due to our international presence and varied product mix, it is difficult to assess our market position relative to other asset managers on a worldwide basis, but we believe that we are one of the more widely diversified

 

25


Table of Contents

asset managers in the United States. We believe that our equity and fixed-income asset mix coupled with our global presence will serve our competitive needs well over the long term. We continue to focus on the performance of our investment products, service to customers and extensive marketing activities through our strong broker/dealer and other financial institution distribution network as well as with high net-worth customers. We believe that performance, diversity of products and customer service, along with fees and costs, are the primary methods of competition in the asset management industry.

 

We face strong competition from numerous asset management companies, mutual fund, stock brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions, which offer a wide range of financial and investment management services to the same institutional accounts, separate accounts and high net-worth customers that we are seeking to attract. Over the past decade, a significant number of new asset management firms and investment products have been established, increasing competition. Many of our competitors have long-standing and established relationships with broker/dealers and investment adviser customers. Others have focused on, offer and market specific product lines, which are able to provide strong competition to certain of our asset classes, since we have a broad range of products. In recent years, there also has been a trend of consolidation in the financial services industry, resulting in stronger competitors, some with greater financial resources and broader distribution channels than our own.

 

We rely largely on intermediaries to distribute and sell our fund shares. We have and continue to pursue sales relationships with all types of intermediaries to broaden our distribution network. We have experienced increased costs related to maintaining our distribution channels and we anticipate that this trend will continue. A failure to maintain strong business relationships with the major intermediaries who currently distribute our products may also impair our distribution and sales operations. Any inability to access and successfully sell our products to clients through third-party distribution channels could have a negative effect on our level of assets under management, related revenues and overall business and financial condition.

 

We maintain an award winning Internet platform to compete with the rapidly developing and evolving capabilities being offered with this technology. However, technology is subject to rapid change and we cannot guarantee that our competitors may not implement more advanced Internet platforms for their products, which could affect our business.

 

As investor interest in the mutual fund industry has increased, competitive pressures have increased on sales charges of broker/dealer distributed funds. We believe that, although this trend will continue, a significant portion of the investing public still relies on the services of the broker/dealer or financial adviser community, particularly during weaker market conditions.

 

We believe that we are well positioned to deal with changes in marketing trends as a result of our already extensive advertising activities and broad based marketplace recognition. We conduct significant advertising and promotional campaigns through various media sources to promote brand recognition. We advertise in major financial publications, as well as on radio and television to promote brand name recognition and to assist our distribution network. Such activities include purchasing network and cable programming, sponsorship of sporting events, and extensive newspaper and magazine advertising.

 

Diverse and strong competition affects the banking/finance segment of our business as well, and limits the fees that can be charged for our services. For example, in our banking/finance segment we compete with many types of institutions for consumer loans, including the finance subsidiaries of large automobile manufacturers, which offer from time to time special incentives to stimulate automobile sales, including no-interest loans. These product offerings by our competitors limit the interest rates that we can charge on consumer loans.

 

26


Table of Contents

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

We have used, registered, and/or applied to register certain trademarks, service marks and trade names to distinguish our sponsored investment products and services from those of our competitors in the United States and in foreign countries and jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Franklin®, Templeton®, Bissett®, Mutual Series®, Fiduciary and Darby®. Our trademarks, service marks and trade names are important to us and, accordingly, we enforce our trademark, service mark and trade name rights in the United States and abroad. The Franklin Templeton Investments brand has been, and continues to be, extremely well received both in our industry and with our clients, reflecting the fact that our brand, like our business, is based in part on trust and confidence. If our brand is harmed, our future business prospects may be affected.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of September 30, 2006, we employed approximately 8,000 employees and operated offices in 29 countries. We consider our relations with our employees to be satisfactory.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

The Company files reports with the SEC, including current and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information filed or furnished to the SEC from time to time. The public may read and copy any of these filings at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including the Company, who file electronically with the SEC, at http://www.sec.gov. Additional information about the Company can also be obtained at our website at www.franklintempleton.com under “Investor Relations” on the “Our Company” page. We make available free of charge on our website our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 

Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Company has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on the Company’s website under “Corporate Governance” on the “Our Company” page and are available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy.

 

Committee Charters. The Company’s Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee. The Board of Directors has adopted written charters for each such committee, which are posted on the Company’s website under “Corporate Governance” on the “Our Company” page and are available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

We are subject to extensive and often complex, overlapping and frequently changing regulation domestically and abroad. Our investment management and related services business and our banking/finance business are subject to extensive and often complex, overlapping and frequently changing regulation in the United States and abroad, including, among others, securities, banking, accounting and tax laws and regulations. Moreover, financial reporting requirements, and the processes, controls and procedures that have been put in place to address them, are often comprehensive and complex. While management has

 

27


Table of Contents

focused attention and resources on our compliance policies, procedures and practices, non-compliance with applicable laws or rules or regulations, conflicts of interest requirements or fiduciary principles, either in the United States or abroad, or our inability to keep up with, or adapt to, an often ever changing, complex regulatory environment could result in sanctions against us, including fines and censures, injunctive relief, suspension or expulsion from a certain jurisdiction or market or the revocation of licenses, any of which could also adversely affect our reputation, prospects, revenues, and earnings.

 

We are subject to federal securities laws, state laws regarding securities fraud, other federal and state laws and rules and regulations of certain regulatory and self regulatory organizations, including those rules and regulations promulgated by, among others, the SEC, the NASD and the NYSE, and to the extent operations or trading in our securities take place outside the United States, by foreign regulations and regulators, such as the U.K. Listing Authority. Certain of our subsidiaries are registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and many of our funds are registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, both of which impose numerous obligations, as well as detailed operational requirements, on our subsidiaries which are investment advisers to registered investment companies. Our subsidiaries, both in the United States and abroad, must comply with a myriad of complex and often changing U.S. and/or foreign regulations, some of which may conflict, including complex U.S. and non-U.S. tax regimes. Additionally, as we expand our operations, sometimes rapidly, into non-U.S. jurisdictions, the rules and regulations of these non-U.S. jurisdictions become applicable, sometimes with short compliance deadlines, and add further regulatory complexity to our ongoing compliance operations.

 

In addition, we are a bank holding company and a financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Federal Reserve Board, or FRB, and are subject to the restrictions, limitations, or prohibitions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The FRB may impose additional limitations or restrictions on our activities, including if the FRB believes that we do not have the appropriate financial and managerial resources to commence or conduct an activity or make an acquisition. Further, our subsidiary, Fiduciary Trust, is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC and New York State Banking Department, while other subsidiaries are subject to oversight by the Office of Thrift Supervision and various state regulators. The laws and regulations imposed by these regulators generally involve restrictions and requirements in connection with a variety of technical, specialized and recently expanding matters and concerns. For example, compliance with anti-money laundering and Know-Your-Customer requirements, both domestically and internationally, and the Bank Secrecy Act has taken on heightened importance with regulators as a result of efforts to, among other things, limit terrorism. At the same time, there has been increased regulation with respect to the protection of customer privacy and the need to secure sensitive customer information. As we continue to address these requirements or focus on meeting new or expanded ones, we may expend a substantial amount of time and resources, even though our banking/finance business does not constitute our dominant business sector. Moreover, any inability to meet these requirements, within the timeframes set by regulators, may subject us to sanctions or other restrictions by the regulators that impact our broader business.

 

Regulatory and legislative actions and reforms are making 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. Since 2001, the federal securities laws have been augmented substantially and made significantly more complex by, among other measures, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001. Moreover, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations have directly affected our business. With new laws and changes in interpretation and enforcement of existing requirements, the associated time we must dedicate to, and related costs we must incur in, meeting the regulatory complexities of our business have

increased and these outlays have also increased as we expand our business into various non-U.S.

 

28


Table of Contents

jurisdictions. For example, in the past few years following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of

2002, new rules of the SEC, NYSE and NASD were promulgated and other rules revised. Among other things, these new requirements have necessitated us to make changes to our corporate governance and public disclosure policies, procedures and practices and our registered investment companies and investment advisers have been required to make similar changes. In addition, complex accounting and financial reporting requirements have been implemented in the past several years pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which apply across differing legal entities within our corporate structure and varied geographical and/or jurisdictional areas in which we operate. Compliance activities to meet these new requirements have required us to expend additional time and resources, including without limitation substantial efforts to conduct evaluations required to ensure compliance with the management certification and attestation requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and, consequently, we are incurring increased costs of doing business, which potentially negatively impacts our profitability and future financial results. Moreover, any potential accounting or reporting error, whether financial or otherwise, if material, could damage our reputation, adversely affect our ability to conduct business, and decrease revenue and net income. Finally, any regulatory and legislative actions and reforms affecting the mutual fund industry, including compliance initiatives, may negatively impact revenues by increasing our costs of accessing or dealing in the financial markets.

 

Our ability to maintain the beneficial tax treatment we anticipate with respect to foreign earnings we have repatriated is based on current interpretations of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and timely and permitted use of such amounts in accordance with our domestic reinvestment plan and the Jobs Act. In September 2006, we completed our planned repatriation into the United States of approximately $2.1 billion of undistributed earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in accordance with our domestic reinvestment plan and the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Jobs Act”). However, our ability to maintain the anticipated beneficial tax treatment with respect to these foreign earnings is subject to current interpretations and compliance with the Jobs Act (including Internal Revenue Code Section 965), as well as the rules and regulations promulgated by, among others, the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Treasury Department. Moreover, changes in the interpretation of these rules and regulations may have an effect on our ability to maintain the beneficial tax treatment with respect to our repatriated foreign earnings. Our inability to timely complete, to appropriately use repatriated amounts for permitted purposes or to otherwise satisfy the requirements of our planned repatriation could also have a negative impact on the scope and breadth of our anticipated tax treatment with respect to such amounts.

 

Any significant limitation or failure of our software applications and other technology systems that are critical to our operations could constrain our operations. We are highly dependent upon the use of various proprietary and third-party software applications and other technology systems to operate our business. We use our technology to, among other things, obtain securities pricing information, process client transactions and provide reports and other customer services to the clients of the funds we manage. Any inaccuracies, delays or systems failures in these and other processes could subject us to client dissatisfaction and losses. Although we take protective measures, including measures to effectively secure information through system security technology, our technology systems may still be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses or other events that have a security impact, such as an authorized employee or vendor inadvertently causing us to release confidential information, which could materially damage our operations or cause the disclosure or modification of sensitive or confidential information. Moreover, loss of confidential customer identification information could harm our reputation. Further, although we take precautions to password protect our laptops and other mobile electronic hardware, if such hardware is stolen, misplaced or left unattended, it may become vulnerable to hacking or other unauthorized use, creating a possible security risk and resulting in potentially costly actions by us. Most of the software applications that we use in our business are licensed from, and supported, upgraded and maintained by, third-party vendors. A suspension

or termination of certain of these licenses or the related support, upgrades and maintenance could cause

 

29


Table of Contents

temporary system delays or interruption. In addition, we have outsourced to a single vendor the operation of our U.S. data centers, which includes responsibility for processing data and managing the centers. This vendor is also responsible for our disaster recovery systems. A failure by this vendor to continue to manage our U.S. data centers and our disaster recovery systems adequately in the future could have a material adverse impact on our business. Moreover, although we have in place certain disaster recovery plans, we may experience system delays and interruptions as a result of natural disasters, power failures, acts of war, and third party failures. Technology is subject to rapid change and we cannot guarantee that our competitors may not implement more advanced Internet platforms for their products which could affect our business. Potential system failures or breaches, or advancements in technology, and the cost necessary to address them, could result in material financial loss or costs, regulatory actions, breach of client contracts, reputational harm or legal claims and liability, which in turn could negatively impact our revenues and income.

 

We face risks, and corresponding potential costs and expenses, associated with conducting operations and growing our business in numerous foreign countries. We sell mutual funds and offer investment management and related services in many different regulatory jurisdictions around the world, and intend to continue to expand our operations internationally. As we do so, we will continue to face various ongoing challenges to ensure that we have sufficient resources, procedures and controls in place to address and ensure that our operations abroad operate consistently and effectively. In order to remain competitive, we must be proactive and prepared to implement necessary resources when growth opportunities present themselves, whether as a result of a business acquisition or rapidly increasing business activities in particular markets or regions. As we grow, we face a heightened risk that the necessary resources and/or personnel will be unavailable to take full advantage of strategic opportunities when they appear or that strategic decisions can be efficiently implemented. Local regulatory environments may vary widely, as may the adequacy and sophistication of each. Similarly, local distributors, and their policies and practices as well as financial viability, may be inconsistent or less developed or mature. Notwithstanding potential long-term cost savings by increasing certain operations, such as transfer agent and other back-office operations, in countries or regions of the world with lower operating costs, growth of our international operations may involve near-term increases in expenses as well as additional capital costs, such as information, systems and technology costs and costs related to compliance with particular regulatory or other local requirements or needs. Local requirements or needs may also place additional demands on sales and compliance personnel and resources, such as meeting local language requirements while also integrating personnel into an organization with a single operating language. Finding and hiring additional, well-qualified personnel and crafting and adopting policies, procedures and controls to address local or regional requirements remain a challenge as we expand our operations internationally. Moreover, regulators in non-U.S. jurisdictions could also change their policies or laws in a manner that might restrict or otherwise impede our ability to distribute or register investment products in their respective markets. Any of these local requirements, activities or needs could increase the costs and expenses we incur in a specific jurisdiction without any corresponding increase in revenues and income from operating in the jurisdiction.

 

We depend on key personnel and our financial performance could be negatively affected by the loss of their services. The success of our business will continue to depend upon our key personnel, including our portfolio and fund managers, investment analysts, investment advisers, sales and management personnel and other professionals as well as our executive officers and business unit heads. In a tightening labor market, competition for qualified, motivated and highly skilled executives, professionals and other key personnel in the asset management and banking/finance industries remains significant. Our success depends to a substantial degree upon our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals, including through competitive compensation packages, and upon the continued contributions of these people. As our business grows, we are likely to need to increase correspondingly the overall number of individuals that we employ. Moreover, in order to retain certain key personnel, we may be required to increase compensation to

 

30


Table of Contents

such individuals, resulting in additional expense without a corresponding increase in potential revenue. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in attracting and retaining qualified individuals, and the departure of key investment personnel, in particular, if not replaced, could cause us to lose clients, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.

 

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. We compete with numerous asset management companies, mutual fund, stock brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions. Our investment products also compete with products offered by these competitors as well as real estate investment trusts, hedge funds and others. Over the past decade, a significant number of new asset management firms and mutual funds have been established, increasing competition. At the same time, consolidation in the financial services industry has created stronger competitors with greater financial resources and broader distribution channels than our own. Competition is based on various factors, including, among others, business reputation, investment performance, product offerings, service quality, distribution relationships, and fees charged. Additionally, competing securities broker/dealers whom we rely upon to distribute and sell our mutual funds may also sell their own proprietary funds and investment products, which could limit the distribution of our investment products. To the extent that existing or potential customers, including securities broker/dealers, decide to invest in or distribute the products of our competitors, the sales of our products as well as our market share, revenues and net income could decline. Our ability to attract and retain assets under our management is also dependent on the relative investment performance of our funds and other managed investment portfolios, offering a mix of sponsored investment products that meets investor demand and our ability to maintain our investment management services fees at competitive levels.

 

Changes in the distribution channels on which we depend could reduce our revenues and hinder our growth. We derive nearly all of our fund sales through broker/dealers and other similar investment advisers. Increasing competition for these distribution channels and recent regulatory initiatives have caused our distribution costs to rise and could cause further increases in the future or could otherwise negatively impact the distribution of our products. Higher distribution costs lower our net revenues and earnings. Additionally, if one or more of the major financial advisers who distribute our products were to cease operations or limit or otherwise end the distribution of our products, it could have a significant adverse impact on our revenues and earnings. There is no assurance we will continue to have access to the third-party broker/dealers and similar investment advisers that currently distribute our products, or continue to have the opportunity to offer all or some of our existing products through them. A failure to maintain strong business relationships with the major investment advisers who currently distribute our products may also impair our distribution and sales operations. Because we use broker/dealers and other similar investment advisers to sell our products, we do not control the ultimate investment recommendations given to clients. Any inability to access and successfully sell our products to clients through third-party distribution channels could have a negative effect on our level of assets under management, related revenues and overall business and financial condition.

 

The amount or mix of our assets under management are subject to significant fluctuations and could negatively impact our revenues and income. We have become subject to an increased risk of asset volatility from changes in the domestic and global financial and equity markets. Individual financial and equity markets may be adversely affected by political, financial or other instabilities that are particular to the country or regions in which a market is located, including without limitation local acts of terrorism, economic crises or other business, social or political crises. Declines in these markets have caused in the past, and would cause in the future, a decline in our revenues and income. Global economic conditions, exacerbated by war or terrorism or financial crises, changes in the equity market place, currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, the yield curve and other factors that are difficult to predict affect the

 

31


Table of Contents

mix, market values and levels of our assets under management. Our investment management services revenues are derived primarily from fees based on a percentage of the value of assets under management and vary with the nature of the account or product managed. A decline in the price of stocks or bonds, or in particular market segments, or in the securities market generally, could cause the value and returns on our assets under management to decline, resulting in a decline in our revenues and income. Moreover, changing market conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix between international and U.S. assets, potentially resulting in a decline in our revenue and income depending upon the nature of our assets under management and the level of management fees we earn based on them. Additionally, changing market conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix towards fixed-income products and a related decline in our revenue and income, as we generally derive higher fee revenues and income from equity assets than from fixed-income products we manage. On the other hand, increases in interest rates, in particular if rapid, or high interest rates, as well as any uncertainty in the future direction of interest rates, may have a negative impact on our fixed-income products as rising interest rates or interest rate uncertainty typically decrease the total return on many bond investments due to lower market valuations of existing bonds. Any decrease in the level of assets under management resulting from price declines, interest rate volatility or uncertainty or other factors could negatively impact our revenues and income.

 

Our increasing focus on international markets as a source of investments and sales of investment products subject us to increased exchange rate and other risks in connection with earnings and income generated overseas. While we operate primarily in the United States, we also provide services and earn revenues in The Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and Mexico. As a result, we are subject to foreign exchange risk through our foreign operations. While we have taken steps to reduce our exposure to foreign exchange risk, for example, by denominating a significant amount of our transactions in U.S. dollars, the situation may change in the future as our business continues to grow outside the United States. Stabilization or appreciation of the U.S. dollar could moderate revenues from sales of investment products internationally or could affect relative investment performance of certain funds invested in non-U.S. securities. Separately, management fees that we earn tend to be higher in connection with international assets under management than with U.S. assets under management. Consequently, a downturn in international markets could have a significant effect on our revenues and income. Moreover, as our business grows in non-U.S. markets, any business, social and political unrest affecting these markets, in addition to any direct consequences such unrest may have on our personnel and facilities located in the affected area, may also have a more lasting impact on the long-term investment climate in these and other areas and, as a result, our assets under management and the corresponding revenues and income that we generate from them may be negatively affected.

 

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. Our investment performance, along with achieving and maintaining superior distribution and client services, is critical to the success of our investment management and related services business. Strong investment performance often stimulates sales of our investment products. Poor investment performance as compared to third-party benchmarks or competitive products could lead to a decrease in sales of investment products we manage and stimulate redemptions from existing products, generally lowering the overall level of assets under management and reducing the management fees we earn. We cannot assure you that past or present investment performance in the investment products we manage will be indicative of future performance. Any poor future performance may negatively impact our revenues and income.

 

We could suffer losses in earnings or revenue if our reputation is harmed. Our reputation is important to the success of our business. The Franklin Templeton Investments brand has been, and continues to be, extremely well received both in our industry and with our clients, reflecting the fact that our brand, like our business, is based in part on trust and confidence. If our reputation is harmed, existing clients may reduce

 

32


Table of Contents

amounts held in, or withdraw entirely from, funds that we advise or funds may terminate their management agreements with us, which could reduce the amount of assets under management and cause us to suffer a corresponding loss in earnings or revenue. Moreover, reputational harm may cause us to lose current employees and we may be unable to continue to attract new ones with similar qualifications, motivations or skills. If we fail to address, or appear to fail to address, successfully and promptly the underlying causes of any reputational harm, we may be unsuccessful in repairing any existing harm to our reputation and our future business prospects would likely be affected.

 

Our future results are dependent upon maintaining an appropriate level of expenses, which is subject to fluctuation. The level of our expenses is subject to fluctuation and may increase for the following or other reasons: changes in the level and scope of our advertising expenses in response to market conditions; variations in the level of total compensation expense due to, among other things, bonuses, changes in our employee count and mix, and competitive factors; changes in expenses and capital costs, including costs incurred to maintain and enhance our administrative and operating services infrastructure; and an increase in insurance expenses including through the assumption of higher deductibles and/or co-insurance liability.

 

Our ability to successfully integrate widely varied business lines can be impeded by systems and other technological limitations. Our continued success in effectively managing and growing our business, both domestically and abroad, depends on our ability to integrate the varied accounting, financial, information and operational systems of our various businesses on a global basis. Moreover, adapting or developing our existing technology systems to meet our internal needs, as well as client needs, industry demands and new regulatory requirements, is also critical for our business. The constant introduction of new technologies presents new challenges to us. We have an ongoing need to continually upgrade and improve our various technology systems, including our data processing, financial, accounting and trading systems. Further, we also must be proactive and prepared to implement technology systems when growth opportunities present themselves, whether as a result of a business acquisition or rapidly increasing business activities in particular markets or regions. These needs could present operational issues or require, from time to time, significant capital spending. It also may require us to reevaluate the current value and/or expected useful lives of our technology systems, which could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

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. Should we experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity problem, such as a pandemic or other natural or man-made disaster, our continued success will depend, in part, on the availability of our personnel, our office facilities and the proper functioning of our computer, telecommunication and other related systems and operations. While our operational size, the diversity of locations from which we operate, and our redundant back-up systems provide us with a strong advantage should we experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity event, we could still experience near-term operational challenges, in particular depending upon how a local or regional event may affect our human capital across our operations or with regard to particular segments of our operations, such as key executive officers or personnel in our technology group. Moreover, as we grow our operations in particular areas, such as India, the potential for particular types of natural or man-made disasters, political, economic or infrastructure instabilities, or other country- or region-specific business continuity risks increases. Past disaster recovery efforts have demonstrated that even seemingly localized events may require broader disaster recovery efforts throughout our operations and, consequently, we are constantly assessing and taking steps to improve upon our existing business continuity plans and key management succession. However, a disaster on a significant scale or affecting certain of our key operating areas within or across regions, or our inability to successfully recover should we experience a disaster or other business continuity problem, could materially interrupt our business operations and cause material financial loss, loss of human capital, regulatory actions, reputational harm or legal liability.

 

33


Table of Contents

Certain of the portfolios we manage, including our emerging market portfolios, are vulnerable to market-specific political, economic or other risks, any of which may negatively impact our revenues and income. Our emerging market portfolios and revenues derived from managing these portfolios are subject to significant risks of loss from political, economic, and diplomatic developments, currency fluctuations, social instability, changes in governmental polices, expropriation, nationalization, asset confiscation and changes in legislation related to foreign ownership. Foreign trading markets, particularly in some emerging market countries, are often smaller, less liquid, less regulated and significantly more volatile than the U.S. and other established markets.

 

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. Our revenues are dependent on fees earned under investment management and related services agreements that we have with the funds we advise. These revenues could be adversely affected if these agreements are altered significantly or terminated. The decline in revenue that might result from alteration or termination of our investment management services agreements could have a material adverse impact on our earnings or income.

 

Diverse and strong competition limits the interest rates that we can charge on consumer loans. We compete with many types of institutions for consumer loans, which can provide loans at significantly below-market interest rates or in some cases zero interest rates in connection with automobile sales. Our inability to compete effectively against these companies or to maintain our relationships with the various automobile dealers through whom we offer consumer loans could limit the growth of our consumer loan business. Economic and credit market downturns could reduce the ability of our customers to repay loans, which could cause losses to our consumer loan portfolio.

 

Civil litigation arising out of or relating to previously settled governmental investigations or other matters, governmental or regulatory investigations and/or examinations 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. We have been named in shareholder class action, derivative, and other lawsuits, many of which arise out of or relate to previously settled governmental investigations. While management believes that the claims made in these lawsuits are without merit, and intends to vigorously defend against them, litigation typically is an expensive process. Risks associated with legal liability often are difficult to assess or quantify and their existence and magnitude can remain unknown for significant periods of time. Moreover, settlements or judgments against us have the potential of being substantial if we are unsuccessful in settling or otherwise resolving matters early in the process and/or on favorable terms. It is also possible that we may be named in additional civil or governmental actions similar to those already instituted. From time to time we may receive requests for documents or other information from governmental authorities or regulatory bodies or we also may become the subject of governmental or regulatory investigations and/or examinations. Moreover, governmental or regulatory investigations or examinations that have been inactive could become active. We may be obligated, and under our standard form of indemnification agreement with certain officers and directors in some instances we are obligated, or we may choose, to indemnify directors, officers or employees against liabilities and expenses they may incur in connection with such matters to the extent permitted under applicable law. Eventual exposures from and expenses incurred relating to current and future litigation, investigations, examinations and settlements could adversely impact our assets under management, increase costs and negatively impact our profitability and/or our future financial results. Judgments or findings of wrongdoing by regulatory or governmental authorities or in civil litigation against us could affect our reputation, increase our costs of doing business and/or negatively impact our revenues, any of which could have a material negative impact on our financial results.

 

34


Table of Contents

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 meet anticipated cash needs depends upon factors including our asset value, our creditworthiness as perceived by lenders and the market value of our stock. Similarly, our ability to securitize and hedge future loan portfolios and credit card receivables, and to obtain continued financing for certain Class C shares, is also subject to the market’s perception of those assets, finance rates offered by competitors, and the general market for private debt. If we are unable to obtain these funds and financing, we may be forced to incur unanticipated costs or revise our business plans.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

We conduct our worldwide operations using a combination of leased and owned facilities. While we believe we have sufficient facilities to conduct our business at present, we will continue to lease, acquire and dispose of facilities throughout the world as necessary.

 

We lease space in various states in the United States, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Utah and the District of Columbia, and in various non-U.S. locations, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the U.K. (including England and Scotland). As of September 30, 2006, we leased and occupied approximately 1,024,000 square feet of space. We have also leased and subsequently subleased to third parties a total of 294,000 square feet of excess leased space.

 

In addition, we own four buildings in San Mateo, California, five buildings near Sacramento, California, five buildings in St. Petersburg, Florida, and two buildings in Nassau, The Bahamas, as well as space in office buildings in Argentina, China, India and Singapore. The buildings we own consist of approximately 1,631,000 square feet of space. We have leased to third parties approximately 218,000 square feet of excess owned space.

 

Generally, both of our operating segments, investment management and related services and banking/finance, take place across the same locations.

 

We are also developing a new campus in Hyderabad, India, which, following its anticipated opening in the first three months of calendar year 2007, will accommodate approximately 1,800 employees. A variety of operations relating to both our operating segments will take place at this new campus.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

As previously reported, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, and in some instances, certain of the Franklin Templeton mutual funds (“Funds”), current and former officers, employees, and Company and/or Fund directors have been named in multiple lawsuits in different federal courts in Nevada, California, Illinois, New York, and Florida, alleging violations of various federal securities and state laws and seeking, among other relief, monetary damages, restitution, removal of Fund trustees, directors, advisers, administrators, and distributors, rescission of management contracts and Rule 12b-1 plans, and/or attorneys’ fees and costs. Specifically, the lawsuits claim breach of duty with respect to alleged arrangements to permit market timing and/or late trading activity, or breach of duty with respect to the valuation of the portfolio securities of certain Templeton Funds managed by the Company’s subsidiaries, allegedly resulting in

 

35


Table of Contents

market timing activity. The majority of these lawsuits duplicate, in whole or in part, the allegations asserted in the February 4, 2004 Massachusetts Administrative Complaint concerning one instance of market timing (the “Administrative Complaint”) and the SEC’s findings regarding market timing in its August 2, 2004 Order (the “SEC Order”), both of which matters were previously reported. The lawsuits are styled as class actions, or derivative actions on behalf of either the named Funds or the Company.

 

To date, more than 400 similar lawsuits against at least 19 different mutual fund companies have been filed in federal district courts throughout the country. Because these cases involve common questions of fact, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the “Judicial Panel”) ordered the creation of a multidistrict litigation in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, entitled “In re Mutual Funds Investment Litigation” (the “MDL”). The Judicial Panel then transferred similar cases from different districts to the MDL for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.

 

As of December 20, 2006 the following market timing lawsuits are pending against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (and in some instances, name certain current and former officers, employees, Company and/or Fund directors and/or Funds) and have been transferred to the MDL:

 

Kenerley v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 03-770 GPM, filed on November 19, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois; Cullen v. Templeton Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 03-859 MJR, filed on December 16, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on March 29, 2004; Jaffe v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. CV-S-04-0146-PMP-RJJ, filed on February 6, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada; Lum v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0583 JSW, filed on February 11, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Fischbein v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0584 JSW, filed on February 11, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Beer v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. 8:04-CV-249-T-26 MAP, filed on February 11, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida; Bennett v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. CV-S-04-0154-HDM-RJJ, filed on February 12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada; Dukes v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0598 MJJ, filed on February 12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; McAlvey v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0628 PJH, filed on February 13, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Alexander v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0639 SC, filed on February 17, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Hugh Sharkey IRA/RO v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04 CV 1330, filed on February 18, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; D’Alliessi v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0865 SC, filed on March 3, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Marcus v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0901 JL, filed on March 5, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Banner v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0902 JL, filed on March 5, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Denenberg v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0984 EMC, filed on March 10, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Hertz v. Burns, et al., Case No. 04 CV 02489, filed on March 30, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

 

Plaintiffs in the MDL filed consolidated amended complaints on September 29, 2004. On February 25, 2005, defendants filed motions to dismiss. The Company’s and its subsidiaries’ motions are currently under submission with the court.

 

36


Table of Contents

In addition, as previously reported, on April 12, 2005, the Attorney General of West Virginia filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Marshall County, West Virginia (Case No. 05-C-81) against a number of companies engaged in the mutual fund industry, including the Company and its subsidiary, Franklin Advisers, Inc., alleging violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act arising out of alleged market timing and seeking, among other things, civil penalties and attorneys’ fees and costs (the “West Virginia Complaint”). In response to defendants’ motion for transfer, on October 19, 2005, the Judicial Panel transferred the lawsuit to the MDL described above. On September 21, 2006, the Company learned that on April 14, 2006, at the request of the Attorney General of West Virginia, the MDL court dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice. While there is presently no lawsuit pending against the Company or its subsidiaries by the Attorney General of West Virginia, the Office of the State Auditor in West Virginia informs the Company that it is contemplating an action against the Company based on the same facts and circumstances alleged in the now-dismissed West Virginia Complaint.

 

As also previously reported, various subsidiaries of the Company, as well as certain Templeton Fund registrants, have also been named in several class action lawsuits originally filed in state courts in Illinois, alleging breach of duty with respect to the valuation of the portfolio securities of certain Templeton Funds managed by such subsidiaries, and seeking, among other relief, monetary damages and attorneys’ fees and costs, as follows:

 

Bradfisch v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 001361, filed on October 3, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois; Woodbury v. Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 001362, filed on October 3, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois; Kwiatkowski v. Templeton Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 03 L 785, filed on December 17, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, St. Clair County, Illinois; Parise v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 002049, filed on December 22, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois.

 

In April 2005, defendants removed these lawsuits to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. On July 12, 2005, the court dismissed with prejudice one of these lawsuits, Bradfisch v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., and dismissed the remaining three lawsuits on August 25, 2005. Plaintiffs appealed the dismissals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (Bradfisch v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-3390, Woodbury v. Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-3559, Kwiatkowski v. Templeton Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-3558, Parise v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-3586). On May 19, 2006, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissals. Plaintiffs’ subsequent requests to the Seventh Circuit for reconsideration were also denied. On November 13, 2006, plaintiffs filed a petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.

 

In addition, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp., a subsidiary of the Company and the investment manager of Franklin Templeton’s Canadian mutual funds, has been named in four class action market timing lawsuits in Canada, seeking, among other relief, monetary damages, an order barring any increase in management fees for a period of two years following judgment, and/or attorneys’ fees and costs, as follows: Huneault v. AGF Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 500-06-000256-046, filed on October 25, 2004 in the Superior Court for the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal; Heinrichs, et al. v. CI Mutual Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-CV-29700, filed on December 17, 2004 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice; Richardson v. Franklin Templeton Investments Corp., Case No. 05-CV-303069, filed on December 23, 2005 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice; and Fischer, et al., v. IG Investment Management Ltd., et al. Case No. 06-CV-307599CP, filed on March 9, 2006 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

 

As also previously reported, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries have been named in multiple lawsuits alleging violations of various securities laws and pendent state law claims relating to marketing support payments and/or payment of allegedly excessive commissions, and/or advisory or distribution fees,

 

37


Table of Contents

and seeking, among other relief, monetary damages, restitution, an accounting of all fees, commissions and soft dollar payments, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and/or attorneys’ fees and costs. All officers and directors originally named in these lawsuits have since been dismissed without prejudice pursuant to stipulated tolling agreements, and in one instance with prejudice as to the particular plaintiff pursuant to a stipulated dismissal. These lawsuits are styled as class actions and/or derivative actions brought on behalf of certain Funds, and are as follows:

 

Stephen Alexander IRA v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-982 JLL, filed on March 2, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Strigliabotti v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0883 SI, filed on March 4, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California; Tricarico v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. CV-04-1052 JAP, filed on March 4, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Wilcox v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-2258 WHW, filed on May 12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Wolbrink v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-2430 WHW, filed on May 25, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Bahe, Custodian CGM Roth Conversion IRA v. Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-11195 PBS, filed on June 3, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts; and Alexander v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No 06-7121 SI, filed on November 16, 2006 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

 

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey consolidated for pretrial purposes three of the above lawsuits (Stephen Alexander IRA, Tricarico, and Wilcox) into a single master file entitled “In re Franklin Mutual Funds Fee Litigation” (Case No. 04-cv-982 (WJM)(RJH)). Following a September 9, 2005 order of dismissal with leave to amend certain claims, on March 10, 2006, plaintiffs in those three lawsuits filed a second amended derivative consolidated complaint (the “Complaint”). Defendants moved to dismiss the Complaint on June 9, 2006. The parties completed briefing in September 2006, and the motion remains under submission with the court. In addition, on August 23, 2006, the court consolidated a fourth lawsuit, Wolbrink, referenced above, into the master file. That lawsuit was filed in 2004, but never served on the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

In addition, on May 4, 2006, the parties to the Bahe lawsuit, referenced above, filed a stipulated dismissal with prejudice as to the named plaintiff, but without prejudice to the Franklin Balance Sheet Investment Fund. Following a September 7, 2006 hearing, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts ordered publication of notice of the proposed settlement. On November 21, 2006, the court entered an order accepting the proposed settlement and dismissing the lawsuit.

 

Management strongly believes that the claims made in each of the lawsuits identified above are without merit and intends to defend against them vigorously. The Company cannot predict with certainty, however, the eventual outcome of these lawsuits, nor whether they will have a material negative impact on the Company.

 

The Company is from time to time involved in litigation relating to claims arising in the normal course of business. Management is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of such claims will not materially affect the Company’s business, financial position, and results of operations.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report, no matter was submitted to a vote of the security holders of the Company.

 

38


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Set forth below are the name, age, present title, and certain other information for each of the Company’s executive officers as of November 30, 2006. Each executive officer is appointed by the Company’s Board of Directors and holds his/her office until the earlier of his/her death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

VIJAY C. ADVANI

AGE 46

 

Executive Vice President–Global Advisor Services of the Company since December 2005; officer and/or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company; employed by the Company or its subsidiaries in various other capacities for more than the past five years.

 

PENELOPE S. ALEXANDER

AGE 46

 

Vice President, Human Resources–U.S. of the Company since May 2003; Senior Vice President, Human Resources–U.S. of Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company; employed by the Company or its subsidiaries in various other capacities for more than the past five years.

 

JENNIFER J. BOLT

AGE 42

 

Executive Vice President–Operations and Technology of the Company since December 2005; formerly, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Company from May 2003 to December 2005; officer of the Company for more than the past five years; officer or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company. Director, Keynote Systems, Inc. since April 2004.

 

NORMAN R. FRISBIE, JR.

AGE 39

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Company since December 2005; Senior Vice President of FTDI, a subsidiary of the Company, since June 2003; employed by the Company or its subsidiaries in various other capacities for more than the past five years.

 

HOLLY E. GIBSON

AGE 40

 

Vice President, Corporate Communications of the Company since May 2003 and Director of Corporate Communications for more than the past five years.

 

BARBARA J. GREEN

AGE 59

 

Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of the Company since January 2000 and Secretary of the Company since October 2003; officer of certain subsidiaries of the Company; officer in 46 investment companies of Franklin Templeton Investments.

 

39


Table of Contents

DONNA S. IKEDA

AGE 50

 

Vice President, Human Resources–International of the Company since May 2003; formerly, Vice President–Human Resources of the Company; officer of the Company for more than the past five years; Senior Vice President, Human Resources–International of Franklin Templeton Companies, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company.

 

CHARLES B. JOHNSON

AGE 73

 

Chairman of the Board, Member–Office of the Chairman since December 1999 and director of the Company since 1969; formerly, Chief Executive Officer of the Company; officer and/or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company; officer and/or director or trustee in 41 investment companies managed or advised by subsidiaries of the Company.

 

GREGORY E. JOHNSON

AGE 45

 

President of the Company since December 1999 and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since January 2004; officer and/or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company.

 

RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.

AGE 66

 

Vice Chairman, Member–Office of the Chairman since December 1999 and director of the Company since 1969; officer and/or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company; officer and/or director or trustee in 44 investment companies managed or advised by subsidiaries of the Company.

 

LESLIE M. KRATTER

AGE 61

 

Senior Vice President of the Company since 2000 and Assistant Secretary of the Company since October 2003; formerly, Secretary of the Company from March 1998 to October 2003 and Vice President of the Company from March 1993 to 2000; officer and/or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company.

 

KENNETH A. LEWIS

AGE 45

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since October 2006; formerly, Vice President–Enterprise Risk Management of the Company from April 2006 to October 2006 and Vice President and Treasurer of the Company from June 2002 to April 2006; officer and/or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company for more than the past five years.

 

JOHN M. LUSK

AGE 48

 

Executive Vice President–Portfolio Operations of the Company since December 2005; formerly, Vice President of the Company from January 2004 to December 2005; officer or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company; employed by the Company or its subsidiaries in various other capacities for more than the past five years.

 

40


Table of Contents

MURRAY L. SIMPSON

AGE 69

 

Executive Vice President of the Company since January 2000; formerly, General Counsel of the Company from January 2000 to August 2005; officer or director of certain subsidiaries of the Company; formerly an officer in many investment companies of Franklin Templeton Investments.

 

ANNE M. TATLOCK

AGE 67

 

Vice Chairman, Member–Office of the Chairman of the Company since 2001; director of the Company from January 2001 to early December 2004 and re-elected in late December 2004; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer (since 2000), and director of Fiduciary Trust, a subsidiary of the Company; formerly, President of Fiduciary Trust; formerly, officer and/or director of other subsidiaries of the Company. Director, Fortune Brands, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc.

 

CRAIG S. TYLE

AGE 46

 

Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company since August 2005; formerly, a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP (a law firm) from March 2004 to July 2005 and General Counsel for the Investment Company Institute (a trade group for the U.S. fund industry) from September 1997 through March 2004; officer in 46 investment companies of Franklin Templeton Investments.

 

WILLIAM Y. YUN

AGE 47

 

Executive Vice President–Institutional of the Company since December 2005; President of Fiduciary Trust, a subsidiary of the Company, from 2000 to December 2005; officer and/or director of other subsidiaries of the Company; employed by the Company or its subsidiaries in various other capacities since the acquisition of Fiduciary Trust in April 2001.

 

Family Relations. Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. are brothers. Peter M. Sacerdote, a director of the Company, is a brother-in-law of Charles B. Johnson and Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. Gregory E. Johnson is the son of Charles B. Johnson, the nephew of Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Peter M. Sacerdote and the brother of Jennifer J. Bolt. Jennifer J. Bolt is the daughter of Charles B. Johnson, the niece of Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and Peter M. Sacerdote and the sister of Gregory E. Johnson.

 

41


Table of Contents

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “BEN”, and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FRK”. On September 29, 2006 (the last trading day of the Company’s fiscal year), the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE was $105.75 per share. At November 30, 2006, there were approximately 5,100 stockholders of record of our common stock.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices for our common stock on the NYSE for each full quarterly period of the two most recently completed fiscal years of the Company.

 

     2006 Fiscal Year    2005 Fiscal Year

Quarter

   High    Low    High    Low

October-December

   $ 98.86    $ 77.63    $ 71.45    $ 55.66

January-March

   $ 104.25    $ 92.84    $ 73.54    $ 64.65

April-June

   $ 98.35    $ 80.16    $ 77.64    $ 63.56

July-September

   $ 106.69    $ 82.37    $ 84.72    $ 76.93

 

We declared regular cash dividends of $0.48 per share (or $0.12 per share per quarter) in fiscal year 2006 and $0.40 per share (or $0.10 per share per quarter) in fiscal year 2005. We currently expect to continue paying comparable cash dividends on a quarterly basis to holders of our common stock depending upon earnings and other relevant factors. We also paid a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share in fiscal year 2005.

 

Equity compensation plan information called for by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth in Part III, Item 12 of this Form 10-K.

 

No securities of the Company sold by the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

The following table provides information with respect to the shares of common stock we purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2006.

 

Period

   (a) Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   (b) Average Price
Paid per Share
   (c) Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   (d) Maximum
Number of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

July 1, 2006 through July 31, 2006

   409,947    $ 84.08    409,947    9,612,182

August 1, 2006 through August 31, 2006

   166,884    $ 97.72    166,884    9,445,298

September 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006

   485    $ 98.41    485    9,444,813
                     

Total

   577,316    $ 88.03    577,316    9,444,813
                     

 

Under our stock repurchase program, we can repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time in the open market and in private transactions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation applicable federal securities laws. From time to time we have

 

42


Table of Contents

announced the existence of the Company’s continuing policy of purchasing shares of its common stock, including announcements made in March 2000, August 2002, May 2003, August 2003 and July 2006. From fiscal year 2002 through June 30, 2006, our Board of Directors had authorized and approved the repurchase of up to 30.0 million shares under our stock repurchase program, of which, approximately 22.1 thousand shares of common stock remained available for repurchase at June 30, 2006. In July 2006, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase, from time to time, up to an aggregate of 10.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock in addition to any remaining shares then available pursuant to the prior existing stock repurchase program authorization of the Board of Directors. This stock repurchase authorization was announced by the Company in a press release issued on July 10, 2006. Our stock repurchase program is not subject to an expiration date.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006    2005    2004    2003    2002

Summary of Operations (in millions)

              

Operating revenues

   $ 5,050.7    $ 4,310.1    $ 3,438.2    $ 2,632.1    $ 2,522.9

Net income

     1,267.6      1,057.6      706.7      502.8      432.7

Financial Data (in millions)

              

Total assets

   $ 9,499.9    $ 8,893.9    $ 8,227.8    $ 6,970.7    $ 6,422.7

Long-term debt

     627.9      1,208.4      1,196.4      1,108.9      595.1

Stockholders’ equity

     6,684.7      5,684.4      5,106.8      4,310.1      4,266.9

Operating cash flows

     1,277.9      850.0      929.7      536.4      735.2

Assets Under Management (in billions)

              

Ending

   $ 511.3    $ 453.1    $ 361.9    $ 301.9    $ 247.8

Simple monthly average

     482.4      410.8      340.2      269.8      263.2

Per Common Share

              

Earnings

              

Basic

   $ 4.97    $ 4.22    $ 2.84    $ 1.98    $ 1.66

Diluted1

     4.86      4.06      2.75      1.95      1.63

Cash dividends

     0.48      2.40      0.34      0.30      0.28

Book value

     26.40      22.49      20.45      17.53      16.50

Employee Headcount

     7,982      7,156      6,696      6,504      6,711

1 Diluted earnings per share for all periods shown reflect the fiscal year 2005 adoption of the Emerging Issues Task Force Abstract Issue No. 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share.”

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

In this section, we discuss and analyze the results of operations and financial condition of Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Franklin Templeton Investments”). In addition to historical information, we also make statements relating to the future, called “forward-looking” statements, which are provided under the “safe harbor” protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are generally written in the future tense and/or are preceded by words such as “will”, “may”, “could”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, or other similar words. Moreover, statements that speculate about future events are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other

 

43


Table of Contents

important factors 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. You should carefully review the “Risk Factors” section set forth below, in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any more recent filings with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), each of which describe these risks, uncertainties and other important factors in more detail. While forward-looking statements are our best prediction at the time that they are made, you should not rely on them. We undertake no obligation, unless required by law, to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

We derive the majority of our operating revenues, operating expenses and net income from providing investment management, fund administration, shareholder services, transfer agency, underwriting, distribution, custodial, trustee and other fiduciary services (collectively “investment management and related services”) to retail mutual funds, and to institutional, high net-worth, and separately-managed accounts and other investment products. This is our primary business activity and operating segment. The mutual funds and other products that we serve, collectively called our sponsored investment products, are distributed to the public globally under six distinct names:

 

    Franklin

 

    Templeton

 

    Mutual Series

 

    Bissett

 

    Fiduciary Trust

 

    Darby

 

We offer a broad range of sponsored investment products under equity, hybrid, fixed-income and money market categories that meet a wide variety of specific investment needs of individual and institutional investors.

 

The level of our revenues depends largely on the level and relative mix of assets under management. To a lesser degree, our revenues also depend on the level of mutual fund sales and the number of mutual fund shareholder accounts. The fees charged for our services are based on contracts with our sponsored investment products or our clients. These arrangements could change in the future.

 

Our secondary business and operating segment is banking/finance. Our banking/finance group offers selected retail-banking services to high net-worth clients and consumer lending services. Our consumer lending activities include automotive lending related to the purchase, securitization, and servicing of retail installment sales contracts originated by independent automobile dealerships, consumer credit and debit cards, real estate equity lines, and home equity/mortgage lending.

 

In fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 (“fiscal year 2006”), our investment management and related services operating segment experienced record levels of assets under management. In addition to market appreciation, which reflected, among other things, the positive performance of many equity markets globally, this growth resulted from excess sales over redemptions. In part, we attribute the continued positive trend in excess sales over redemptions to the strong relative performance of our product offerings, the successful marketing to and diversification of our client base, and our focus on customer service.

 

Consistent with the increase in our assets under management, we experienced growth in net income and higher diluted earnings per share in fiscal year 2006, as compared to the fiscal years ended

 

44


Table of Contents

September 30, 2005 (“fiscal year 2005”) and September 30, 2004 (“fiscal year 2004”), despite an income tax charge of $105.5 million incurred in fiscal year 2006 related to repatriated earnings of our foreign subsidiaries under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the “Jobs Act”).

 

During a fiscal year marked by long stretches of market volatility, we continued to focus on our strategies of expanding our assets under management and related operations internationally, continually seeking positive investment performance, protecting and furthering our brand recognition, developing and maintaining broker/dealer and client loyalties, providing a high level of customer service and closely monitoring costs, while also developing our “human capital” base and our systems and technology. The continued success of these strategies in the future is dependent on the relative performance of our sponsored investment products, product innovations by our competitors, and changes in consumer preferences.

 

Results of Operations

 

(dollar amounts in millions except per share data)

 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006     2005     2004     2006
vs. 2005
    2005
vs. 2004
 

Net Income

   $ 1,267.6     $ 1,057.6     $ 706.7     20 %   50 %

Earnings Per Common Share

          

Basic

   $ 4.97     $ 4.22     $ 2.84     18 %   49 %

Diluted1

     4.86       4.06       2.75     20 %   48 %

Operating Margin2

     32 %     30 %     27 %        

1 Diluted earnings per share for all periods shown reflect the fiscal year 2005 adoption of the Emerging Issues Task Force Abstract Issue No. 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share.”
2 Defined as operating income divided by total operating revenues.

 

Net income and diluted earnings per share increased by 20% in fiscal year 2006. These increases were primarily due to higher fees for providing investment management and fund administration services (“investment management fees”) and underwriting and distribution fees, each consistent with a 17% increase in our simple monthly average assets under management and higher gross sales on which commissions are earned. These increases were partially offset by higher underwriting and distribution, and compensation and benefits expenses, as well as higher taxes on income, reflecting an income tax charge of $105.5 million incurred in fiscal year 2006 related to repatriated earnings of our foreign subsidiaries under the Jobs Act.

 

Net income increased by 50% in fiscal year 2005 primarily due to higher investment management fees and underwriting and distribution fees consistent with a 21% increase in our simple monthly average assets under management and higher gross sales on which commissions are earned. In addition, we experienced a lower effective tax rate and a lower net charge to our provision for governmental investigations, proceedings and actions. These increases were partially offset by higher underwriting and distribution, and compensation and benefit expenses.

 

Diluted earnings per share increased 48% in fiscal year 2005 resulting from higher net income, partially offset by the effect of an increase in diluted weighted-average shares outstanding to 262.6 million in fiscal year 2005 from 260.3 million in fiscal year 2004, as the increase in diluted weighted-average shares from the assumed conversion of stock options granted was greater than stock repurchases during fiscal year 2005.

 

45


Table of Contents

Assets Under Management

 

(dollar amounts in billions)

 

as of the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006    2005    2004    2006
vs. 2005
    2005
vs. 2004
 

Equity

             

Global/international

   $ 217.6    $ 185.7    $ 132.9    17 %   40 %

Domestic (U.S.)

     84.4      77.9      66.4    8 %   17 %
                                 

Total equity

     302.0      263.6      199.3    15 %   32 %

Hybrid

     90.6      78.4      59.0    16 %   33 %

Fixed-Income

             

Tax-free

     55.6      53.8      51.3    3 %   5 %

Taxable

             

Domestic (U.S.)

     32.4      32.7      31.3    (1 )%   4 %

Global/international

     24.4      18.7      14.2    30 %   32 %
                                 

Total fixed-income

     112.4      105.2      96.8    7 %   9 %

Money Market

     6.3      5.9      6.8    7 %   (13 )%
                                 

Total

   $ 511.3    $ 453.1    $ 361.9    13 %   25 %
                                 

Simple Monthly Average for the Year3

   $ 482.4    $ 410.8    $ 340.2    17 %   21 %
                                 

3 Investment management fees from approximately 55% of our assets under management at September 30, 2006 were calculated using daily average assets under management.

 

Our assets under management at September 30, 2006 were $511.3 billion, 13% higher than they were at the same time last year, due primarily to excess sales over redemptions of $12.2 billion and market appreciation of $49.2 billion during fiscal year 2006. Simple monthly average assets under management, which are generally more indicative of trends in revenue for providing investment management and fund administration services (“investment management services”) than the year over year change in ending assets under management, increased 17% during fiscal year 2006, as compared to fiscal year 2005.

 

The simple monthly average mix of assets under management is shown below.

 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006     2005     2004  

Equity

   59 %   57 %   54 %

Hybrid

   17 %   17 %   16 %

Fixed-income

   23 %   25 %   28 %

Money market

   1 %   1 %   2 %
                  

Total

   100 %   100 %   100 %
                  

 

46


Table of Contents

The following table presents industry asset-weighted average management fee rates4. Our actual effective investment management fee rates may vary from these rates.

 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

    

Industry Average

2006

   

Industry Average

2005

   

Industry Average

2004

 

Equity

        

Global/international

     0.67 %   0.72 %   0.72 %

Domestic (U.S.)

     0.50 %   0.54 %   0.53 %

Hybrid

     0.38 %   0.44 %   0.40 %

Fixed-Income

        

Tax-free

     0.40 %   0.41 %   0.42 %

Taxable

        

Domestic (U.S.)

     0.39 %   0.43 %   0.43 %

Global/international

     0.56 %   0.57 %   0.57 %

Money Market

     0.24 %   0.25 %   0.26 %

4 Industry asset-weighted average management fee rates were calculated using information available from Lipper® Inc. at September 30, 2006 and include all U.S.-based, open-ended funds that reported expense data to Lipper® Inc. as of the funds’ most recent annual report date, and for which expenses were equal to or greater than zero. As defined by Lipper® Inc., management fees include fees from providing advisory and fund administration services. The averages combine retail and institutional funds data and include all share classes and distribution channels, without exception. Variable annuity products are not included.

 

For fiscal year 2006, our effective investment management fee rate (investment management fees divided by simple monthly average assets under management) increased to 0.614% from 0.598% in fiscal year 2005. The change in the mix of assets under management, resulting from higher excess sales over redemptions and greater appreciation of equity products as compared to fixed-income products, and an increase in performance fees, led to the increase in our effective investment management fee rate. Generally, investment management fees earned on equity and hybrid products are higher than fees earned on fixed-income products.

 

For fiscal year 2005, our effective investment management fee rate increased to 0.598% from 0.579% in fiscal year 2004. Higher excess sales over redemptions and appreciation for equity and hybrid products as compared to fixed-income products, and an increase in performance fees, led to this increase in the effective investment management fee rate.

 

Assets under management by sales region were as follows:

 

(dollar amounts in billions)

 

as of the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006    % of Total     2005    % of Total     2004    % of Total  

United States

   $ 360.6    71 %   $ 324.0    72 %   $ 265.3    73 %

Europe

     55.1    11 %     46.4    10 %     29.5    8 %

Canada

     37.8    7 %     33.9    7 %     25.8    7 %

Asia/Pacific and other5

     57.8    11 %     48.8    11 %     41.3    12 %
                                       

Total

   $ 511.3    100 %   $ 453.1    100 %   $ 361.9    100 %
                                       

5 Includes multi-jurisdictional assets under management.

 

As shown in the table, approximately 71% of our assets under management at September 30, 2006 originated from our U.S. sales region. In addition, approximately 65% of our operating revenues originated from our U.S. operations in fiscal year 2006. Due to the global nature of our business operations, investment management and related services may be performed in locations unrelated to the sales region.

 

47


Table of Contents

Components of the change in our assets under management were as follows:

 

(dollar amounts in billions)

 

                              

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006     2005     2004     2006 vs.
2005
    2005 vs.
2004
 

Beginning assets under management

   $ 453.1     $ 361.9     $ 301.9     25 %   20 %

Sales

     128.8       122.5       96.8     5 %   27 %

Reinvested distributions

     13.9       8.3       4.9     67 %   69 %

Redemptions

     (116.6 )     (86.5 )     (74.4 )   35 %   16 %

Distributions

     (17.3 )     (10.8 )     (7.1 )   60 %   52 %

Acquisitions

     0.2       0.1       0.9     100 %   (89 )%

Appreciation

     49.2       57.6       38.9     (15 )%   48 %
                                    

Ending Assets Under Management

   $ 511.3     $ 453.1     $ 361.9     13 %   25 %
                                    

 

Excess sales over redemptions were $12.2 billion in fiscal year 2006 as compared to $36.0 billion in fiscal year 2005 and $22.4 billion in fiscal year 2004. Our products experienced $49.2 billion in appreciation in fiscal year 2006, as compared to $57.6 billion in fiscal year 2005 and $38.9 billion in fiscal year 2004.

 

On April 3, 2006, we acquired a 0.2% ownership interest in Bradesco Templeton Asset Management Ltda., (“BTAM”), a Brazilian joint venture, in addition to the 49.9% ownership interest that we already held, resulting in the addition of its total assets under management as of the acquisition date of $0.2 billion. In July 2006, we completed the purchase of all of the remaining interests in BTAM, and changed its name to Franklin Templeton Investimentos (Brasil) Ltda. The acquisition of the general partner of the Dresdner Kleinwort Benson Emerging Europe Fund, L.P., a private equity fund focused on Central and Eastern Europe, added $0.1 billion in assets under management as of the acquisition date, on January 1, 2005. The acquisition of Darby Overseas Investments, Ltd. and Darby Overseas Partners, L.P. (collectively “Darby”) added $0.9 billion in assets under management related to private equity, mezzanine and emerging markets fixed-income products as of the acquisition date, on October 1, 2003.

 

Operating Revenues

 

The table below presents the percentage change in each revenue category and the percentage of total operating revenues represented by each revenue category.

 

     Percentage Change     Percentage of Total
Operating Revenues
 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006 vs. 2005     2005 vs. 2004     2006     2005     2004  

Investment management fees

   21 %   25 %   59 %   57 %   57 %

Underwriting and distribution fees

   15 %   33 %   35 %   36 %   34 %

Shareholder servicing fees

   2 %   4 %   5 %   6 %   7 %

Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net

   75 %   25 %   —       —       —    

Other, net

   2 %   (9 )%   1 %   1 %   2 %
                              

Total Operating Revenues

   17 %   25 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
                              

 

Investment Management Fees

 

Investment management fees, accounting for 59% of our operating revenues in fiscal year 2006, as compared to 57% in fiscal years 2005 and 2004, are generally calculated under contractual arrangements

 

48


Table of Contents

with our sponsored investment products as a percentage of the market value of assets under management. Annual rates vary by investment objective and type of services provided.

 

Investment management fees increased 21% in fiscal year 2006 consistent with a 17% increase in simple monthly average assets under management and an increase in our effective investment management fee rate resulting from a shift in simple monthly average mix of assets under management from fixed-income products towards equity products, which generally carry higher investment management fees than fixed-income products, and an increase in performance fees.

 

Investment management fees increased 25% in fiscal year 2005 consistent with a 21% increase in simple monthly average assets under management and an increase in our effective investment management fee rate resulting from a shift in simple monthly average mix of assets under management from fixed-income towards equity and hybrid products, which generally carry higher investment management fees than fixed-income products.

 

Underwriting and Distribution Fees

 

We earn underwriting fees from the sale of certain classes of sponsored investment products on which investors pay a sales commission at the time of purchase. Sales commissions are reduced or eliminated on some share classes and for some sale transactions depending upon the amount invested and the type of investor. Therefore, underwriting fees will change with the overall level of gross sales, the size of individual transactions, and the relative mix of sales between different share classes and types of investors.

 

Globally, our mutual funds and certain other products generally pay distribution fees in return for sales, marketing and distribution efforts on their behalf. Specifically, the majority of U.S.-registered mutual funds, with the exception of certain of our money market mutual funds, have adopted distribution plans (the “Plans”) under Rule 12b-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Rule 12b-1”). The Plans permit the mutual funds to bear certain expenses relating to the distribution of their shares, such as expenses for marketing, advertising, printing and sales promotion, subject to the Plans’ limitations on amounts. The individual Plans set a percentage limit for Rule 12b-1 expenses based on average daily net assets under management of the mutual fund.

 

Similar arrangements exist with the distribution of our global funds and where, generally, the distributor of the funds in the local market arranges for and pays commissions.

 

We pay a significant portion of underwriting and distribution fees to the financial advisers and other intermediaries who sell our sponsored investment products to the public on our behalf. See the description of underwriting and distribution expenses below.

 

Overall, underwriting and distribution fees increased 15% in fiscal year 2006. Underwriting fees increased 5% consistent with a 5% increase in gross product sales. Distribution fees increased 21% consistent with a 17% increase in simple monthly average assets under management and a shift in simple monthly average mix of assets under management towards equity products from fixed-income products. Distribution fees are generally higher for equity products, as compared to fixed-income products.

 

Underwriting and distribution fees increased 33% in fiscal year 2005. Underwriting fees increased 40% primarily due to a 27% increase in gross product sales along with a change in the sales mix. Distribution fees increased 29% consistent with a 21% increase in simple monthly average assets under management and a change in the asset and share class mix.

 

49


Table of Contents

Shareholder Servicing Fees

 

Shareholder servicing fees are generally fixed charges per shareholder account that vary with the particular type of fund and the service being rendered. In some instances, sponsored investment products are charged these fees based on the level of assets under management. We receive fees as compensation for providing transfer agency services, including providing customer statements, transaction processing, customer service and tax reporting. In the United States, transfer agency service agreements provide that accounts closed in a calendar year generally remain billable at a reduced rate through the second quarter of the following calendar year. In Canada, such agreements provide that accounts closed in the calendar year remain billable for four months after the end of the calendar year. Accordingly, the level of fees will vary with the growth in new accounts and the level of closed accounts that remain billable.

 

Shareholder servicing fees increased 2% in fiscal year 2006. The increase reflects a 7% increase in simple monthly average billable shareholder accounts, partially offset by a shift to shareholder accounts that are billable at a lower rate, including shareholder accounts originated in Asia. We anticipate a modest increase in shareholder servicing fees during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007 (“fiscal year 2007”) as we have recalculated, as of October 31, 2006, the number of beneficial shareholder accounts for which we bill where omnibus accounts are maintained by institutions in their own name on behalf of numerous beneficial owners of fund shares.

 

Shareholder servicing fees increased 4% in fiscal year 2005. The increase reflects a 7% increase in simple monthly average billable shareholder accounts, partially offset by a shift to shareholder accounts that are billable at a lower rate.

 

Consolidated Sponsored Investment Products Income, Net

 

Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net reflects the net investment income, including dividends received, of sponsored investment products consolidated under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (revised December 2003)” (“FIN 46-R”), and FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 94, “Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries”.

 

The 75% increase in fiscal year 2006 and the 25% increase in fiscal year 2005 reflect the fluctuation in timing and amounts of income earned by these sponsored investment products.

 

Other, Net

 

Other, net consists primarily of revenues from the banking/finance operating segment as well as income from custody services. Revenues from the banking/finance operating segment include interest income on loans, servicing income, and investment income on banking/finance investment securities, and are reduced by interest expense and the provision for probable loan losses.

 

Other, net increased 2% in fiscal year 2006 primarily due to higher interest income from automotive loans receivable and investments, partially offset by an increase in interest expense related to deposits and an increase in expenses related to the automotive lending program, including higher interest expense and net unrealized interest-rate swap losses incurred in fiscal year 2006 as compared to net unrealized interest-rate swap gains in fiscal year 2005, as well as an increase in the provision for probable loan losses.

 

Other, net decreased 9% in fiscal year 2005 due to lower realized gains on sales of automotive loans and an increase in interest expense related to our financing of the automotive lending program, partially offset by a decline in the provision for probable loan losses primarily related to our automotive portfolio.

 

50


Table of Contents

Operating Expenses

 

The table below presents the percentage change in each expense category and the percentage of total operating expenses represented by each expense category.

 

     Percentage Change     Percentage of Total
Operating Expenses
 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006 vs. 2005     2005 vs. 2004     2006     2005     2004  

Underwriting and distribution

   17 %   36  %   48 %   47 %   41 %

Compensation and benefits

   8 %   13  %   27 %   29 %   31 %

Information systems, technology and occupancy

   5 %   5  %   9 %   9 %   11 %

Advertising and promotion

   14 %   23  %   5 %   4 %   4 %

Amortization of deferred sales commissions

   6 %   24  %   4 %   4 %   4 %

Amortization of intangible assets

   (20 )%   (1 )%   —      1 %   1 %

Intangible assets impairment

   N/A     —      2 %   —      —   

Provision for governmental investigations, proceedings and actions, net

   (100 )%   (68 )%   —      1 %   4 %

September 11, 2001 recovery, net

   —      (100 )%   —      —      (1 )%

Other

   14 %   17  %   5 %   5 %   5 %
                              

Total Operating Expenses

   13 %   21 %   100 %   100 %   100 %
                              

 

Underwriting and Distribution

 

Underwriting and distribution include expenses payable to financial advisers and other third parties for providing sales, marketing and distribution services to investors in our sponsored investment products. Underwriting and distribution expenses increased 17% in fiscal year 2006 and 36% in fiscal year 2005 consistent with similar trends in underwriting and distribution revenues.

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

Compensation and benefits increased 8% in fiscal year 2006, primarily as a result of our annual merit salary adjustments that were effective from December 1, 2005 and higher staffing levels. Compensation and benefits for fiscal year 2006 also include additional expenses related to stock options and the 1998 Employee Stock Investment Plan resulting from our adoption of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), as well as an increase in other employee benefits. These increases were partially offset by a decline in expense related to certain performance-based bonus plans outside of our Amended and Restated Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

Compensation and benefits increased 13% in fiscal year 2005, primarily as a result of an increase in bonus expense under our Amended and Restated Annual Incentive Compensation Plan. In addition, during fiscal year 2005, we experienced increases related to the annual merit salary adjustments effective in October 2004, higher staffing levels and other employee benefits.

 

We continue to place a high emphasis on our pay for performance philosophy. As such, any changes in the underlying performance of our sponsored investment products or changes in the composition of our incentive compensation offerings could have an impact on compensation and benefits going forward. However, in order to attract and retain talented individuals, our level of compensation and benefits may increase more quickly or decrease more slowly than our revenue. We employed approximately 8,000 people at September 30, 2006 as compared to approximately 7,200 at September 30, 2005.

 

51


Table of Contents

Information Systems, Technology and Occupancy

 

Information systems, technology and occupancy costs increased 5% in fiscal year 2006 primarily due to higher occupancy costs related to global expansion and an increase in external data services costs, software and technology consulting. These increases were partially offset by a continued decrease in depreciation levels associated with a decline in the number and scope of technology projects that were completed and that were therefore subject to amortization.

 

Information systems, technology and occupancy costs increased 5% in fiscal year 2005 primarily due to higher building costs related to global expansion and an increase in technology consulting and outside market data services. This increase was partially offset by a continued decrease in depreciation levels for equipment and software related to a decrease in purchases of information systems and technology equipment as certain of our technology equipment is periodically replaced with new equipment under our technology outsourcing agreement, and a decline in the number and scope of technology projects that were completed and that were therefore subject to amortization.

 

Details of capitalized information systems and technology costs, which exclude occupancy costs, are shown below.

 

(in millions)

 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006     2005     2004  

Net carrying amount at beginning of period

   $ 42.7     $ 51.3     $ 79.1  

Additions during period, net of disposals and other adjustments

     26.1       21.3       16.3  

Net assets added through acquisitions

     —         —         0.3  

Amortization during period

     (23.9 )     (29.9 )     (44.4 )
                        

Net Carrying Amount at End of Period

   $ 44.9     $ 42.7     $ 51.3  
                        

 

Advertising and Promotion

 

Advertising and promotion increased 14% in fiscal year 2006 due to an increase in marketing support payments made to intermediaries who sell our sponsored investment products to the public on our behalf in the United States and an increase in marketing and promotion efforts globally. These increases were partially offset by a decline in advertising campaigns. Advertising and promotion increased 23% in fiscal year 2005, due to an increase in direct advertising campaigns and marketing and promotion efforts globally.

 

We are committed to investing in advertising and promotion in response to changing business conditions, and in order to advance our products where we see continued or potential new growth opportunities, which means that the level of advertising and promotion expenditures may increase more rapidly, or decrease more slowly, than our revenues. In addition to potential changes in our strategic marketing campaigns, advertising and promotion may also be impacted by changes in levels of sales and assets under management that affect marketing support payments made to the distributors of our sponsored investment products.

 

Amortization of Deferred Sales Commissions

 

Certain fund share classes sold globally, including Class C and Class R shares marketed in the United States, are sold without a front-end sales charge to shareholders, although our distribution subsidiaries pay a commission on the sale. In addition, certain share classes, such as Class A shares sold in the United States, are sold without a front-end sales charge to shareholders when minimum investment criteria are met while

 

52


Table of Contents

our distribution subsidiaries pay a commission on these sales. We defer all up-front commissions paid by our distribution subsidiaries and amortize them over 12 months to 8 years depending on share class or financing arrangements.

 

The U.S. funds that had offered Class B shares ceased offering these shares to new investors and existing shareholders effective during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Existing Class B shareholders may continue to exchange shares into Class B shares of different funds. Existing Class B shareholders may also continue to reinvest dividends on Class B shares in additional Class B shares.

 

Historically, Class B and certain of our Class C deferred commission assets (“DCA”) arising from our U.S., Canadian and European operations have been financed through sales to or other arrangements with Lightning Finance Company Limited (“LFL”), a company in which we hold a 49% ownership interest. In December 2005, LFL transferred substantially all of its DCA to Lightning Asset Finance Limited (“LAFL”), an Irish special purpose vehicle formed in December 2005, in which we also hold a 49% ownership interest. LAFL was formed for the sole purpose of acquiring and holding substantially all of the DCA owned by LFL as of December 29, 2005. The holder of the 51% ownership interests in both LFL and LAFL is a subsidiary of an international banking institution which is not affiliated with the Company. As our U.S. distribution subsidiary, Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc. (“FTDI”), entered into a financing arrangement with LFL, we maintain a continuing interest in the DCA transferred to it. As a result, we retain the DCA originally sold under the U.S. agreement in our financial statements and amortize them over an 8-year period, or until sold by LAFL. Neither we nor our distribution subsidiaries retain any direct ownership interest in the DCA sold, and, therefore, the sold DCA are not available to satisfy claims of our creditors or those of our distribution subsidiaries. In contrast to the U.S. arrangements, the arrangements outside the United States are, in most cases, direct agreements with our Canadian and European sponsored investment products, and, as a result, we do not record DCA from these sources in our financial statements. As of December 2005, our DCA have been financed generally by an independent third party.

 

Amortization of deferred sales commissions increased 6% in fiscal year 2006 and 24% in fiscal year 2005 consistent with similar increases in gross product sales. Neither LAFL nor LFL sold any U.S. DCA in a securitization transaction in fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets and Intangible Assets Impairment

 

Amortization of intangible assets decreased 20% in fiscal year 2006 reflecting the lower net carrying value of definite-lived intangible assets following a $68.4 million non-cash impairment charge, recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2006, related to certain intangible assets of Fiduciary Trust.

 

As of March 31, 2006, we completed our most recent annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets under the guidance set out in FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”), and we determined that there was no impairment to these assets as of October 1, 2005.

 

Amortization of intangible assets decreased 1% in fiscal year 2005, primarily due to foreign currency movements affecting intangible assets not denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, Fiduciary Trust implemented a plan of reorganization designed to emphasize its distinct high net-worth brand and to pursue further integration opportunities within Franklin Templeton Investments for its institutional business line. These changes to Fiduciary Trust’s business required us to review the carrying value of acquired customer base intangible assets of Fiduciary

 

53


Table of Contents

Trust. As a result of these changes, we recorded a $68.4 million non-cash impairment charge to customer base definite-lived intangible assets of Fiduciary Trust in the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

 

Provision for Governmental Investigations, Proceedings and Actions, Net

 

In fiscal year 2005, we recognized charges to income aggregating to $42.0 million ($26.5 million, net of taxes) and we received $8.4 million from our insurance provider for certain legal costs we incurred associated with previously disclosed governmental investigations, proceedings and actions.

 

In fiscal year 2004, we recognized charges to income of $105.0 million ($80.6 million, net of taxes), related to then-ongoing governmental investigations, proceedings and actions.

 

September 11, 2001 Recovery, Net

 

In January 2004, we received $32.5 million from our insurance carrier for claims related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed Fiduciary Trust’s headquarters. These proceeds represented final recoveries for claims submitted to our insurance carrier. We realized a gain of $30.3 million ($18.3 million, net of taxes). All remaining contingencies related to our insurance claims have been resolved.

 

Other Operating Expenses

 

Other operating expenses consist primarily of professional fees, investment management and shareholder servicing fees payable to external parties, corporate travel and entertainment, and other miscellaneous expenses.

 

Other operating expenses increased 14% in fiscal year 2006, due primarily to higher investment management fees payable to external parties, an increase in corporate travel and entertainment, higher costs associated with the resolution of nominal transaction or operational claims, and higher consulting and professional fees. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in legal fees, partially due to a decline in costs incurred and reimbursements from our insurance carrier related to governmental investigations, proceedings and actions.

 

Other operating expenses increased 17% in fiscal year 2005, due primarily to an increase in investment management fees payable to external parties consistent with an increase in simple monthly average assets under management, higher corporate travel and entertainment, and higher professional fees, including fees related to our compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules.

 

Other Income (Expenses)

 

Other income (expenses) includes net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) of consolidated sponsored investment products, investment and other income, net and interest expense. Investment and other income, net is comprised primarily of income related to our investments, including dividends, interest income, realized gains and losses and income from investments accounted for using the equity method of accounting, as well as minority interest in less than wholly-controlled subsidiaries and investments, and foreign currency exchange gains and losses.

 

Other income (expenses) increased 53% in fiscal year 2006, primarily due to an increase in interest income, dividends and realized gains from our investments, as well as a decline in interest expense on our debt. These increases were partially offset by an increase in minority interest in less than wholly-controlled

 

54


Table of Contents

subsidiaries, net realized and unrealized foreign exchange losses from our non-U.S. operations, and an other-than-temporary decline in value in certain of our long-term investments.

 

Other income (expenses) increased 110% in fiscal year 2005, primarily due to higher net realized and unrealized investment gains by our consolidated sponsored investment products, net of related minority interest in less than wholly-owned subsidiaries and investments, higher interest income from term deposits and debt securities, higher dividends from our sponsored investment products and higher equity method income from our investments.

 

Taxes on Income

 

As a multi-national corporation, we provide investment management and related services to a wide range of international sponsored investment products, often managed from locations outside the United States. Some of these jurisdictions have lower tax rates than the United States. The mix of pre-tax income (primarily from our investment management and related services business) subject to these lower rates, when aggregated with income originating in the United States, produces a lower overall effective income tax rate than existing U.S. federal and state income tax rates.

 

Our effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2006 increased to 30.94%, as compared to 25.56% in fiscal year 2005 and 29.38% in fiscal year 2004, primarily due to an income tax charge of $105.5 million related to repatriated earnings of our foreign subsidiaries under the Jobs Act recognized during fiscal year 2006. Income taxes were provided at a reduced rate for fiscal year 2005 due primarily to a favorable U.S. state tax ruling, obtained in fiscal year 2005, which resulted in a refund of tax from multiple prior years. The effective income tax rate for future reporting periods will continue to reflect the relative contributions of foreign earnings that are subject to reduced tax rates and that are not currently included in U.S. taxable income, as well as other factors, including a reduction in our tax liabilities due to the favorable U.S. state tax ruling described above and certain international tax rulings obtained in prior years, which are in effect through fiscal year 2007.

 

55


Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table summarizes certain key financial data relating to our liquidity, and sources and uses of capital:

 

(in millions)

 

as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006     2005     2004

Balance Sheet Data

      

Assets

      

Liquid assets

   $ 5,347.8     $ 4,814.4     $ 4,279.3

Cash and cash equivalents

     3,613.1       3,152.2       2,917.2

Liabilities

      

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

   $ —       $ —       $ 6.0

Variable Funding Notes

     232.3       239.2       —  

Commercial paper

     168.1       169.4       169.6

Convertible Notes

     —         540.1       530.1

Medium Term Notes

     420.0       420.0       420.0

Other long-term debt

     207.9       248.3       246.3
                      

Total debt

     1,028.3       1,617.0       1,372.0

Cash Flow Data

      

Operating cash flows

   $ 1,277.9     $ 850.0     $ 929.7

Investing cash flows

     36.5       (257.6 )     841.4

Financing cash flows

     (853.4 )   $ (357.4 )     92.4

 

Liquid assets, which consist of cash and cash equivalents, investment securities (trading and available-for-sale) and current receivables, increased from September 30, 2005, primarily due to cash provided by operating activities. Cash and cash equivalents include cash, debt instruments with maturities of three months or less at the purchase date and other highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash, including money market funds. Cash and cash equivalents increased from September 30, 2005 as we invested operating cash flows in debt instruments, including U.S. T-bills, term and other interest-bearing deposits, with maturities of three months or less from the purchase date.

 

The decrease in total debt outstanding from September 30, 2005 relates primarily to the conversion and redemption of the $877.0 million principal amount at maturity of Liquid Yield Option Notes due 2031 (Zero Coupon–Senior) (the “Convertible Notes”), and the decline in the long-term financing liability recognized in relation to U.S. DCA originally financed by LFL.

 

We experienced higher operating cash flows in fiscal year 2006, as compared to fiscal year 2005, due to higher net income and net proceeds from the securitization of loans held for sale, partially offset by an increase in taxes payable, as we recorded $105.5 million in taxes related to the repatriation of earnings under the Jobs Act. In fiscal year 2006, we experienced net cash provided by investing activities, as compared to net cash used in investing activities in fiscal year 2005, due primarily to excess liquidations of investments over purchases. Net cash used in financing activities increased in fiscal year 2006, as compared to fiscal year 2005, primarily due to an increase in common stock repurchases, partially offset by a decline in dividends paid, as we declared a $2.00 per share special cash dividend on March 15, 2005. In fiscal year 2006, we repurchased 11.3 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $985.9 million. At September 30, 2006, approximately 9.4 million shares remained available for repurchase under our existing stock repurchase program. We repurchased 2.5 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $170.1 million in fiscal year 2005, and 1.3 million shares at a cost of $67.6 million in fiscal year 2004.

 

56


Table of Contents

Revision to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

In accordance with FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows” (“SFAS 95”), we classified cash flows relating to the variable funding notes (“Variable Funding Notes”), issued under a one-year revolving $250.0 million variable funding note warehouse credit facility originally entered into in March 2005, and subsequently extended for an additional one-year term in March 2006, as financing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for fiscal year 2006. These financing activities are included in the operations of a subsidiary within the banking/finance operating segment whose assets at September 30, 2006 and 2005 represented 4.8% and 4.1% of total Franklin Templeton Investments’ assets and whose income before taxes for fiscal year 2006 and 2005 represented 0.5% and 0.7% of total Franklin Templeton Investments’ income before taxes. Comparative cash flows for fiscal year 2005 relating to the Variable Funding Notes were revised to reflect their classification as financing activities instead of operating activities. The revision had no impact on the previously reported fiscal year 2005 net income, banking/finance liabilities, and cash and cash equivalents, and was immaterial to the fiscal year 2005 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

 

The following table summarizes the effect of the revision to the fiscal year 2005 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

 

(in thousands)

 

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005

   As Previously
Reported
    As Revised  

Operating Activities

    

Increase in other liabilities

   $ 246,527     $ 7,306  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,089,209       849,988  

Financing Activities

    

Increase in debt

     40,957       307,322  

Payments on debt

     (39,076 )     (66,220 )

Net cash used in financing activities

     (596,679 )     (357,458 )

 

The effect of the revision on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in our Forms 10-Q previously filed with the SEC are disclosed in Quarterly Information (Unaudited) section below.

 

Capital Resources

 

We believe that we can meet our present and reasonably foreseeable operating cash needs and future commitments through existing liquid assets, continuing cash flows from operations, borrowing capacity under current credit facilities, the ability to issue debt or equity securities, and mutual fund sales commission financing arrangements. In particular, we expect to finance future investment in our banking/finance activities through operating cash flows, debt, increased deposit base, and through the securitization of a portion of the receivables from consumer lending activities.

 

At September 30, 2006, we had $420.0 million available under a Five Year Facility Credit Agreement with certain banks and financial institutions expiring in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, $300.0 million of debt and equity securities available to be issued under a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC, and $330.0 million of commercial paper available for issuance under a $500 million private placement. In addition, at September 30, 2006, our banking/finance operating segment had $420.0 million in available uncommitted short-term bank lines under the Federal Reserve Funds system, the Federal Reserve Bank discount window, and Federal Home Loan Bank short-term borrowing capacity.

 

57


Table of Contents

Our ability to access the capital markets in a timely manner depends on a number of factors including our credit rating, the condition of the global economy, investors’ willingness to purchase our securities, interest rates, credit spreads and the valuation levels of equity markets. In extreme circumstances, we might not be able to access this liquidity readily.

 

Our investment management and related services operating segment has historically financed Class B and certain of our Class C DCA arising from our U.S., Canadian and European operations through sales to

or other arrangements with LFL, a company in which we hold a 49% ownership interest. As noted above, in December 2005, LFL transferred substantially all of its DCA to LAFL, an Irish special purpose vehicle formed in December 2005, in which we also hold a 49% ownership interest. Subsequent to the sale of DCA to LAFL, DCA originating from our non-U.S. operations have been financed generally by an independent third party. Class B and C share sales commissions that we have financed globally through LFL during fiscal years 2006, 2005, and 2004 were approximately $17.7 million, $118.0 million and $163.4 million. As noted above, the U.S. funds that had offered Class B shares ceased offering these shares to new investors and existing shareholders effective during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Our ability to access credit facilities, as well as LAFL’s ability to access the securitization market in the future, will directly affect our existing financing arrangements.

 

Our banking/finance operating segment finances its automotive lending activities through operational cash flows, the issuance of notes under a one-year revolving $250.0 million variable funding note warehouse credit facility, inter-segment loans and by selling its auto loans in securitization transactions with qualified special purpose entities, which then issue asset-backed securities to private investors. Gross sale proceeds from auto loan securitization transactions were $348.3 million, $231.6 million and $471.8 million in fiscal years 2006, 2005 and 2004.

 

The Variable Funding Notes issued and outstanding were $232.3 million at September 30, 2006. The Variable Funding Notes are payable to certain administered conduits and are secured by cash and a pool of automobile loans that meet or are expected to meet certain eligibility requirements. Credit enhancements for the Variable Funding Notes require us to provide, as collateral, loans held for sale with a fair value in excess of the principal amount of the Variable Funding Notes, as well as to hold in trust additional cash balances to cover certain shortfalls. In addition, we provide a payment provider commitment in an amount not to exceed 4.66% of the pool balance. We also enter into interest-rate swap agreements intended to mitigate the interest-rate risk between the fixed interest rate on the pool of automobile loans and the floating interest rate being paid on the Variable Funding Notes, accounted for as freestanding derivatives. In October 2006, we entered into an auto loan securitization transaction for the sale of loans held for sale with a carrying value of approximately $361.7 million. The income before tax effect of this sale was approximately $2.4 million.

 

Our ability to access the securitization and capital markets will directly affect our plans to finance the auto loan portfolio in the future.

 

Uses of Capital

 

We expect that the main uses of cash will be to expand our core business, make strategic acquisitions, acquire shares of our common stock, fund property and equipment purchases, pay operating expenses of the business, enhance technology infrastructure and business processes, pay stockholder dividends and repay and service debt.

 

In May 2001, we received approximately $490.0 million in net proceeds from the sale of Convertible Notes. The issue price of the Convertible Notes, which were offered to qualified institutional buyers only, represented a yield to maturity of 1.875% per annum excluding any contingent interest. Each of the $1,000

 

58


Table of Contents

(principal amount at maturity) Convertible Notes was convertible prior to maturity into 9.3604 shares of our common stock (subject to adjustment) following the occurrence of certain specified triggering events. In particular, the Convertible Notes were convertible if, during any calendar quarter, the closing sale price of our common stock for at least 20 trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter was more than a specified percentage (initially 120% as of the third quarter of fiscal year 2001 and declining 0.084% each quarter thereafter) of the accreted conversion price per share of our common stock on the last trading day of the preceding calendar quarter. Based on this formula, holders were able to convert their Convertible Notes during each of the first three quarters of fiscal year 2006 because the closing sale price of our common stock during each of the preceding quarters, for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the applicable quarter, was more than the applicable conversion trigger price (calculated quarterly based on a percentage of the accreted conversion price per share of our common stock on the last trading day of the quarter). As a result, $870.5 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes were converted into an aggregate amount of 8.1 million shares of our common stock in fiscal year 2006. On June 5, 2006, we redeemed the remaining $0.6 million principal amount at maturity of the Convertible Notes for cash in the aggregate amount of $0.4 million. From inception through June 5, 2006, holders put to us and we repurchased for cash a total of $6.5 million principal amount at maturity of Convertible Notes, for their accreted value of $3.9 million.

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 109-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004” (“FSP FAS 109-2”). The Jobs Act was signed into law on October 22, 2004. Under a provision of the Jobs Act, we elected on January 26, 2006 to repatriate certain earnings of our foreign-based subsidiaries during fiscal year 2006 at a reduced U.S. federal tax rate. FSP FAS 109-2 provides guidance on when an enterprise should recognize in its financial statements the effects of the one-time tax benefit of repatriation of foreign earnings under the Jobs Act, and specifies interim disclosure requirements. Under our domestic reinvestment plan approved by our Chief Executive Officer and our Board of Directors, we repatriated approximately $2.1 billion of earnings from our foreign subsidiaries at September 30, 2006. The proceeds will be reinvested in our U.S. operations prior to October 1, 2010 consistent with the domestic reinvestment plan and the intent of the Jobs Act. As a result of the repatriation, we recorded an income tax charge of $105.5 million during fiscal year 2006.

 

We continue to look for opportunities to control our costs and expand our global presence. In this regard, in fiscal year 2005 we entered into a commitment to acquire land and build a campus in Hyderabad, India, to establish support services for several of our global functions. Our estimated total cost to complete the campus at September 30, 2006 was $43.6 million, of which $17.5 million had been incurred as of this date. We expect to open the campus in the first three months of calendar year 2007.

 

In November 2006, we announced that Franklin Templeton Investments agreed in principle to acquire full ownership of its joint venture in India, Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Private Limited (“AMC”), subject to regulatory approvals and to execution of a formal agreement. Franklin Templeton Investments will purchase the 25% stake in the AMC’s total equity paid-up capital held by Hathway Investments, a member of the Rajan Raheja group of companies.

 

59


Table of Contents

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The following table summarizes contractual cash obligations and commitments. We believe that we can meet these obligations and commitments through existing liquid assets, continuing cash flows from operations and borrowing capacity under current credit facilities.

 

(in millions)

 

as of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006

   Payments Due by Period
   Total    Less than
1 Year
   1-3
Years
   3-5
Years
   More than
5 Years

Non-current debt

   $ 627.9    $ 42.1    $ 506.8    $ 65.5    $ 13.5

Operating leases6

     350.6      40.4      74.1      67.1      169.0

Purchase obligations7

     375.2      138.2      112.0      74.6      50.4
                                  

Total Contractual Obligations

     1,353.7      220.7      692.9      207.2      232.9
                                  

Loan origination commitments

     218.9      198.3      —        —        20.6

Capital contribution commitments8

     94.9      31.8      41.2      21.9      —  
                                  

Total Contractual Obligations and Commitments

   $ 1,667.5    $ 450.8    $ 734.1    $ 229.1    $ 253.5
                                  

6 Operating lease obligations are presented net of future receipts on contractual sublease arrangements totaling $35.5 million as of September 30, 2006.
7 Purchase obligations include contractual amounts that will be due to purchase goods and services to be used in our operations and may be cancelled at earlier times than those indicated under certain conditions that may include termination fees. In particular, under an agreement to outsource the operations of our data centers (including responsibility for processing data and managing the centers), which we can terminate any time after July 1, 2006, we estimated that the termination fee payable in October 2006, not including costs associated with assuming equipment leases, would approximate $12.5 million and would decrease each month thereafter, reaching a payment of approximately $2.2 million in July 2008.
8 Capital contribution commitments relate to our contractual commitments to fund certain of our sponsored investment products.

 

Contingent Obligations

 

In relation to the auto loan securitization transactions that we have entered into with a number of qualified special purpose entities, we are obligated to cover shortfalls in amounts due to note holders up to certain levels as specified in the related agreements. At September 30, 2006, the maximum potential amount of future payments related to these obligations was $32.0 million and the fair value of obligations arising from auto securitization transactions entered into subsequent to December 31, 2002 reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2006 were not significant.

 

At September 30, 2006, the banking/finance operating segment had issued financial standby letters of credit totaling $2.7 million on which beneficiaries would be able to draw upon in the event of non-performance by our customers, primarily in relation to lease and lien obligations of these banking customers. These standby letters of credit, issued prior to January 1, 2003, were secured by marketable securities with a fair value of $2.9 million at September 30, 2006 and commercial real estate.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As discussed above, we hold a 49% ownership interest in LFL and LAFL and we account for the ownership interest in these companies using the equity method of accounting. As of September 30, 2006, LFL had approximately $8.9 million in total assets and our exposure to loss related to LFL was limited to the carrying value of our investment, and interest and fees receivable totaling approximately $0.9 million. As of September 30, 2006, LAFL had approximately $426.8 million in total assets and our maximum

 

60


Table of Contents

exposure to loss related to LAFL totaled approximately $215.9 million. We recognized pre-tax income of approximately $7.4 million and $21.1 million for our share of LFL’s and LAFL’s net income in fiscal years 2006 and 2005. Due to our significant interest in both LFL and LAFL, we continue to carry on our balance sheet the DCA originally sold to LFL by FTDI until these assets are amortized or sold by LAFL. Neither we nor our distribution subsidiaries retain any direct ownership interest in the DCA sold, and, therefore, the sold DCA are not available to satisfy claims of our creditors or those of our distribution subsidiaries.

 

As discussed above, our banking/finance operating segment periodically enters into auto loan securitization transactions with qualified special purpose entities, which then issue asset-backed securities to private investors. Our main objective in entering into these securitization transactions is to obtain financing for auto loan activities. Securitized loans held by the securitization trusts totaled $514.8 million at September 30, 2006 and $577.7 million at September 30, 2005.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that impact our financial position and results of operations. These estimates and assumptions are affected by our application of accounting policies. Below we describe certain critical accounting policies that we believe are important to understanding our results of operations and financial position. For additional information about our accounting policies, please refer to Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

We make significant estimates and assumptions when valuing goodwill and other intangible assets in connection with the initial purchase price allocation of an acquired entity, as well as when evaluating impairment of intangibles on an ongoing basis.

 

Under SFAS 142, we are required to test the fair value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles when there is an indication of impairment, or at least once a year. Goodwill impairment is indicated when the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its implied fair value, calculated based on anticipated discounted cash flows. In estimating the fair value of the reporting unit, we use valuation techniques based on discounted cash flows similar to models employed in analyzing the purchase price of an acquisition target.

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment on the basis of the expected future undiscounted operating cash flows, without interest charges, to be derived from these assets. We review definite-lived intangible assets for impairment when there is an indication of impairment, or at least once a year.

 

In performing our analysis, we used certain assumptions and estimates including those related to discount rates and the expected future period of cash flows to be derived from the assets, based on, among other factors, historical trends and the characteristics of the assets. While we believe that our testing was appropriate, if these estimates and assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges or otherwise increase amortization expense.

 

Income Taxes

 

As a multinational corporation, we operate in various locations outside the United States and generate earnings from our foreign subsidiaries. At September 30, 2006, and based on tax laws in effect as of this

 

61


Table of Contents

date, it is our intention to continue to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. As a result, we have not made a provision for U.S. taxes and have not recorded a deferred tax liability on $1,601.8 million of cumulative undistributed earnings recorded by foreign subsidiaries at September 30, 2006. Changes to our policy of reinvesting foreign earnings may have a significant effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Valuation of Investments

 

We record substantially all investments in our financial statements at fair value or amounts that approximate fair value. Where available, we use prices from independent sources such as listed market prices or broker or dealer price quotations. For investments in illiquid and privately held securities that do not have readily determinable fair values, we estimate the value of the securities based upon available information. However, even where the value of a security is derived from an independent market price or broker or dealer quote, some assumptions may be required to determine the fair value. For example, we generally assume that the size of positions in securities that we hold would not be large enough to affect the quoted price of the securities when sold, and that any such sale would happen in an orderly manner. However, these assumptions may be incorrect and the actual value realized on sale could differ from the current carrying value.

 

We evaluate our investments for other-than-temporary decline in value on a periodic basis. This may exist when the fair value of an investment security has been below the carrying value for an extended period of time. As most of our investments are carried at fair value, if an other-than-temporary decline in value is determined to exist, the unrealized investment loss recorded net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive income is realized as a charge to net income, in the period in which the other-than-temporary decline in value is determined. We classify securities as trading when it is management’s intent at the time of purchase to sell the security within a short period of time. Accordingly, we record unrealized gains and losses on these securities in our consolidated income.

 

While we believe that we have accurately estimated the amount of other-than-temporary decline in value in our portfolio, different assumptions could result in changes to the recorded amounts in our financial statements.

 

Loss Contingencies

 

We are involved in various lawsuits and claims encountered in the normal course of business. When such a matter arises and periodically thereafter, we consult with our legal counsel and evaluate the merits of the claims based on the facts available at that time. In management’s opinion, an adequate accrual has been made as of September 30, 2006 to provide for any probable losses that may arise from these matters for which we could reasonably estimate an amount. See also Note 14 to our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this report and “Legal Proceedings” included in Part I, Item 3 of this report.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

Under FIN 46-R, a variable interest entity (“VIE”) is an entity in which the equity investment holders have not contributed sufficient capital to finance its activities or the equity investment holders do not have defined rights and obligations normally associated with an equity investment. FIN 46-R requires consolidation of a VIE by the enterprise that has the majority of the risks and rewards of ownership, referred to as the primary beneficiary.

 

62


Table of Contents

Evaluating whether related entities are VIEs, and determining if we qualify as the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, is highly complex and involves the use of estimates and assumptions. To determine our interest in the expected losses or residual returns of each VIE, we performed an expected cash flow analysis using certain discount rate and volatility assumptions based on available historical information and management’s estimates. Based on our analysis, we consolidated one VIE into our financial statements as of September 30, 2006. While we believe that our testing and approach were appropriate, future changes in estimates and assumptions may affect our decision and lead to the consolidation of other VIEs in our financial statements.

 

Banking/Finance Segment Interest Income and Margin Analysis

 

The following table presents the banking/finance operating segment’s net interest income and margin:

 

(in millions)

  2006     2005     2004  

as of and for the fiscal years ended
September 30,

  Average
Balance
  Interest   Average
Rate
    Average
Balance
  Interest   Average
Rate
    Average
Balance
  Interest   Average
Rate
 

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell

  $ 169.8   $ 5.7   3.36 %   $ 80.9   $ 2.4   2.97 %   $ 32.1   $ 0.3   0.93 %

Investment securities, available-for-sale

    202.3     12.5   6.18 %     238.5     8.5   3.56 %     321.4     11.0   3.42 %

Loans to banking clients9

    485.9     42.6   8.77 %     441.4     30.9   7.00 %     451.3     27.7   6.14 %
                                                     

Total earning assets

  $ 858.0   $ 60.8   7.09 %   $ 760.8   $ 41.8   5.49 %   $ 804.8   $ 39.0   4.85 %

Interest-bearing deposits

  $ 426.3   $ 14.5   3.40 %   $ 555.4   $ 7.5   1.35 %   $ 597.5   $ 4.3   0.72 %

Inter-segment debt

    19.8     0.8   4.04 %     18.6     0.4   2.15 %     88.2     1.4   1.59 %

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

    2.5     0.1   4.00 %     2.6     0.1   3.85 %     15.6     0.2   1.28 %

Variable Funding Notes

    159.2     9.8   6.16 %     77.9     2.9   3.72 %     —       —     —    
                                                     

Total interest-bearing liabilities

  $ 607.8   $ 25.2   4.15 %   $ 654.5   $ 10.9   1.67 %   $ 701.3   $ 5.9   0.84 %
                                                     

Net interest income and margin

    $ 35.6   4.15 %     $ 30.9   4.06 %     $ 33.1   4.11 %
                                         

9 Non-accrual loans are included in the average loans receivable balance.

 

63


Table of Contents

Quarterly Information (Unaudited)

 

(in thousands except per share data)

 

Quarter

  First   Second   Third   Fourth

Fiscal 2006

       

Operating revenues

  $ 1,181,452   $ 1,254,770   $ 1,317,275   $ 1,297,229

Operating income

  $ 404,586   $ 349,757   $ 451,986   $ 427,052

Net income

  $ 317,969   $ 196,516   $ 371,414   $ 381,669

Earnings per share

       

Basic

  $ 1.26   $ 0.76   $ 1.44   $ 1.51

Diluted10

  $ 1.21   $ 0.74   $ 1.41   $ 1.49

Dividend per share

  $ 0.120   $ 0.120   $ 0.120   $ 0.120

Common stock price per share

       

High

  $ 98.86   $ 104.25   $ 98.35   $ 106.69

Low

  $ 77.63   $ 92.84   $ 80.16   $ 82.37

Fiscal 2005

       

Operating revenues

  $ 986,022   $ 1,051,181   $ 1,109,734   $ 1,163,161

Operating income

  $ 300,084   $ 273,281   $ 346,479   $ 368,532

Net income

  $ 239,989   $ 221,274   $ 261,873   $ 334,495

Earnings per share

       

Basic

  $ 0.96   $ 0.88   $ 1.04   $ 1.33

Diluted1

  $ 0.92   $ 0.85   $ 1.01   $ 1.28

Dividend per share

  $ 0.100   $ 2.100   $ 0.100   $ 0.100

Common stock price per share

       

High

  $ 71.45   $ 73.54   $ 77.64   $ 84.72

Low

  $ 55.66   $ 64.65   $ 63.56   $ 76.93

Fiscal 2004

       

Operating revenues

  $ 809,666   $ 878,995   $ 867,815   $ 881,732

Operating income

  $ 222,860   $ 225,210   $ 240,986   $ 241,769

Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change, net of tax

  $ 167,517   $ 172,791   $ 173,896   $ 187,681

Cumulative effect of an accounting change, net of tax

    4,779     —       —       —  
                       

Net income

  $ 172,296   $ 172,791   $ 173,896   $ 187,681

Earnings per share

       

Basic

       

Before cumulative effect of an accounting change

  $ 0.68   $ 0.69   $ 0.70   $ 0.75

Cumulative effect of an accounting change

    0.02     —       —       —  
                       

Net

  $ 0.70   $ 0.69   $ 0.70   $ 0.75

Diluted1

       

Before cumulative effect of an accounting change

  $ 0.66   $ 0.67   $ 0.67   $ 0.73

Cumulative effect of an accounting change

    0.02     —       —       —  
                       

Net

  $ 0.68   $ 0.67   $ 0.67   $ 0.73

Dividend per share

  $ 0.085   $ 0.085   $ 0.085   $ 0.085

Common stock price per share

       

High

  $ 52.25   $ 62.10   $ 57.81   $ 56.47

Low

  $ 43.39   $ 52.02   $ 48.10   $ 46.85

10 Diluted earnings per share for all periods shown reflect the fiscal year 2005 adoption of the Emerging Issues Task Force Abstract Issue No. 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share.”

 

64


Table of Contents

Revision to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

As more fully described in Note 1 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we classified cash flows relating to the Variable Funding Notes as financing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for fiscal year 2006 in accordance with SFAS 95. Comparative cash flows for fiscal year 2005 relating to the Variable Funding Notes were revised to reflect their classification as financing activities instead of operating activities.

 

The following table summarizes the effect of the revision to the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in our Forms 10-Q previously filed with the SEC.

 

(in thousands)

for the nine months ended June 30, 2006

  

As Previously
Reported

    As Revised  

Operating Activities

    

Increase in other liabilities

   $ 67,241     $ 128,677  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,037,637       1,099,073  

Financing Activities

    

Increase in debt

     1,314       213,837  

Payments on debt

     (32,142 )     (306,101 )

Net cash used in financing activities

     (875,524 )     (936,960 )

for the six months ended March 31, 2006

            

Operating Activities

    

(Decrease) increase in other liabilities

   $ (75,905 )   $ 74,868  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     609,773       760,546  

Financing Activities

    

Increase in debt

     960       111,849  

Payments on debt

     (21,122 )     (282,784 )

Net cash used in financing activities

     (74,055 )     (224,828 )

for the three months ended December 31, 2005

            

Operating Activities

    

(Decrease) increase in other liabilities

   $ (210,652 )   $ 20,594  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     315,371       546,617  

Financing Activities

    

Increase in debt

     396       27,251  

Payments on debt

     (10,023 )     (268,124 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     11,115       (220,131 )

for the nine months ended June 30, 2005

            

Operating Activities

    

Increase in other liabilities

   $ 149,482     $ 3,609  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     798,450       652,577  

Financing Activities

    

Increase in debt

     40,588       195,896  

Payments on debt

     (29,055 )     (38,490 )

Net cash used in financing activities

     (586,369 )     (440,496 )

for the six months ended March 31, 2005

            

Operating Activities

    

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities

   $ 40,449     $ (9,561 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

     367,844       317,834  

Financing Activities

    

Increase in debt

     40,206       90,216  

Payments on debt

     (18,964 )     (18,964 )

Net cash provided by financing activities

     47,408       97,418  

 

65


Table of Contents

Risk Factors

 

We are subject to extensive and often complex, overlapping and frequently changing regulation domestically and abroad. Our investment management and related services business and our banking/finance business are subject to extensive and often complex, overlapping and frequently changing regulation in the United States and abroad, including, among others, securities, banking, accounting and tax laws and regulations. Moreover, financial reporting requirements, and the processes, controls and procedures that have been put in place to address them, are often comprehensive and complex. While management has focused attention and resources on our compliance policies, procedures and practices, non-compliance with applicable laws or rules or regulations, conflicts of interest requirements or fiduciary principles, either in the United States or abroad, or our inability to keep up with, or adapt to, an often ever changing, complex regulatory environment could result in sanctions against us, including fines and censures, injunctive relief, suspension or expulsion from a certain jurisdiction or market or the revocation of licenses, any of which could also adversely affect our reputation, prospects, revenues, and earnings.

 

We are subject to federal securities laws, state laws regarding securities fraud, other federal and state laws and rules and regulations of certain regulatory and self regulatory organizations, including those rules and regulations promulgated by, among others, the SEC, the NASD and the NYSE, and to the extent operations or trading in our securities take place outside the United States, by foreign regulations and regulators, such as the U.K. Listing Authority. Certain of our subsidiaries are registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and many of our funds are registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, both of which impose numerous obligations, as well as detailed operational requirements, on our subsidiaries which are investment advisers to registered investment companies. Our subsidiaries, both in the United States and abroad, must comply with a myriad of complex and often changing U.S. and/or foreign regulations, some of which may conflict, including complex U.S. and non-U.S. tax regimes. Additionally, as we expand our operations, sometimes rapidly, into non-U.S. jurisdictions, the rules and regulations of these non-U.S. jurisdictions become applicable, sometimes with short compliance deadlines, and add further regulatory complexity to our ongoing compliance operations.

 

In addition, we are a bank holding company and a financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the Federal Reserve Board, or FRB, and are subject to the restrictions, limitations, or prohibitions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The FRB may impose additional limitations or restrictions on our activities, including if the FRB believes that we do not have the appropriate financial and managerial resources to commence or conduct an activity or make an acquisition. Further, our subsidiary, Fiduciary Trust, is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC and New York State Banking Department, while other subsidiaries are subject to oversight by the Office of Thrift Supervision and various state regulators. The laws and regulations imposed by these regulators generally involve restrictions and requirements in connection with a variety of technical, specialized and recently expanding matters and concerns. For example, compliance with anti-money laundering and Know-Your-Customer requirements, both domestically and internationally, and the Bank Secrecy Act has taken on heightened importance with regulators as a result of efforts to, among other things, limit terrorism. At the same time, there has been increased regulation with respect to the protection of customer privacy and the need to secure sensitive customer information. As we continue to address these requirements or focus on meeting new or expanded ones, we may expend a substantial amount of time and resources, even though our banking/finance business does not constitute our dominant business sector. Moreover, any inability to meet these requirements, within the timeframes set by regulators, may subject us to sanctions or other restrictions by the regulators that impact our broader business.

 

66


Table of Contents

Regulatory and legislative actions and reforms are making 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. Since 2001, the federal securities laws have been augmented substantially and made significantly more complex by, among other measures, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the USA Patriot Act of 2001. Moreover, changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations have directly affected our business. With new laws and changes in interpretation and enforcement of existing requirements, the associated time we must dedicate to, and related costs we must incur in, meeting the regulatory complexities of our business have increased and these outlays have also increased as we expand our business into various non-U.S. jurisdictions. For example, in the past few years following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new rules of the SEC, NYSE and NASD were promulgated and other rules revised. Among other things, these new requirements have necessitated us to make changes to our corporate governance and public disclosure policies, procedures and practices and our registered investment companies and investment advisers have been required to make similar changes. In addition, complex accounting and financial reporting requirements have been implemented in the past several years pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which apply across differing legal entities within our corporate structure and varied geographical and/or jurisdictional areas in which we operate. Compliance activities to meet these new requirements have required us to expend additional time and resources, including without limitation substantial efforts to conduct evaluations required to ensure compliance with the management certification and attestation requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and, consequently, we are incurring increased costs of doing business, which potentially negatively impacts our profitability and future financial results. Moreover, any potential accounting or reporting error, whether financial or otherwise, if material, could damage our reputation, adversely affect our ability to conduct business, and decrease revenue and net income. Finally, any regulatory and legislative actions and reforms affecting the mutual fund industry, including compliance initiatives, may negatively impact revenues by increasing our costs of accessing or dealing in the financial markets.

 

Our ability to maintain the beneficial tax treatment we anticipate with respect to foreign earnings we have repatriated is based on current interpretations of the Jobs Act and timely and permitted use of such amounts in accordance with our domestic reinvestment plan and the Jobs Act. In September 2006, we completed our planned repatriation into the United States of approximately $2.1 billion of undistributed earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in accordance with our domestic reinvestment plan and the Jobs Act. However, our ability to maintain the anticipated beneficial tax treatment with respect to these foreign earnings is subject to current interpretations and compliance with the Jobs Act (including Internal Revenue Code Section 965), as well as the rules and regulations promulgated by, among others, the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Treasury Department. Moreover, changes in the interpretation of these rules and regulations may have an effect on our ability to maintain the beneficial tax treatment with respect to our repatriated foreign earnings. Our inability to timely complete, to appropriately use repatriated amounts for permitted purposes or to otherwise satisfy the requirements of our planned repatriation could also have a negative impact on the scope and breadth of our anticipated tax treatment with respect to such amounts.

 

Any significant limitation or failure of our software applications and other technology systems that are critical to our operations could constrain our operations. We are highly dependent upon the use of various proprietary and third-party software applications and other technology systems to operate our business. We use our technology to, among other things, obtain securities pricing information, process client transactions and provide reports and other customer services to the clients of the funds we manage. Any inaccuracies, delays or systems failures in these and other processes could subject us to client dissatisfaction and losses. Although we take protective measures, including measures to effectively secure information through system security technology, our technology systems may still be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer

 

67


Table of Contents

viruses or other events that have a security impact, such as an authorized employee or vendor inadvertently causing us to release confidential information, which could materially damage our operations or cause the disclosure or modification of sensitive or confidential information. Moreover, loss of confidential customer identification information could harm our reputation. Further, although we take precautions to password protect our laptops and other mobile electronic hardware, if such hardware is stolen, misplaced or left unattended, it may become vulnerable to hacking or other unauthorized use, creating a possible security risk and resulting in potentially costly actions by us. Most of the software applications that we use in our business are licensed from, and supported, upgraded and maintained by, third-party vendors. A suspension or termination of certain of these licenses or the related support, upgrades and maintenance could cause temporary system delays or interruption. In addition, we have outsourced to a single vendor the operation of our U.S. data centers, which includes responsibility for processing data and managing the centers. This vendor is also responsible for our disaster recovery systems. A failure by this vendor to continue to manage our U.S. data centers and our disaster recovery systems adequately in the future could have a material adverse impact on our business. Moreover, although we have in place certain disaster recovery plans, we may experience system delays and interruptions as a result of natural disasters, power failures, acts of war, and third party failures. Technology is subject to rapid change and we cannot guarantee that our competitors may not implement more advanced Internet platforms for their products which could affect our business. Potential system failures or breaches, or advancements in technology, and the cost necessary to address them, could result in material financial loss or costs, regulatory actions, breach of client contracts, reputational harm or legal claims and liability, which in turn could negatively impact our revenues and income.

 

We face risks, and corresponding potential costs and expenses, associated with conducting operations and growing our business in numerous foreign countries. We sell mutual funds and offer investment management and related services in many different regulatory jurisdictions around the world, and intend to continue to expand our operations internationally. As we do so, we will continue to face various ongoing challenges to ensure that we have sufficient resources, procedures and controls in place to address and ensure that our operations abroad operate consistently and effectively. In order to remain competitive, we must be proactive and prepared to implement necessary resources when growth opportunities present themselves, whether as a result of a business acquisition or rapidly increasing business activities in particular markets or regions. As we grow, we face a heightened risk that the necessary resources and/or personnel will be unavailable to take full advantage of strategic opportunities when they appear or that strategic decisions can be efficiently implemented. Local regulatory environments may vary widely, as may the adequacy and sophistication of each. Similarly, local distributors, and their policies and practices as well as financial viability, may be inconsistent or less developed or mature. Notwithstanding potential long-term cost savings by increasing certain operations, such as transfer agent and other back-office operations, in countries or regions of the world with lower operating costs, growth of our international operations may involve near-term increases in expenses as well as additional capital costs, such as information, systems and technology costs and costs related to compliance with particular regulatory or other local requirements or needs. Local requirements or needs may also place additional demands on sales and compliance personnel and resources, such as meeting local language requirements while also integrating personnel into an organization with a single operating language. Finding and hiring additional, well-qualified personnel and crafting and adopting policies, procedures and controls to address local or regional requirements remain a challenge as we expand our operations internationally. Moreover, regulators in non-U.S. jurisdictions could also change their policies or laws in a manner that might restrict or otherwise impede our ability to distribute or register investment products in their respective markets. Any of these local requirements, activities or needs could increase the costs and expenses we incur in a specific jurisdiction without any corresponding increase in revenues and income from operating in the jurisdiction.

 

68


Table of Contents

We depend on key personnel and our financial performance could be negatively affected by the loss of their services. The success of our business will continue to depend upon our key personnel, including our portfolio and fund managers, investment analysts, investment advisers, sales and management personnel and other professionals as well as our executive officers and business unit heads. In a tightening labor market, competition for qualified, motivated and highly skilled executives, professionals and other key personnel in the asset management and banking/finance industries remains significant. Our success depends to a substantial degree upon our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals, including through competitive compensation packages, and upon the continued contributions of these people. As our business grows, we are likely to need to increase correspondingly the overall number of individuals that we employ. Moreover, in order to retain certain key personnel, we may be required to increase compensation to such individuals, resulting in additional expense without a corresponding increase in potential revenue. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in attracting and retaining qualified individuals, and the departure of key investment personnel, in particular, if not replaced, could cause us to lose clients, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.

 

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. We compete with numerous asset management companies, mutual fund, stock brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks, savings and loan associations and other financial institutions. Our investment products also compete with products offered by these competitors as well as real estate investment trusts, hedge funds and others. Over the past decade, a significant number of new asset management firms and mutual funds have been established, increasing competition. At the same time, consolidation in the financial services industry has created stronger competitors with greater financial resources and broader distribution channels than our own. Competition is based on various factors, including, among others, business reputation, investment performance, product offerings, service quality, distribution relationships, and fees charged. Additionally, competing securities broker/dealers whom we rely upon to distribute and sell our mutual funds may also sell their own proprietary funds and investment products, which could limit the distribution of our investment products. To the extent that existing or potential customers, including securities broker/dealers, decide to invest in or distribute the products of our competitors, the sales of our products as well as our market share, revenues and net income could decline. Our ability to attract and retain assets under our management is also dependent on the relative investment performance of our funds and other managed investment portfolios, offering a mix of sponsored investment products that meets investor demand and our ability to maintain our investment management services fees at competitive levels.

 

Changes in the distribution channels on which we depend could reduce our revenues and hinder our growth. We derive nearly all of our fund sales through broker/dealers and other similar investment advisers. Increasing competition for these distribution channels and recent regulatory initiatives have caused our distribution costs to rise and could cause further increases in the future or could otherwise negatively impact the distribution of our products. Higher distribution costs lower our net revenues and earnings. Additionally, if one or more of the major financial advisers who distribute our products were to cease operations or limit or otherwise end the distribution of our products, it could have a significant adverse impact on our revenues and earnings. There is no assurance we will continue to have access to the third-party broker/dealers and similar investment advisers that currently distribute our products, or continue to have the opportunity to offer all or some of our existing products through them. A failure to maintain strong business relationships with the major investment advisers who currently distribute our products may also impair our distribution and sales operations. Because we use broker/dealers and other similar investment advisers to sell our products, we do not control the ultimate investment recommendations given to clients. Any inability to access and successfully sell our products to clients through third-party distribution channels could have a negative effect on our level of assets under management, related revenues and overall business and financial condition.

 

69


Table of Contents

The amount or mix of our assets under management are subject to significant fluctuations and could negatively impact our revenues and income. We have become subject to an increased risk of asset volatility from changes in the domestic and global financial and equity markets. Individual financial and equity markets may be adversely affected by political, financial or other instabilities that are particular to the country or regions in which a market is located, including without limitation local acts of terrorism, economic crises or other business, social or political crises. Declines in these markets have caused in the past, and would cause in the future, a decline in our revenues and income. Global economic conditions, exacerbated by war or terrorism or financial crises, changes in the equity market place, currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, the yield curve and other factors that are difficult to predict affect the mix, market values and levels of our assets under management. Our investment management services revenues are derived primarily from fees based on a percentage of the value of assets under management and vary with the nature of the account or product managed. A decline in the price of stocks or bonds, or in particular market segments, or in the securities market generally, could cause the value and returns on our assets under management to decline, resulting in a decline in our revenues and income. Moreover, changing market conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix between international and U.S. assets, potentially resulting in a decline in our revenue and income depending upon the nature of our assets under management and the level of management fees we earn based on them. Additionally, changing market conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix towards fixed-income products and a related decline in our revenue and income, as we generally derive higher fee revenues and income from equity assets than from fixed-income products we manage. On the other hand, increases in interest rates, in particular if rapid, or high interest rates, as well as any uncertainty in the future direction of interest rates, may have a negative impact on our fixed-income products as rising interest rates or interest rate uncertainty typically decrease the total return on many bond investments due to lower market valuations of existing bonds. Any decrease in the level of assets under management resulting from price declines, interest rate volatility or uncertainty or other factors could negatively impact our revenues and income.

 

Our increasing focus on international markets as a source of investments and sales of investment products subject us to increased exchange rate and other risks in connection with earnings and income generated overseas. While we operate primarily in the United States, we also provide services and earn revenues in The Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and Mexico. As a result, we are subject to foreign exchange risk through our foreign operations. While we have taken steps to reduce our exposure to foreign exchange risk, for example, by denominating a significant amount of our transactions in U.S. dollars, the situation may change in the future as our business continues to grow outside the United States. Stabilization or appreciation of the U.S. dollar could moderate revenues from sales of investment products internationally or could affect relative investment performance of certain funds invested in non-U.S. securities. Separately, management fees that we earn tend to be higher in connection with international assets under management than with U.S. assets under management. Consequently, a downturn in international markets could have a significant effect on our revenues and income. Moreover, as our business grows in non-U.S. markets, any business, social and political unrest affecting these markets, in addition to any direct consequences such unrest may have on our personnel and facilities located in the affected area, may also have a more lasting impact on the long-term investment climate in these and other areas and, as a result, our assets under management and the corresponding revenues and income that we generate from them may be negatively affected.

 

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. Our investment performance, along with achieving and maintaining superior distribution and client services, is critical to the success of our investment management and related services business. Strong investment performance often stimulates sales of our investment products. Poor investment performance as compared to third-party benchmarks or competitive products could lead to a decrease in sales of investment products we manage and stimulate

 

70


Table of Contents

redemptions from existing products, generally lowering the overall level of assets under management and reducing the management fees we earn. We cannot assure you that past or present investment performance in the investment products we manage will be indicative of future performance. Any poor future performance may negatively impact our revenues and income.

 

We could suffer losses in earnings or revenue if our reputation is harmed. Our reputation is important to the success of our business. The Franklin Templeton Investments brand has been, and continues to be, extremely well received both in our industry and with our clients, reflecting the fact that our brand, like our business, is based in part on trust and confidence. If our reputation is harmed, existing clients may reduce amounts held in, or withdraw entirely from, funds that we advise or funds may terminate their management agreements with us, which could reduce the amount of assets under management and cause us to suffer a corresponding loss in earnings or revenue. Moreover, reputational harm may cause us to lose current employees and we may be unable to continue to attract new ones with similar qualifications, motivations or skills. If we fail to address, or appear to fail to address, successfully and promptly the underlying causes of any reputational harm, we may be unsuccessful in repairing any existing harm to our reputation and our future business prospects would likely be affected.

 

Our future results are dependent upon maintaining an appropriate level of expenses, which is subject to fluctuation. The level of our expenses is subject to fluctuation and may increase for the following or other reasons: changes in the level and scope of our advertising expenses in response to market conditions; variations in the level of total compensation expense due to, among other things, bonuses, changes in our employee count and mix, and competitive factors; changes in expenses and capital costs, including costs incurred to maintain and enhance our administrative and operating services infrastructure; and an increase in insurance expenses including through the assumption of higher deductibles and/or co-insurance liability.

 

Our ability to successfully integrate widely varied business lines can be impeded by systems and other technological limitations. Our continued success in effectively managing and growing our business, both domestically and abroad, depends on our ability to integrate the varied accounting, financial, information and operational systems of our various businesses on a global basis. Moreover, adapting or developing our existing technology systems to meet our internal needs, as well as client needs, industry demands and new regulatory requirements, is also critical for our business. The constant introduction of new technologies presents new challenges to us. We have an ongoing need to continually upgrade and improve our various technology systems, including our data processing, financial, accounting and trading systems. Further, we also must be proactive and prepared to implement technology systems when growth opportunities present themselves, whether as a result of a business acquisition or rapidly increasing business activities in particular markets or regions. These needs could present operational issues or require, from time to time, significant capital spending. It also may require us to reevaluate the current value and/or expected useful lives of our technology systems, which could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

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. Should we experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity problem, such as a pandemic or other natural or man-made disaster, our continued success will depend, in part, on the availability of our personnel, our office facilities and the proper functioning of our computer, telecommunication and other related systems and operations. While our operational size, the diversity of locations from which we operate, and our redundant back-up systems provide us with a strong advantage should we experience a local or regional disaster or other business continuity event, we could still experience near-term operational challenges, in particular depending upon how a local or regional event may affect our human capital across our operations or with regard to particular segments of our operations, such as key executive officers or personnel in our technology group. Moreover, as we grow our operations

 

71


Table of Contents

in particular areas, such as India, the potential for particular types of natural or man-made disasters, political, economic or infrastructure instabilities, or other country- or region-specific business continuity risks increases. Past disaster recovery efforts have demonstrated that even seemingly localized events may require broader disaster recovery efforts throughout our operations and, consequently, we are constantly assessing and taking steps to improve upon our existing business continuity plans and key management succession. However, a disaster on a significant scale or affecting certain of our key operating areas within or across regions, or our inability to successfully recover should we experience a disaster or other business continuity problem, could materially interrupt our business operations and 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 market-specific political, economic or other risks, any of which may negatively impact our revenues and income. Our emerging market portfolios and revenues derived from managing these portfolios are subject to significant risks of loss from political, economic, and diplomatic developments, currency fluctuations, social instability, changes in governmental polices, expropriation, nationalization, asset confiscation and changes in legislation related to foreign ownership. Foreign trading markets, particularly in some emerging market countries, are often smaller, less liquid, less regulated and significantly more volatile than the U.S. and other established markets.

 

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. Our revenues are dependent on fees earned under investment management and related services agreements that we have with the funds we advise. These revenues could be adversely affected if these agreements are altered significantly or terminated. The decline in revenue that might result from alteration or termination of our investment management services agreements could have a material adverse impact on our earnings or income.

 

Diverse and strong competition limits the interest rates that we can charge on consumer loans. We compete with many types of institutions for consumer loans, which can provide loans at significantly below-market interest rates or in some cases zero interest rates in connection with automobile sales. Our inability to compete effectively against these companies or to maintain our relationships with the various automobile dealers through whom we offer consumer loans could limit the growth of our consumer loan business. Economic and credit market downturns could reduce the ability of our customers to repay loans, which could cause losses to our consumer loan portfolio.

 

Civil litigation arising out of or relating to previously settled governmental investigations or other matters, governmental or regulatory investigations and/or examinations 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. We have been named in shareholder class action, derivative, and other lawsuits, many of which arise out of or relate to previously settled governmental investigations. While management believes that the claims made in these lawsuits are without merit, and intends to vigorously defend against them, litigation typically is an expensive process. Risks associated with legal liability often are difficult to assess or quantify and their existence and magnitude can remain unknown for significant periods of time. Moreover, settlements or judgments against us have the potential of being substantial if we are unsuccessful in settling or otherwise resolving matters early in the process and/or on favorable terms. It is also possible that we may be named in additional civil or governmental actions similar to those already instituted. From time to time we may receive requests for documents or other information from governmental authorities or regulatory bodies or we also may become the subject of governmental or regulatory investigations and/or examinations. Moreover, governmental or regulatory investigations or examinations that have been inactive could become active. We may be obligated, and

 

72


Table of Contents

under our standard form of indemnification agreement with certain officers and directors in some instances we are obligated, or we may choose, to indemnify directors, officers or employees against liabilities and expenses they may incur in connection with such matters to the extent permitted under applicable law. Eventual exposures from and expenses incurred relating to current and future litigation, investigations, examinations and settlements could adversely impact our assets under management, increase costs and negatively impact our profitability and/or our future financial results. Judgments or findings of wrongdoing by regulatory or governmental authorities or in civil litigation against us could affect our reputation, increase our costs of doing business and/or negatively impact our revenues, any of which could have a material negative impact on our 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 meet anticipated cash needs depends upon factors including our asset value, our creditworthiness as perceived by lenders and the market value of our stock. Similarly, our ability to securitize and hedge future loan portfolios and credit card receivables, and to obtain continued financing for certain Class C shares, is also subject to the market’s perception of those assets, finance rates offered by competitors, and the general market for private debt. If we are unable to obtain these funds and financing, we may be forced to incur unanticipated costs or revise our business plans.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

In the normal course of business, our financial position is subject to market risk: the potential loss due to changes in the value of financial instruments including those resulting from adverse changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange and equity prices. Financial instruments include, but are not limited to, trade accounts receivable, investment securities, deposits and other debt obligations. Management is responsible for managing market risk. Our Enterprise Risk Management Committee is responsible for providing a framework to assist management to identify, assess and manage market and other risks.

 

Our banking/finance operating segment is exposed to interest rate fluctuations on its loans receivable, debt securities held, and deposit liabilities. In our banking/finance operating segment, we monitor the net interest rate margin and the average maturity of interest earning assets, as well as funding sources.

 

Our investment management and related services operating segment is exposed to changes in interest rates, primarily through its investment in debt securities and its outstanding debt. We minimize the impact of interest rate fluctuations related to our investments in debt securities by managing the maturities of these securities, and through diversification. In addition, we seek to minimize the impact of interest rate changes on our outstanding debt by entering into financing transactions that ensure an appropriate mix of debt at fixed and variable interest rates.

 

At September 30, 2006, we have considered the potential impact of a 2% movement in market interest rates in relation to the banking/finance operating segment interest earning assets, net of interest-bearing liabilities, total debt outstanding and our portfolio of debt securities, individually and in the aggregate. Based on our analysis, we do not expect that this change would have a material impact on our operating revenues or results of operations, either individually or in the aggregate.

 

Our foreign operations expose us to foreign currency exchange risk. While we operate primarily in the United States, we also provide services and earn revenues in Canada, The Bahamas, Europe, Asia, South and Central America, Africa and Australia. Our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk is minimized since a significant portion of these revenues and associated expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars. This situation may change in the future as our business continues to grow outside the United States.

 

73


Table of Contents

We are exposed to equity price fluctuations through securities we hold that are carried at fair value and through investments held by majority-owned sponsored investment products that we consolidate, which are also carried at fair value. To mitigate this risk, we maintain a diversified investment portfolio. Our exposure to equity price fluctuations is also minimized as we sponsor and invest in a broad range of investment products in various global jurisdictions, which allows us to mitigate the impact of changes in any particular market(s) or region(s). The following is a summary of the effect of a 10% increase or decrease in equity prices on our financial instruments subject to equity price fluctuations at September 30, 2006.

 

(in thousands)

   Carrying
Value
   Carrying Value
Assuming a
10% Increase
   Carrying Value
Assuming a
10% Decrease

Current

        

Investment securities, trading

   $ 382,053    $ 420,258    $ 343,848

Investment securities, available-for-sale

     552,211      607,432      496,990
                    

Total Current

   $ 934,264    $ 1,027,690    $ 840,838
                    

Banking/Finance

        

Investment securities, available-for-sale

   $ 171,632    $ 188,795    $ 154,469

Non-Current

        

Investment in equity-method investees

   $ 227,591    $ 250,350    $ 204,832

Equities and other

     243,962      268,358      219,566
                    

Total Non-Current

   $ 471,553    $ 518,708    $ 424,398
                    

 

74


Table of Contents
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

Index of Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended September 30, 2006, 2005, and 2004.

 

CONTENTS

   Page

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

   76

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   77

Consolidated Financial Statements of Franklin Resources, Inc.:

  

Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006, 2005, and 2004

   79

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

   80

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006, 2005, and 2004

   82

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006, 2005, and 2004

   84

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   86

 

All schedules have been omitted as the information is provided in the financial statements or in related notes thereto or is not required to be filed as the information is not applicable.

 

Certain required quarterly information is included in Item 7 of Part II of this Form 10-K report under the heading “Quarterly Information (Unaudited)” and incorporated herein by reference.

 

75


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

The management of Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006, based on the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control–Integrated Framework. Based on that assessment, management concluded that, as of September 30, 2006, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

 

Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audits the Company’s consolidated financial statements, as stated in their report immediately following this report, which expresses unqualified opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006.

 

76


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors

and Stockholders of Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

We have completed integrated audits of Franklin Resources, Inc.’s 2006 and 2005 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006 and audit of its 2004 consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

 

Consolidated financial statements

 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Franklin Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2006 and 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2006 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Internal control over financial reporting

 

Also, in our opinion, management’s assessment, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006 based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external

 

77


Table of Contents

purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

San Francisco, California

December 20, 2006

 

78


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006     2005     2004  

Operating Revenues

      

Investment management fees

   $ 2,963,927     $ 2,456,518     $ 1,970,628  

Underwriting and distribution fees

     1,756,000       1,531,610       1,150,922  

Shareholder servicing fees

     259,295       254,763       244,063  

Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net

     7,712       4,414       3,519  

Other, net

     63,792       62,793       69,076  
                        

Total operating revenues

     5,050,726       4,310,098       3,438,208  
                        

Operating Expenses

      

Underwriting and distribution

     1,641,401       1,406,137       1,035,111  

Compensation and benefits

     936,254       870,293       769,438  

Information systems, technology and occupancy

     302,341       286,866       273,540  

Advertising and promotion

     156,460       137,298       112,017  

Amortization of deferred sales commissions

     129,873       122,470       98,893  

Amortization of intangible assets

     14,022       17,459       17,604  

Intangible assets impairment

     68,400       —         —    

Provision for governmental investigations, proceedings and actions, net

     —         33,658       105,000  

September 11, 2001 recovery, net

     —         —         (30,277 )

Other

     168,594       147,541       126,057  
                        

Total operating expenses

     3,417,345       3,021,722       2,507,383  
                        

Operating income

     1,633,381       1,288,376       930,825  

Other Income (Expenses)

      

Consolidated sponsored investment products gains, net

     33,624       29,121       3,393  

Investment and other income, net

     197,782       137,401       90,306  

Interest expense

     (29,221 )     (34,043 )     (30,658 )
                        

Other income, net

     202,185       132,479       63,041  
                        

Income before taxes on income and cumulative effect of an accounting change

     1,835,566       1,420,855       993,866  

Taxes on income

     567,998       363,224       291,981  
                        

Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change, net of tax

     1,267,568       1,057,631       701,885  

Cumulative effect of an accounting change, net of tax

     —         —         4,779  
                        

Net Income

   $ 1,267,568     $ 1,057,631     $ 706,664  
                        

Basic Earnings per Share

      

Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change

   $ 4.97     $ 4.22     $ 2.82  

Cumulative effect of an accounting change

     —         —         0.02  
                        

Net

   $ 4.97     $ 4.22     $ 2.84  
                        

Diluted Earnings per Share

      

Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change

   $ 4.86     $ 4.06     $ 2.73  

Cumulative effect of an accounting change

     —         —         0.02  
                        

Net

   $ 4.86     $ 4.06     $ 2.75  
                        

Dividends per Share

   $ 0.48     $ 2.40     $ 0.34  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

79


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(in thousands)

 

as of the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006    2005

Assets

     

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,310,545    $ 3,076,318

Receivables

     628,812      549,203

Investment securities, trading

     382,053      254,750

Investment securities, available-for-sale

     552,211      618,426

Deferred taxes and other

     95,980      121,891
             

Total current assets

     4,969,601      4,620,588

Banking/Finance Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     302,590      75,841

Loans held for sale, net

     391,734      303,161

Loans receivable, net

     253,370      264,275

Investment securities, available-for-sale

     171,632      239,880

Other

     29,567      31,983
             

Total banking/finance assets

     1,148,893      915,140

Non-Current Assets

     

Investments, other

     471,553      452,831

Deferred sales commissions

     274,869      309,858

Property and equipment, net

     506,291      489,366

Goodwill

     1,406,825      1,390,851

Other intangible assets, net

     574,633      656,593

Receivable from banking/finance group

     82,329      —  

Other

     64,865      58,700
             

Total non-current assets

     3,381,365      3,358,199
             

Total Assets

   $ 9,499,859    $ 8,893,927
             

[Table continued on next page]

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

80


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

[Table continued from previous page]

(dollars in thousands)

 

as of the fiscal years ended September 30,

   2006    2005  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

     

Current Liabilities

     

Compensation and benefits

   $ 276,998    $ 252,504  

Commercial paper

     168,063      169,389  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     180,690      205,853  

Commissions

     210,996      176,676  

Income taxes

     97,936      25,730  

Other

     27,513      21,745  
               

Total current liabilities

     962,196      851,897  

Banking/Finance Liabilities

     

Deposits

     548,907      519,140  

Payable to parent

     82,329      —    

Variable Funding Notes

     232,330      239,222  

Other

     44,821      46,440  
               

Total banking/finance liabilities

     908,387      804,802  

Non-Current Liabilities

     

Long-term debt

     627,919      1,208,390  

Deferred taxes

     211,588      235,005  

Other

     9,245      33,342  
               

Total non-current liabilities

     848,752      1,476,737  
               

Total liabilities

     2,719,335      3,133,436  

Minority Interest

     95,796      76,107  

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)

     

Stockholders’ Equity

     

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

     —        —    

Common stock, $0.10 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 253,249,420 and 252,744,758 shares issued and outstanding, at September 30, 2006 and 2005

     25,325      25,274  

Capital in excess of par value

     185,583      374,860  

Retained earnings

     6,333,843      5,206,485  

Deferred compensation

     —        (21,958 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     139,977      99,723  
               

Total stockholders’ equity

     6,684,728      5,684,384  
               

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 9,499,859    $ 8,893,927  
               

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

81


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

(in thousands)

 

as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006, 2005, and 2004

  

Shares

Common Stock

    Common Stock    

Capital in

Excess of Par Value

 

Balance, October 1, 2003

   245,932     $24,593     $108,024  

Net income

      

Other comprehensive income

      

Net unrealized gains on investments

      

Currency translation adjustments

      

Minimum pension liability adjustment

      

Total comprehensive income

      

Purchase of common stock

   (1,347 )   (134 )   (67,458 )

Cash dividends on common stock

      

Issuance of common stock under stock award programs

   1,004     100     45,725  

Issuance of common stock under employee stock investment plans

   594     59     21,710  

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

       18,567  

Issuance of common stock on exercise of stock options

   3,497     350     128,569  
                  

Balance, September 30, 2004

   249,680     24,968     255,137  
                  

Net income

      

Other comprehensive income

      

Net unrealized gains on investments

      

Currency translation adjustments

      

Total comprehensive income

      

Purchase of common stock

   (2,492 )   (249 )   (169,886 )

Cash dividends on common stock

      

Issuance of common stock under stock award programs

   1,708     170     117,549  

Issuance of common stock under employee stock investment plans

   541     54     28,930  

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

       24,119  

Issuance of common stock on exercise of stock options

   3,308     331     119,011  

Deferred compensation

      
                  

Balance, September 30, 2005

   252,745     25,274     374,860  
                  

Net income

      

Other comprehensive income

      

Net unrealized gains on investments

      

Currency translation adjustments

      

Minimum pension liability adjustment

      

Total comprehensive income

      

Purchase of common stock

   (11,294 )   (1,129 )   (984,785 )

Cash dividends on common stock

      

Issuance of common stock under stock and stock unit award programs and employee stock investment plans

   1,014     101     36,157  

Issuance of common stock on exercise of stock options

   2,636     264     116,282  

Issuance of common stock on debt conversion

   8,148     815     588,427  

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

       51,552  

Stock-based compensation expense and other

       25,048  

Deferred compensation

       (21,958 )

Cash dividends to minority interest holders

      
                  

Balance at September 30, 2006

   253,249     $25,325     $185,583  
                  

[Table continued on next page]

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

82


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

[Table continued from previous page]

(in thousands)

as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30,
2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Retained

Earnings

    Deferred
Compensation
   

Accumulated
Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

   

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

   

Total

Comprehensive

Income

 

Balance at October 1, 2003

  $ 4,129,644     $     $ 47,847     $ 4,310,108    

Net income

    706,664           706,664     $ 706,664  

Other comprehensive income

         

Net unrealized gains on investments

        9,292       9,292       9,292  

Currency translation adjustments

        16,895       16,895       16,895  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

        1,141       1,141       1,141  
               

Total comprehensive income

          $ 733,992  

Purchase of common stock

          (67,592 )  

Cash dividends on common stock

    (84,804 )         (84,804 )  

Issuance of common stock under stock award programs

          45,825    

Issuance of common stock under employee stock investment plans

          21,769    

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

          18,567    

Issuance of common stock on exercise of stock options

          128,919    
                                       

Balance at September 30, 2004

    4,751,504       —         75,175       5,106,784    
                                       

Net income

    1,057,631           1,057,631     $ 1,057,631  

Other comprehensive income

         

Net unrealized gains on investments

        13,254       13,254       13,254  

Currency translation adjustments

        11,294       11,294       11,294  
               

Total comprehensive income

          $ 1,082,179  

Purchase of common stock

          (170,135 )  

Cash dividends on common stock

    (602,650 )         (602,650 )  

Issuance of common stock under stock award programs

          117,719    

Issuance of common stock under employee stock investment plans

          28,984    

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

          24,119    

Issuance of common stock on exercise of stock options

          119,342    

Deferred compensation

      (21,958 )       (21,958 )  
                                       

Balance at September 30, 2005

    5,206,485       (21,958 )     99,723       5,684,384    
                                       

Net income

    1,267,568           1,267,568     $ 1,267,568  

Other comprehensive income

         

Net unrealized gains on investments

        19,690       19,690       19,690  

Currency translation adjustments

        22,395       22,395       22,395  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

        (1,831 )     (1,831 )     (1,831 )
               

Total comprehensive income

          $ 1,307,822  

Purchase of common stock

          (985,914 )  

Cash dividends on common stock

    (122,842 )         (122,842 )  

Issuance of common stock under stock and stock unit award programs and employee stock investment plans

          36,258    

Issuance of common stock on exercise of stock options

          116,546    

Issuance of common stock on debt conversion

          589,242    

Tax benefit from employee stock plans

          51,552    

Stock-based compensation expense and other

          25,048    

Deferred compensation

      21,958         —      

Cash dividends to minority interest holders

    (17,368 )         (17,368 )  
                                       

Balance at September 30, 2006

  $ 6,333,843     $ —       $ 139,977     $ 6,684,728    
                                       

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

83


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

(in thousands)

 

for the fiscal years ended September 30,

  2006     2005     2004  

Net Income

  $1,267,568     $1,057,631     $706,664  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

  215,271     212,173     183,437  

Equity in net income of affiliated companies

  (33,595 )   (30,659 )   (20,605 )

Net gains on disposal of assets

  (11,962 )   (3,603 )   (18,993 )

Intangible assets impairment

  68,400     —       —    

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation arrangements

  (38,180 )   —       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

     

Increase in receivables, prepaid expenses and other

  (153,702 )   (91,286 )   (99,389 )

Originations of loans held for sale, net

  (442,643 )   (460,455 )   (79,478 )

Proceeds from securitization of loans held for sale

  354,070     239,775     294,996  

Net change in trading securities

  (127,303 )   2,579     (215,950 )

Advances of deferred sales commissions

  (114,086 )   (149,941 )   (182,146 )

(Decrease) increase in provision for governmental investigations, proceedings and actions, net

  (55,156 )   (27,180 )   92,814  

Increase (decrease) in deferred income taxes and taxes payable

  111,982     (20,071 )   41,182  

Increase in commissions payable

  34,320     48,335     32,781  

Increase in other liabilities

  95,857     7,306     83,797  

Stock-based compensation and increase in accrued compensation and benefits

  107,049     65,384     110,555  
                 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  1,277,890     849,988     929,665  

Purchase of investments

  (707,264 )   (1,239,878 )   (2,408,179 )

Liquidation of investments

  727,177     962,917     3,377,797  

Purchase of banking/finance investments

  (66,822 )   (100,717 )   (41,049 )

Liquidation of banking/finance investments

  137,298     123,890     127,012  

Proceeds from securitization of loans receivable

  —       —       179,965  

Decrease (increase) in loans receivable, net

  11,390     71,191     (337,114 )

Net additions of property and equipment

  (69,050 )   (74,925 )   (21,256 )

Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired

  3,795     (37 )   (68,255 )

Insurance proceeds related to September 11, 2001 event

  —       —       32,487  
                 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

  36,524     (257,559 )   841,408  

Increase (decrease) in bank deposits

  29,767     (36,606 )   (78,236 )

Exercise of common stock options

  98,298     130,651     128,919  

Dividends paid on common stock

  (117,730 )   (598,659 )   (82,006 )

Purchase of common stock

  (985,915 )   (170,135 )   (67,593 )

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements

  38,180     —       —    

Increase in debt

  292,492     307,322     276,913  

Payments on debt

  (341,194 )   (66,220 )   (199,914 )

Minority interest

  132,664     76,189     114,337  
                 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (853,438 )   (357,458 )   92,420  

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

  460,976     234,971     1,863,493  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

  3,152,159     2,917,188     1,053,695