Form 10 K 9.30.12
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(MARK ONE)
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x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012
or
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o | 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)
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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:
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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 o 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.
o 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 o NO
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
x YES o 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. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer o |
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). o YES x NO
The aggregate market value of the voting common equity (“common stock”) held by non-affiliates of the registrant, as of March 30, 2012 (the last business day of registrant’s second quarter of fiscal year 2012), was approximately $15.6 billion based upon the last sale price reported for such date on the New York Stock Exchange.
Number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding at October 31, 2012: 212,293,567.
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, 2012, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
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FORM 10-K ITEM | | PAGE NUMBER |
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| ITEM 1. | | 3 |
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| | | 3 |
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| | | 4 |
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| | | 5 |
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| | | 14 |
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| | | 14 |
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| | | 20 |
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| | | 21 |
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| | | 21 |
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| | | 21 |
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| ITEM 1A. | | 21 |
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| ITEM 1B. | | 29 |
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| ITEM 2. | | 30 |
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| ITEM 3. | | 30 |
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| | | 30 |
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| ITEM 4. | | 31 |
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| ITEM 5. | | 32 |
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| ITEM 6. | | 33 |
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| ITEM 7. | | 33 |
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| ITEM 7A. | | 58 |
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| ITEM 8. | | 61 |
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| ITEM 9. | | 109 |
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| ITEM 9A. | | 109 |
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| ITEM 9B. | | 109 |
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| ITEM 10. | | 110 |
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| ITEM 11. | | 110 |
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| ITEM 12. | | 110 |
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| ITEM 13. | | 111 |
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| ITEM 14. | | 111 |
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| ITEM 15. | | 112 |
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| | 115 |
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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 Item 1A (“Risk Factors”), that could cause 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,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate,” or other similar words are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Moreover, statements in Risk Factors, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“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. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of 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, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, 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.
OVERVIEW
Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin”) is a holding company that, together with its various subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), operates as Franklin Templeton Investments®. We are a global investment management organization committed to the aim of delivering strong investment performance for our clients by drawing on the experience and perspective gained throughout our 65 years in the investment management business. We believe in the value of active investment management, and plan to continue to build on our strengths while pursuing new growth opportunities. Franklin 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”). The common stock of Franklin is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “BEN,” and is included in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
We offer investment choices under our Franklin®, Templeton®, Mutual Series®, Bissett®, Fiduciary Trust™, Darby® and Balanced Equity Management™ brand names. When used in this report, unless the context otherwise makes clear, our “funds” means all of the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series and Bissett mutual funds. In this report, words such as “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to the Company.
We provide investment management and related services to investors in jurisdictions worldwide through products that include U.S.- and non-U.S.-registered open-end and closed-end funds (“U.S. Funds” and “Non-U.S. Funds”), unregistered funds, and institutional, high net-worth and separately-managed accounts (collectively, our “sponsored investment products”). As of September 30, 2012, we had $749.9 billion in assets under management (“AUM”) with approximately 23.0 million billable shareholder accounts worldwide. In addition to investment management, our services include fund administration, sales, distribution, shareholder services, transfer agency, trustee, custodial and other fiduciary services, as well as select private banking services. Our sponsored investment products include a broad range of equity, hybrid, fixed-income and cash management funds and accounts, including multi-asset allocation strategies and alternative investment products. We also manage certain sub-advised investment products which may be sold to the public under one of our brand names or those of other companies or on a co-branded basis.
The investment funds that we manage have various investment objectives designed to meet the needs and goals of different investors. Most of the investment funds we manage are open-end mutual funds that continuously offer their shares to investors. We also offer closed-end funds that issue a set number of shares to investors in a public offering and the shares are then traded on a public stock exchange. Since the funds themselves do not have direct employees,
to support their operations, the funds contract with separate entities, including our subsidiaries, to provide the investment management and related services they require. An investment advisory entity manages a fund's portfolio of securities in accordance with the fund's stated objectives. Investors may purchase shares of an open-end fund through a broker/dealer, bank or other intermediary which may provide investment advice to the investor, while investors may purchase shares of a closed-end fund on the stock exchange where the fund is traded. Broker/dealers and other intermediaries may earn fees and commissions and receive other compensation with respect to the fund shares sold to investors.
The business and regulatory environments in which we operate remain complex, uncertain and subject to change. In the U.S., the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Reform Act”) imposes additional restrictions and limitations on our business, and we expect that the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) will cause us to incur significant administrative and compliance costs. We will continue to review and evaluate the Reform Act and FATCA and the extent of their impact on our business as the various rules and regulations required for implementation are adopted. We are also subject to numerous regulations by U.S. and non-U.S. regulators that add further complexity to our ongoing global compliance operations.
We continue to focus on the long-term investment performance of our sponsored investment products and on providing high quality customer service to our clients. The success of these and other strategies may be affected by the Risk Factors discussed below in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report, and other factors as discussed in this section.
COMPANY HISTORY AND ACQUISITIONS
The Company and its predecessors have been engaged in the investment management and related services business since 1947. Franklin was incorporated in Delaware in November 1969 and originated our mutual fund business with the Franklin family of funds. The Franklin Funds are known for U.S. taxable and tax-free fixed-income funds, hybrid funds and growth-oriented equity funds. We have expanded our business, in part, by acquiring companies engaged in the investment management and/or related services business.
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 global investment strategies and value style of investing.
In November 1996, we acquired certain assets and liabilities of Heine Securities Corporation, including Mutual Series Fund Inc., now known as Franklin Mutual Series Fund Inc. (“Mutual Series”), which provided investment management services to various accounts and investment companies. Mutual Series is known for its value-oriented equity funds.
In July 2000, we expanded our business in Korea when we purchased all of the remaining outstanding shares of a Korean investment management company, Ssangyong Templeton Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd., in which we previously held a partial interest, making us one of the largest independent foreign money managers in Korea. The company has been renamed Franklin Templeton Investment Trust Management Co., Ltd.
In October 2000, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of Bissett & Associates Investment Management Ltd. (“Bissett”). Bissett now operates as part of our Canadian subsidiary, Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. With the acquisition of Bissett, we added Bissett’s family of Canadian taxable fixed-income and growth-oriented equity mutual funds to our then existing Canadian based funds (some of which we previously acquired as part of the Templeton family of funds).
In April 2001, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of Fiduciary Trust Company International (“Fiduciary Trust”), a bank organized under the New York State Banking Law. Fiduciary Trust provides investment management and related services to high net-worth individuals and families and institutional clients.
In July 2002, our subsidiary, Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Private Limited (“FTAMIPL”), acquired all of the outstanding shares of Pioneer ITI AMC Limited (“Pioneer”). In April 2007, we completed the purchase of the remaining 25% interest in each of FTAMIPL and Franklin Templeton Trustee Services Private Limited, each located in India, making us the largest wholly foreign owned investment manager in India.
In October 2003, we expanded our private equity investment management services in emerging markets when we acquired all of the remaining outstanding shares of Darby Overseas Investments, Ltd. and all of the remaining outstanding limited partnership interests of Darby Overseas Partners, L.P. (collectively, “Darby”), in which we previously held a partial interest. Darby, based in Washington, D.C., sponsors and manages funds for institutional investors and high net-worth individuals that invest primarily in emerging markets through 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 investment management company, Bradesco Templeton Asset Management Ltda., in which we previously held a partial interest. The company has been renamed Franklin Templeton Investimentos (Brasil) Ltda.
In January 2011, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of a specialty U.K. equity manager, Rensburg Fund Management Limited (“Rensburg”). Rensburg has been renamed Franklin Templeton Fund Management Limited.
In July 2011, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of a specialty Australian equity manager, Balanced Equity Management Pty. Limited.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SERVICES
We derive our revenues from providing investment management and related services to our sponsored investment products and the sub-advised products that we manage. Our investment management fees, which represent a majority of our revenues, depend to a large extent on the amount of AUM and the types of services provided. Sales and distribution fees, also a large source of our revenues, consist of sales charges and commissions derived from sales and distribution of our sponsored investment products.
Our business is conducted through our subsidiaries, including those registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), subsidiaries registered as equivalent investment advisers in jurisdictions including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, The Bahamas, the United Arab Emirates, the U.K. and certain other subsidiaries.
Categories of AUM
Our fees for providing investment management services are generally based upon the market value of AUM in the accounts that we advise, the investment category of the account and the types of services that we provide for an account. As of September 30, 2012, AUM by investment category held by investors on a worldwide basis was as follows:
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Type of Asset | | Value in Billions | | Percentage of Total AUM |
Equity | | | | |
Growth potential, income potential, value or various combinations thereof | | $ | 297.1 |
| | 39 | % |
Hybrid | | | | |
Asset allocation, balanced, flexible and income-mixed funds | | 110.1 |
| | 15 | % |
Fixed-Income | | | | |
Both long-term and short-term | | 336.3 |
| | 45 | % |
Cash Management | | | | |
Short-term liquid assets | | 6.4 |
| | 1 | % |
Total | | $ | 749.9 |
| | 100 | % |
Broadly speaking, the change in the net assets of our 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 global financial and equity markets. In addition, changing market conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix between international and U.S. assets, potentially resulting in a decline in our revenues and income depending upon the nature of our AUM and the level of management fees we earn based on our AUM. Despite the risk of volatility, we believe that we are more competitive as a result of the greater diversity of our sponsored investment products available to our clients.
Types of Investment Management and Related Services
1. Investment Management Services
We provide our investment management services pursuant to agreements in effect with each of our sponsored investment products and the sub-advised products that we manage. Our investment management services include services to managed accounts for which we have full investment discretion, and to advisory accounts for which we have no investment discretion. Advisory accounts for which we do not have investment discretion may or may not include the authority to trade for the account. Our services include fundamental investment research and valuation analyses, including original economic, political, industry and company research, and analyses of suppliers, customers and competitors. Our company research utilizes such sources as company public records and other publicly available information, management interviews, company prepared information, and company visits and inspections. Research services provided by brokerage firms are also used to support our findings. Our management fee on an account varies, among other things, with the types of services that we provide for the account.
Our subsidiaries that provide discretionary investment management services for our sponsored investment products and sub-advised products either perform or obtain investment research and determine which securities the sponsored investment products or sub-advised products will purchase, hold or sell under the supervision and oversight of the funds’ boards of directors or trustees, if applicable. In addition, these subsidiaries may take all appropriate steps to implement such decisions, including arranging for the selection of brokers and dealers and the execution and settlement of trades in accordance with detailed criteria set forth in the management agreement for each account, internal policies, and applicable law and practice. Our subsidiaries conducting non-discretionary investment management services perform investment research for our clients and make recommendations as to which securities the clients purchase, hold or sell. In such cases, the subsidiaries may or may not perform trading activities for the products.
Through our subsidiaries, we compensate the personnel who serve as officers of our funds, in addition to the personnel necessary to conduct such funds’ day-to-day business operations. The funds themselves do not have direct employees. Our subsidiaries either provide or arrange for the provision of: office space, telephone, office equipment and supplies; trading desk facilities; authorization of expenditures and approval of bills for payment; preparation of registration statements, proxy statements and 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. The funds generally pay their own expenses, such as external legal, custody and independent audit fees, regulatory registration fees, and other related expenses. The funds also share in board and shareholder meeting and reporting costs.
Most of our investment management agreements between our subsidiaries and our U.S. 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 (the “Investment Company Act”), or by a vote of the holders of a majority of such fund’s outstanding voting securities. Our U.S. agreements automatically terminate in the event of their “assignment,” as defined in the Investment Company Act. In addition, either party may terminate such an agreement without penalty after prior written notice. If agreements representing a significant portion of our AUM were terminated, it would have a material adverse impact on us.
Under the majority of our investment management agreements, the funds pay us a monthly fee in arrears based upon the fund’s average daily net assets. Annual fee rates under our various global agreements are often reduced as net assets exceed various threshold levels. Annual rates also vary by investment objective and type of services provided. Our agreements generally permit us to provide services to more than one fund and to other clients 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.
We use a “master/feeder” fund of funds 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 substantially 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 may be charged either at the master fund level or the feeder fund level depending on the specific requirements of the fund, although funds also involving performance fees or carried interest will typically charge these together with management fees at the master fund level. Administrative, shareholder servicing and custodian fees are often waived at the feeder fund level and only charged at the master fund level, although the feeder funds will indirectly bear their pro-rata share of the expenses of the master fund as an investor in the master fund. Fees and expenses specific to a feeder fund may be charged at the level of that feeder fund. In the U.S., our funds of funds enter into expense allocation arrangements with their affiliated underlying funds pursuant to which the underlying funds pay certain expenses of the fund of funds.
For our U.S. Funds, our management personnel and the fund directors or trustees regularly review the investment management fee structures for the funds in light of fund performance, the level and range of services provided, industry conditions and other relevant factors. Investment management 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.
Our Non-U.S. Funds, unregistered funds, institutional, high net-worth and separately-managed accounts, and the sub-advised products that we manage, have various termination rights and review and renewal provisions.
2. Sales, Distribution and Marketing
A significant portion of our revenues are generated from providing sales and distribution services. Our mutual funds and certain other products generally pay us distribution fees in return for sales, distribution and marketing efforts on their behalf. Fund shares are sold primarily through a large network of independent intermediaries, including broker/dealers, financial advisers and other third parties.
Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc. (“FTDI”) acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of shares of most of our open-end U.S. Funds. Certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries provide sales, distribution and marketing services to our Non-U.S. Funds distributed outside the U.S. Some of our Non-U.S. Funds, particularly the Luxembourg-domiciled Franklin Templeton Investment Funds Société d’Investissement à Capital Variable (“SICAV”), are distributed globally on a cross-border basis, while others are distributed exclusively in local markets. We earn sales and distribution fees primarily by distributing our funds pursuant to distribution agreements between FTDI or our non-U.S. subsidiaries 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 selling, distributing and marketing the fund’s shares, including the costs of developing and producing sales literature, shareholder reports and prospectuses, which may then be either partially or fully reimbursed by the funds.
Most of our retail funds are distributed with a multi-class share structure. We adopted this share structure to provide investors with more sales charge alternatives for their investments. Certain share classes, such as Class A shares, are sold without a front-end sales charge to shareholders when certain investment criteria are met, although our distribution subsidiaries pay an up-front commission to financial intermediaries on these sales. 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 certain number of years from the original purchase date. Although our open-end U.S. Funds that had offered Class B shares no longer offer these shares, existing Class B shareholders may continue to exchange shares into Class B shares of different funds and may continue to reinvest dividends on Class B shares in additional Class B shares. All remaining Class B shares in our U.S. Funds will convert to Class A shares by March 2013. Class C shares also have no front-end sales charges, although
our distribution subsidiaries pay an up-front commission to financial intermediaries on these sales. Class C shares do have a back-end sales charge for redemptions within 12 months from the date of purchase. Although Class C shares are generally more costly to us in the year of sale, they allow us to be competitive by increasing our presence in various distribution channels. Class R shares are available for purchase by certain retirement, college savings and health savings plan accounts in the U.S. only. Outside of the U.S., we offer additional share classes and unit series in response to local needs.
In the U.S., we also offer Advisor Class shares in many of our Franklin and Templeton funds, and we offer Class Z shares in the Mutual Series funds, both of which have no sales charges. Advisor and Class Z shares are offered to certain qualified financial intermediaries, institutions and high net-worth clients (both affiliated and unaffiliated) who have assets held in accounts managed by a subsidiary of Franklin and are also available to our full-time employees and current and former officers, trustees and directors. In the U.S., we also offer 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. Outside the U.S., 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, the equivalent 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 products funds offered for sale in the U.S. offer a four-class share structure, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4 shares, which are offered at net asset value without a sales charge directly to insurance company separate accounts, certain qualified plans and other mutual funds (funds of funds).
Internationally, we offer types of share classes based on the local needs of the investors in a particular market, subject to applicable regulations which may change over time. In the majority of cases, investors in any class of shares may exchange their shares for a like class of shares in another fund, subject to certain fees that may apply. Our Non-U.S. Funds have sales charges and fee structures that vary by region.
We derive nearly all of our fund sales through third-party broker/dealers and other similar intermediaries. The distribution agreements with our open-end U.S. Funds generally provide for FTDI to pay commission expenses for sales of fund shares to qualifying broker/dealers and intermediaries. These broker/dealers receive various sales commissions and other fees from FTDI 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 and in servicing and maintaining investors’ accounts, and for reporting and various other distribution services. We are heavily dependent upon these third-party distribution and sales channels and business relationships. FTDI may also make payments to certain broker/dealers who provide marketing support services, as described further below. 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, 2012, approximately 1,500 local, regional and national banks, securities firms and financial adviser firms offered shares of our open-end U.S. Funds for sale to the U.S. investing public, and approximately 3,600 banks, securities firms and financial adviser firms offered shares of our cross-border Non-U.S. Funds for sale outside of the U.S. In the U.S., we have approximately 90 general wholesalers who interface with financial intermediaries.
Most of our open-end U.S. Funds, with the exception of certain of our money market funds as well as certain high net-worth and institutional funds, have adopted distribution plans under Rule 12b-1 (the “Rule 12b-1 Plans”) promulgated under the Investment Company Act (“Rule 12b-1”). Under the Rule 12b-1 Plans, the funds bear certain expenses relating to the distribution of their shares, such as expenses for marketing, marketing support, advertising, printing and sales promotion, and may provide for the funds to reimburse such expenses that FTDI incurs in distributing the funds, subject to the Rule 12b-1 Plans’ limitations on amounts. Each fund has a percentage limit for these types of expenses based on its average daily net AUM. In 2010, the SEC proposed changes to Rule 12b-1 which, if adopted, could limit our ability to recover expenses relating to the distribution of our funds.
The Rule 12b-1 Plans are established for one year terms and 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 Investment Company Act (the “disinterested fund directors/trustees”). All of these Rule 12b-1 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 Rule 12b-1 Plans that FTDI receives as revenues are paid primarily to third-party broker/dealers who provide services to the shareholder accounts and engage in distribution activities. Similar arrangements exist with the distribution of our Non-U.S. Funds where, generally, our subsidiary that distributes the funds in the local market arranges for and pays commissions and certain other fees to banks and other intermediaries, a portion of which fees is paid from maintenance fees received by the subsidiary and a portion of which may derive from the management fees paid to our various affiliates by the funds.
FTDI and/or its affiliates may make the following additional payments 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 open-end U.S. Funds. Consistent with the provisions and limitations set forth in a fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plan, the fund may reimburse FTDI for payments made to broker/dealers for the cost of some or all of the marketing support payments. 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 asset levels, 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 periodically reviews its marketing support arrangements to determine whether to continue such payments. The statement of additional information for each retail U.S. Fund, provided to investors in such funds upon request, provides a list of broker/dealers that receive such marketing support payments and the maximum payments received. FTDI may also make marketing support payments to financial intermediaries that serve as plan service providers to certain employer sponsored retirement plans in connection with activities intended to assist in the sale of our open-end U.S. Funds to such plans. A portion of the marketing support payments may be reimbursable to FTDI under the terms of a fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan. We may also make marketing support or similar payments to intermediaries located outside the U.S. with respect to investments in Non-U.S. Funds.
Transaction support and other payments. FTDI may pay ticket charges 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. 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 our U.S. 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. Similar payments may be made by our non-U.S. subsidiaries that distribute our Non-U.S. Funds to third party distributors of such funds.
Other compensation may be offered to the extent not prohibited by federal or state laws or any self-regulatory agency, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). FTDI makes payments for events it deems appropriate, subject to FTDI’s guidelines and applicable law.
3. Shareholder and Transfer Agency Services
We receive shareholder servicing fees for providing transfer agency services, which include providing customer statements, transaction processing, customer service, and tax reporting. One of our subsidiaries, Franklin Templeton Investor Services, LLC (“FTIS”), serves as shareholder servicing and dividend-paying agent for our open-end U.S. Funds. FTIS is registered with the SEC as a transfer agent under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Generally, FTIS is compensated under an agreement with each fund on the basis of an annual per account fee that varies with the fund and the type of services being provided. FTIS also is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. Other subsidiaries provide similar services to our Non-U.S. Funds, and in some cases are compensated based on AUM.
FTIS may also pay servicing fees to third-party intermediaries primarily to help offset costs associated with client account maintenance support, statement preparation and transaction processing. Such third parties: (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 Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation systems. The funds reimburse FTIS for these third party payments.
4. High Net-Worth Investment Management and Related Services
Through Fiduciary Trust (including its trust company and investment adviser subsidiaries), we provide investment management and related services to, among others, high net-worth individuals and families, foundations and institutional clients. Similarly, through our Canadian high net-worth business unit, Fiduciary Trust Company of Canada (“FTCC”), we provide services and offer sponsored investment products to high net-worth individuals and families. 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.
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.
Fiduciary Trust services that focus on managing family wealth from generation to generation include wealth management and estate and tax planning. 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. Evaluation of third-party investment management products or services is performed by the Strategic Advisory Group, an investment advisory group within Fiduciary Trust.
5. Institutional Investment Management
We provide a broad array of investment management services to institutional clients, focusing on foundations, endowment funds and government and corporate pension plans. Our subsidiaries offer a wide range of both U.S. and international equity, fixed-income and alternative strategies through a variety of investment vehicles, including separate accounts, open-end and closed-end funds and unregistered funds. In the U.S., we generally operate our institutional business under the trade name “Franklin Templeton Institutional.”
Through various legal entities, including Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC and various non-U.S. subsidiaries, we distribute and market globally the different capabilities of our various subsidiaries under the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Bissett, Darby and Balanced Equity Management brand names. We primarily attract new institutional business through our strong relationships with pension and management consultants, direct sales efforts and additional mandates from our existing client relationships, as well as from our responses to requests for proposals.
Our U.S. retirement business is conducted through divisions of FTDI that work closely with sponsors, consultants, record keepers and financial advisors of defined contribution plans, including 401(k) plans, variable annuity products and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). We offer our capabilities to the U.S. retirement industry through a number of investment options, including sub-advised portfolios, funds, education savings plans and variable insurance funds.
Through our various subsidiaries, we also market and distribute our sponsored investment products to separately-managed accounts. Our subsidiaries, Franklin Templeton Financial Services Corp. and Templeton/Franklin Investment Services, Inc., also serve as direct marketing broker/dealers for institutional investors for certain of our institutional mutual and private funds.
6. Trust and Custody
Through various trust company subsidiaries, including Fiduciary Trust, we offer trust, custody and related services, including administration, performance measurement, estate planning, tax planning and private banking. 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. Our other subsidiaries involved in the trust business, either as trust companies or companies investing in trust companies, have full trust powers. Our subsidiary, Franklin Templeton Bank & Trust, F.S.B. (“FTB&T”), a federally chartered savings bank, among other functions, exercises full trust powers and serves primarily as custodian of IRAs and business
retirement plans invested solely in Franklin Templeton funds. FTB&T also provides Advisor Directed Trust®, a directed trust service.
7. Alternative Investment Products Management
Darby is primarily engaged in sponsoring and managing 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.
Templeton Asset Management Ltd., an investment adviser, sponsors and manages a limited number of investment partnerships that also invest primarily in emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe.
Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC, an investment adviser, manages investment partnerships that invest in funds with exposure to global real estate opportunities.
Franklin Advisers, Inc. (“FAI”), an investment adviser, manages an investment partnership that invests in derivatives across the global equity, global government bond and currency markets. FAI creates tactical long and short positions within the partnership based on a daily review of macroeconomic and valuation factors to determine the relative attractiveness of asset classes to each other as well as the attractiveness of individual factors within asset classes.
8. Select Private Banking
Fiduciary Trust, with assets of $901.6 million and deposits of $611.0 million as of September 30, 2012, 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. Fiduciary Trust's private banking and credit products include, among others, loans secured by marketable securities, deposit accounts and other banking services. Deposits generally include demand and savings deposits, primarily from our private banking clients.
FTB&T, with assets of $187.6 million and deposits of $60.7 million as of September 30, 2012, is also insured by the FDIC. FTB&T currently provides limited lending services to existing Fiduciary Trust and FTB&T customers.
Summary of Our Sponsored Investment Products
Our sponsored investment products are offered globally to retail, institutional, high net-worth and separate account clients, which include individual investors, qualified groups, trustees, tax-deferred (such as IRAs in the U.S. 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. Our sponsored investment products include portfolios managed for some of the world’s largest corporations, endowments, charitable foundations and pension funds, as well as wealthy individuals and other institutions. We use various investment techniques to focus on specific client objectives for these specialized portfolios.
1. Investment Objectives Overview
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 instruments.
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. Growth investing focuses on identifying companies that our research analysts and portfolio managers believe have sustainable growth characteristics, meeting our criteria for sustainable growth potential, quality and valuation. In this effort, the key variables we examine include: market opportunity (overall size and growth); competitive positioning of the company; assessment of management (strength, breadth, depth, and integrity) and
execution of plans; and the general financial strength and profitability of the enterprise, to determine whether the growth and quality aspects are properly reflected in the current share price. Paramount to all of our different equity products is the incorporation of independent, fundamental research through our own collaborative in-house group of 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 complemented by 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 Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or of the various states in the U.S. Others focus on investments in particular countries and regions.
2. Types of Sponsored Investment Products
As of September 30, 2012, our AUM was $749.9 billion.
Our U.S. Funds (including open-end and closed-end funds and our insurance products trust) accounted for $416.3 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2012. Our five largest U.S. Funds and their AUM were Franklin Income Fund ($68.6 billion), Templeton Global Bond Fund ($63.2 billion), Mutual Global Discovery Fund ($18.1 billion), Templeton Growth Fund ($15.1 billion) and Franklin California Tax-Free Income Fund ($14.8 billion). These five funds represented, in the aggregate, 24% of total AUM.
Our cross-border products, which are comprised of a variety of investment funds domiciled in Luxembourg and Ireland and registered for sale to non-U.S. investors in 39 countries, accounted for $143.6 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2012. Our three largest cross-border funds and their AUM were FTIF - Templeton Global Bond Fund ($42.5 billion), FTIF - Templeton Global Total Return Fund ($25.9 billion) and FTIF - Templeton Asian Growth Fund ($16.8 billion). These three funds represented, in the aggregate, 11% of total AUM.
In addition to our cross-border products, in some countries we offer products for the particular local market. These local/regional funds accounted for $41.6 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2012.
On a company-wide basis, our managed accounts, alternative investment products and trusts accounted for $148.4 billion of AUM as of September 30, 2012, of which $5.2 billion included Darby products and real estate, emerging markets and global fixed-income investment partnerships.
3. AUM by Product and Investment Categories
The following table shows AUM by the various types of our sponsored investment products and investment categories as of September 30, 2012:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in billions)
CATEGORY | | INVESTMENT CLASSIFICATION | | U.S. Funds | | Cross-Border Funds | | Local/Regional Funds | | Other Managed Accounts, Alternative Investment Products and Trusts | | Total |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asia-Pacific | | Invests primarily in equity securities of companies located in the Asia-Pacific region | | $ | 2.2 |
| | $ | 21.0 |
| | $ | 3.6 |
| | $ | 20.7 |
| | $ | 47.5 |
|
Canada | | Invests primarily in equity securities of companies located in Canada | | — |
| | — |
| | 4.2 |
| | 4.4 |
| | 8.6 |
|
Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | Invests primarily in equity securities of companies located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | 1.9 |
| | 4.2 |
| | 5.4 |
| | 0.5 |
| | 12.0 |
|
U.S. | | Invests primarily in equity securities of companies located in the U.S. | | 67.1 |
| | 5.7 |
| | 1.5 |
| | 7.9 |
| | 82.2 |
|
Emerging Markets | | Invests primarily in equity securities of companies located in developing regions of the world | | 4.9 |
| | 7.2 |
| | 3.9 |
| | 4.7 |
| | 20.7 |
|
Global/International | | Invests primarily in equity securities of companies doing business either worldwide or only outside of the U.S. | | 61.5 |
| | 10.1 |
| | 6.0 |
| | 48.5 |
| | 126.1 |
|
Total Equity | | | | 137.6 |
| | 48.2 |
| | 24.6 |
| | 86.7 |
| | 297.1 |
|
Hybrid/Balanced | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asia-Pacific | | Invests primarily in equity and fixed-income securities of companies located in the Asia-Pacific region | | — |
| | — |
| | 1.2 |
| | 1.9 |
| | 3.1 |
|
Canada | | Invests primarily in equity and fixed-income securities of companies located in Canada | | — |
| | — |
| | 1.9 |
| | 2.7 |
| | 4.6 |
|
Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | Invests primarily in equity and fixed-income securities of companies located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | — |
| | 0.7 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 0.7 |
|
U.S. | | Invests primarily in equity and fixed-income securities of companies located in the U.S. | | 80.3 |
| | 1.3 |
| | — |
| | 17.5 |
| | 99.1 |
|
Global/International | | Invests primarily in equity and fixed-income securities of companies doing business either worldwide or only outside of the U.S. | | 1.1 |
| | 1.2 |
| | 0.2 |
| | 0.1 |
| | 2.6 |
|
Total Hybrid/Balanced | | | | 81.4 |
| | 3.2 |
| | 3.3 |
| | 22.2 |
| | 110.1 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in billions)
CATEGORY | | INVESTMENT CLASSIFICATION | | U.S. Funds | | Cross-Border Funds | | Local/Regional Funds | | Other Managed Accounts, Alternative Investment Products and Trusts | | Total |
Fixed-Income | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Asia-Pacific | | Invests primarily in debt securities offered by companies and governments located in the Asia-Pacific region | | $ | — |
| | $ | 4.0 |
| | $ | 4.6 |
| | $ | 1.0 |
| | $ | 9.6 |
|
Canada | | Invests primarily in debt securities of companies and governments located in Canada | | — |
| | — |
| | 3.5 |
| | 0.4 |
| | 3.9 |
|
Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | Invests primarily in debt securities of companies and governments located in Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | — |
| | 1.0 |
| | — |
| | 4.7 |
| | 5.7 |
|
Tax-Free | | Invests primarily in municipal bond issuers located in the U.S. | | 78.5 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4.7 |
| | 83.2 |
|
U.S. Taxable | | Invests primarily in taxable debt securities of companies and governments located in the U.S. | | 39.7 |
| | 8.9 |
| | 1.8 |
| | 6.3 |
| | 56.7 |
|
Emerging Markets | | Invests primarily in taxable debt securities of companies and governments located in developing countries worldwide | | 1.3 |
| | 8.1 |
| | — |
| | 7.5 |
| | 16.9 |
|
Global/International | | Invests primarily in debt securities of companies and governments doing business either worldwide or only outside of the U.S. | | 73.0 |
| | 69.6 |
| | 2.8 |
| | 14.9 |
| | 160.3 |
|
Total Fixed- Income | | | | 192.5 |
| | 91.6 |
| | 12.7 |
| | 39.5 |
| | 336.3 |
|
Cash Management | Invests primarily in money market instruments and short-term securities | | 4.8 |
| | 0.6 |
| | 1.0 |
| | — |
| | 6.4 |
|
Total | | | | $ | 416.3 |
| | $ | 143.6 |
| | $ | 41.6 |
| | $ | 148.4 |
| | $ | 749.9 |
|
FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
Certain financial information about the Company's business segment and geographic areas is contained in Note 18 – Segment Information 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 are subject to various federal, state, and international regulation and supervision which continue to change and evolve over time. Consequently, there is uncertainty associated with the regulatory environments in which we operate.
U.S. Regulation
In the U.S., we are currently subject to regulation and supervision by, among others, the SEC, FINRA, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”), the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”).
The regulatory environments in which we operate remain uncertain and subject to change. The Reform Act, as well as other legislative and regulatory changes, impose additional restrictions and limitations on us and will likely
result in increased scrutiny and oversight of our financial services and products. Due to the complexity and broad scope of the Reform Act and the time required for ongoing regulatory implementation, we are not able to predict at this time all of the specific requirements that will be adopted by regulatory agencies having authority over us pursuant to the Reform Act, or the impact that further changes in regulation would have on our business. The so-called “Volcker Rule” provisions of the Reform Act restrict the ability of affiliates of insured depository institutions, such as Franklin, to sponsor or invest in private funds or to engage in certain types of proprietary trading. While the Volcker Rule became effective on July 21, 2012, final rules for its implementation have not yet been adopted. On April 19, 2012, the FRB issued a Statement of Policy that confirmed that banking institutions will have two years from the effective date to conform their activities to the requirements of the Volcker Rule. In addition to the rulemaking mandated by the Reform Act, new rules adopted by the CFTC removed or limited previously available exemptions and exclusions which will impose additional registration and reporting requirements for operators of certain mutual funds and certain other pooled vehicles that use or trade in futures, swaps and other derivatives regulated by CFTC. These regulatory amendments may require us to change certain of our mutual fund or other pooled vehicle business practices or register additional entities with the CFTC.
We also expect that FATCA will cause us to incur significant administrative and compliance costs. FATCA, which is intended to address tax compliance issues related to U.S. taxpayers holding non-U.S. accounts, will require non-U.S. financial institutions to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers and impose withholding, documentation and reporting requirements on non-U.S. financial institutions. FATCA remains subject to the adoption of applicable regulations by the IRS, and full implementation will be phased in over a multi-year period, commencing in 2013. In addition, changes to the regulation of money market funds currently under discussion could significantly change the structure and operations of those funds.
To the extent our operations or trading in our securities take place outside the U.S., we are subject to regulation by non-U.S. regulations and regulators, and U.S. regulations and regulators such as the Department of Justice and the SEC with respect to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
The Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on certain of our subsidiaries registered with the SEC as investment advisers, including record keeping, operating and marketing requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities. The Investment Company 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 Investment Company 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 a 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.
FINRA Conduct Rules limit the amount of aggregate sales charges that 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 sales and distribution subsidiary in the U.S., which earns distribution fees on the distribution of fund shares in the U.S. In 2010, the SEC proposed changes to Rule 12b-1 which, if adopted, could limit our ability to recover expenses relating to the distribution of our funds.
In addition, in connection with our banking services, we are a bank holding company and a financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the FRB and the restrictions, limitations and prohibitions of the BHC Act, as amended by the GLB Act. Significant aspects of the Reform Act relate to changes in the regulation of banks, thrifts, holding companies and related institutions, and the imposition of various restrictions and limitations on certain activities of such entities. The Reform Act includes a number of measures that will increase capital and liquidity requirements, impose limits on leverage, subject dividend payments, stock buybacks and other reductions of capital to heightened regulatory scrutiny, and enhance supervisory authority and regulatory oversight of non-banking entities, which may apply to our business.
FRB policy historically has required bank holding companies to act as a source of strength to their banking subsidiaries and to commit capital and financial resources to support those subsidiaries. The Reform Act codified this policy as a statutory requirement. Such support may be required by the FRB at times when we might otherwise determine not to provide it. In addition, under FRB policy 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 Federal banking agencies apply risk-based and leverage capital guidelines to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies and depository institutions. The FRB's capital adequacy guidelines applicable to Franklin, the FDIC's capital adequacy guidelines applicable to Fiduciary Trust, and the OCC's capital adequacy guidelines applicable to FTB&T are substantially the same. Under the banking agencies' capital guidelines, Franklin and our banking subsidiaries must meet specific capital adequacy requirements that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. To be considered “well capitalized” under the current guidelines, a bank holding company must maintain a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6% and a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 10%, and a bank must maintain a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5%. Bank holding companies are also subject to a leverage requirement, generally at least 5%, but that requirement is not a condition for “well capitalized” status. As of September 30, 2012, our Tier 1 leverage ratio was 59%, and our Tier 1 risk-based capital and total risk-based capital ratios were 54%. In addition, both Fiduciary Trust and FTB&T were well capitalized as of September 30, 2012. 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, such as Fiduciary Trust and FTB&T, if they 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.
Franklin has elected to be a financial holding company under the GLB Act. Pursuant to the GLB Act, a qualifying bank holding company may 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 non-financial activities. To qualify as a financial holding company, each of a bank holding company’s U.S. subsidiary banks and other depository institution subsidiaries must be well capitalized and well managed. The Reform Act added the condition that the bank holding company itself must be 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. While FTB&T is subject to CRA requirements, Fiduciary Trust remains exempt from such requirements because it qualifies as a special purpose bank. Under this regulatory framework and the environment in which we operate, we are subject to significant constraints that may adversely affect our ability to implement our business plans and strategies.
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 FRB has 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 against bank holding companies, their non-bank affiliates and officers and directors of such entities for certain activities conducted on a knowing or reckless basis if those activities cause a substantial loss to the bank holding company.
Each of our banking subsidiaries is subject to restrictions under federal law that limit transactions with Franklin 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 Franklin 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 the Company’s ability to obtain funds from subsidiary banks or affiliates.
The operations and activities of Fiduciary Trust and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC and the NYDFS. Certain of the subsidiaries may also be subject to oversight by various other state regulators depending upon the specific business that is conducted by the particular subsidiary. FTB&T is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OCC. The laws and regulations of these regulators generally impose restrictions and requirements, with which we must comply, on capital adequacy, anti-money laundering, management practices, liquidity, branching, earnings, loans, dividends, investments, reserves against deposits and the provision of services.
The federal banking agencies and the NYDFS 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 Franklin, 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 state or federal chartering agency may appoint the FDIC as conservator or receiver for a banking institution, or the FDIC may appoint itself if certain circumstances exist.
Non-U.S. Regulation
Our operations outside the U.S. are subject to the laws and regulations of certain non-U.S. jurisdictions and non-U.S. regulatory agencies and bodies. As we continue to expand our international presence, a number of our subsidiaries and international operations have become subject to regulatory systems, in various jurisdictions, comparable to those covering our operations in the U.S. Regulators in these non-U.S. jurisdictions may have broad authority with respect to the regulation of financial services including, among other things, the authority to grant or cancel required licenses or registrations. In addition, these regulators may subject certain of our subsidiaries to net capital requirements.
The Financial Services Authority (the “FSA”) currently regulates certain of our subsidiaries in the U.K. Authorization by the FSA is required to conduct any financial services related business in the U.K. pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The FSA’s rules under that act govern a firm’s capital resources requirements, senior management arrangements, conduct of business, interaction with clients, and systems and controls. Breaches of these rules could result in a wide range of disciplinary actions against our U.K.-regulated subsidiaries.
In addition to the above, our U.K.-regulated subsidiaries and other European subsidiaries and branches, must comply with the pan-European regime established by the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (“MiFID”), which became effective on November 1, 2007 and regulates the provision of investment services and conduct of investment activities throughout the European Economic Area (“EEA”), as well as the Capital Requirements Directive, which delineates regulatory capital requirements. MiFID sets out detailed requirements governing the organization and conduct of business of investment firms and regulated markets. It also includes pre- and post-trade transparency requirements for equity markets and extensive transaction reporting requirements.
The U.K. has adopted the MiFID rules into national legislation and FSA regulations, as have those other European jurisdictions in which we have a presence. A review of MiFID by the European Commission has led to the publication of a draft replacement directive (“MiFID 2”) and a draft new regulation. The proposals, if implemented, are likely to result in changes to pre- and post-trade reporting obligations and an expansion of the types of instruments subject to these requirements. They may affect the buying and selling of derivatives by moving most derivative trading onto regulated trading venues and may control the activities of algorithmic trading. The proposals may also result in changes to conduct of business requirements including selling practices, intermediary inducements and client categorization, as well as the conduct of activities within the European Union (“EU”) by non-EU advisers including ours. The proposals also envision giving the European Commission power to ban certain products and services. In addition, a European Commission proposal (the European Market Infrastructure Regulation), when implemented, will require the central clearing of standardized OTC derivatives.
In addition, the FSA has adopted new rules following its retail distribution review (“RDR” rules). These rules, which come into effect on December 31, 2012, will change how retail clients pay for investment advice given in respect of all retail investment products, including open-end and closed-end funds, structured products and insurance-based savings products. In preparation for RDR rule implementation, we have developed new share classes for our funds offered in the U.K., and we are in the process of amending our distribution agreements.
In the aftermath of the financial crisis, the European Commission set out a detailed plan for EU financial reform, outlining a number of initiatives to be reflected in new or updated directives, regulations and recommendations of which the MiFID review was part. These will have direct and indirect effects on our operations in the EEA and the sale into that region of products managed outside of the EEA.
The EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”), which became effective on July 21, 2011, must be implemented by EU member states by July 22, 2013. The AIFMD will regulate managers of, and service providers to, alternative investment funds not authorized as UCITS retail funds (“AIFs”) domiciled within and outside the EU that are offered in the EU. The AIFMD will also regulate the marketing of all AIFs inside the EEA. In general, the AIFMD is expected to have a staged implementation between mid-2013 and 2018. Compliance with the AIFMD’s requirements may restrict AIF marketing and place additional compliance obligations in the form of remuneration policies, capital requirements, reporting requirements, leverage oversight, valuation, stakes in EU companies, the domicile, duties and liability of custodians and liquidity management.
The European Commission has also published proposals to replace the Market Abuse Directive with a regulation on insider dealing and market manipulation and with an accompanying directive on criminal sanctions. There are also ongoing plans to reform the framework to which regulated firms are subject, including in relation to regulatory capital and the protection of client assets, which will have a direct effect on some of our European operations.
The next iteration of the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities Directive (“UCITS IV”), which governs authorized retail funds (“UCITS”), was required to be adopted into the national law of each EU member state by July 1, 2011. Various EU states including the U.K., Luxembourg and Ireland have adopted UCITS IV requirements into national legislation and regulation. However, several other EU member states are still in various stages of the adoption process. UCITS IV introduced new requirements including a requirement on UCITS to provide a key investor information document (“KIID”) prior to any fund sale. The KIID is a two-page summary of the key aspects of each share class of a fund. There are also European Commission consultations in process that are intended to enhance retail investor protection, including UCITS V, which is intended to address, among other items, custodial liability and remuneration policies.
Recent proposals on packaged retail investment products (“PRIPs”) are to be implemented through the strengthening of MiFID standards (for non-insurance PRIPs), revisions to the Insurance Mediation Directive’s selling standard (for all insurance-based PRIPs) and new investor disclosure requirements for all PRIPs though a separate EU legislative process.
In addition, in September 2011, the European Commission proposed a financial transaction tax (“FTT proposal”) in the EU, which would, if approved by all 27 Member States, apply to all financial transactions where at least one party is established in an EU Member State and either that party or another party to the transaction is a financial institution. While the specific terms of the FTT proposal remain subject to negotiation, any tax on securities transactions could likely have a negative impact on the liquidity of the derivatives and securities markets in Europe and could adversely impact our European clients’ assets and our non-European clients to the extent that they are or want to be invested in European assets.
In Canada, our subsidiaries are subject to provincial and territorial laws and are registered with and regulated by provincial and territorial securities regulatory authorities. The mandate of Canadian securities regulatory authorities is generally to protect investors and to foster fair and efficient capital markets. Securities regulatory authorities impose certain requirements on registrants, including a standard of conduct, capital and insurance, record keeping, regulatory financial reporting, conflict of interest management, compliance systems and securityholder reporting. Failure to comply with applicable securities laws, regulations and rules could result in, among other things, reprimands, suspension of or restrictions on an individual's or firm's registration, prohibitions from becoming or acting as a registrant, administrative penalties or disgorgement. In addition, as a federally licensed trust company, FTCC is subject to regulation and supervision by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada and another subsidiary, FTC Investor Services Inc., is a member of and regulated by the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada. These regulatory bodies have similar requirements to those of the securities regulatory authorities with a view to ensuring the capital adequacy and sound business practices of the subsidiaries and the appropriate treatment of their clients.
In June 2012, the Canadian Securities Administrators, the umbrella organization of provincial and territorial securities regulatory authorities, released for comment proposed amendments to its rules regarding registrant obligations that will, if implemented, require additional disclosure by registrants to their clients, including enhanced disclosure at account opening of all operating charges and fees a client would be required to pay, pre-trade disclosure of any charges a client would be required to pay, enhanced reporting on client statements that includes charges paid by the client and all compensation received by registrants in respect of a client's account and new reporting regarding the performance
of investments held in the account. If adopted, these new rules would require us to make changes to our systems to comply with these new disclosure and reporting standards.
In Singapore, our subsidiaries are subject to, among others, the Securities and Futures Act (“SFA”), the Financial Advisers Act (“FAA”) and subsidiary legislation promulgated pursuant to these Acts. This legislation is administered by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”). Our asset management subsidiary and its employees conducting regulated activities specified in the SFA and/or the FAA are required to be licensed with the MAS. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, codes, directives, notices and guidelines issued by the MAS may result in penalties including fines, censures and the suspension or revocation of licenses granted by the MAS.
In Australia, our subsidiaries are subject to various Australian federal and state laws and are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”). ASIC regulates companies, financial markets and financial services in Australia. ASIC imposes certain conditions on licensed financial services organizations that apply to our subsidiaries, including requirements relating to capital resources, operational capability and controls. Failure to comply with applicable law, regulations or conditions could result in various sanctions being imposed including cancellation, suspension or variation of the licenses held by our Australian subsidiaries.
In Hong Kong, our subsidiary is subject to the Securities and Futures Ordinance (the “SFO”), which governs the securities and futures markets and regulates, among others, offers of investments to the public and provides for the licensing of trading activities and intermediaries. The SFO is administered by the Securities and Futures Commission (the “SFC”). The SFC is also empowered under the SFO to establish standards for compliance as well as codes and guidelines. Our subsidiary and its employees conducting any of the regulated activities specified in the SFO are required to be licensed with the SFC, and are subject to the rules, codes and guidelines issued by the SFC from time to time. Failure to comply with the applicable laws, regulations, codes and guidelines issued by the SFC could result in the suspension or revocation of the licenses granted by the SFC.
In India, our subsidiaries are primarily subject to relevant regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”), the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (“FIPB”). A failure to comply with the applicable laws, regulations, codes, notices, directives, guidelines, orders, circulars and schemes issued by SEBI, RBI or FIPB may result in penalties including fines, censures and/or suspension or revocation of licenses, approvals or registration status.
In Japan, our subsidiary is subject to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law (the “FIEL”) and the Law Concerning Investment Trusts and Investment Corporations. These laws are administered and enforced by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (the “JFSA”), which establishes standards for compliance, including capital adequacy and financial soundness requirements, customer protection requirements and conduct of business rules. The JFSA is empowered to conduct administrative proceedings that can result in censure, fine, the issuance of cease and desist orders or the suspension or revocation of registrations and licenses granted under the FIEL.
There are similar legal and regulatory arrangements in force in many other non-U.S. jurisdictions where our subsidiaries, branches and representative offices, as well as certain joint ventures or companies in which we own minority stakes, are authorized to conduct business. We are subject to regulation and supervision by, among others, the Securities Commission of The Bahamas; the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários in Brazil; the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority; the China Securities Regulatory Commission in the People’s Republic of China; the Autorité des Marchés Financiers in France; the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany; the Central Bank of Ireland; the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa in Italy; the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service in Korea; the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier in Luxembourg; the Securities Commission in Malaysia; the Comision Nacional Bancaria y de Valores in Mexico; the Autoriteit Financiële Markten in The Netherlands; the Polish Securities and Exchange Commission; the Romanian National Securities Commission;
the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores in Spain; the Finansinspektionen in Sweden; the Swiss Federal Banking Commission; the Securities and Futures Bureau of the Ministry of Finance in the Republic of China; the Dubai Financial Services Authority in the United Arab Emirates; and the State Securities Commission of Vietnam.
COMPETITION
The financial services industry is a highly competitive global industry. There are approximately 9,600 open-end investment funds of varying sizes, and with varying investment policies and objectives, whose shares are offered to the public in the U.S., and there are approximately 63,000 open-end investment funds whose shares are offered to the public outside the U.S.
We face strong competition from numerous investment management companies, securities brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions, which offer a wide range of financial and investment management services to the same institutional accounts, separate accounts, retail investors and high net-worth clients that we are seeking to attract. Competition is based on various factors, including, among others, business reputation, investment performance, product mix and offerings, service quality and innovation, distribution relationships, and fees charged.
Due to our international presence and varied product mix, it is difficult to assess our market position relative to other investment managers on a worldwide basis, but we believe that we are one of the more widely diversified asset managers based in the U.S. 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 long-term performance of our investment products, service to clients and extensive marketing activities through our strong broker/dealer and other financial institution distribution network as well as with high net-worth and institutional clients. We believe that performance, diversity of products and customer service, along with fees and costs, are the primary drivers of competition in the financial services industry.
The periodic establishment of new investment management firms and investment products increases the competition that we face. Many of our competitors have long-standing and established relationships with broker/dealers, investment advisers and their clients. Others have focused on, offer and market specific product lines, which provide strong competition to certain of our asset classes. In addition, consolidation in the financial services industry has created stronger competitors, some with greater financial resources and broader distribution channels than our own.
We rely largely on third-party broker/dealers and other similar 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. Additionally, competing 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 further limit the distribution of our investment products. 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 AUM, related revenues and overall business and financial condition.
We maintain a technology platform to compete with the rapidly developing and evolving marketplace. However, technology is subject to rapid change and we cannot guarantee that our competitors may not implement more advanced platforms for their products, which could affect our business.
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 advertising and promotional campaigns through various media sources to promote brand recognition. We advertise in major financial publications, as well as on television and the Internet, to promote brand name recognition and to assist our distribution network. Such activities include purchasing network and cable programming, sponsorship of sporting events, newspaper and magazine advertising, online and paid search advertising and social media marketing.
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 U.S. and in other countries and jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, Franklin®, Templeton®, Mutual Series®, Bissett®, Fiduciary Trust™, Darby® and Balanced Equity Management™. Our trademarks, service marks and trade names are important to us and, accordingly, we enforce our trademark, service mark and trade name rights. 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 adversely affected.
EMPLOYEES
As of September 30, 2012, we employed approximately 8,600 employees and operated offices in 35 countries. We consider our relations with our employees to be satisfactory.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Franklin files reports with the SEC, including current and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information filed with 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 Franklin, who file electronically with the SEC, at www.sec.gov. Additional information about the Company’s filings can also be obtained at our website at www.franklinresources.com under “Investor Relations.” 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 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” 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” and are available in print to any stockholder who requests a copy.
Volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economy, may significantly affect our results of operations and may put pressure on our financial results. The capital and credit markets continue to experience volatility and disruption worldwide. Declines in global financial market conditions have in the past resulted in significant decreases in our assets under management (“AUM”), revenues and income, and future declines may negatively impact our performance. Such declines have had and may in the future have an adverse impact on our results of operations. We may need to modify our business, strategies or operations and we may be subject to additional constraints or costs in order to satisfy new regulatory requirements or to compete in a changed business environment.
The amount and mix of our AUM are subject to significant fluctuations. Fluctuations in the amount and mix of our AUM may be attributable in part to market conditions outside of our control that have had, and in the future could have, a negative impact on our revenues and income. We derive our operating revenues and net income from providing investment management and related services. The level of our revenues depends largely on the level and mix of AUM. Any decrease in the value or amount of our AUM because of market volatility or other factors negatively impacts our revenues and income. We are subject to an increased risk of asset volatility from changes in the global financial and
equity markets. Individual financial and equity markets may be adversely affected by economic, 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, political protests, insurrection or other business, social or political crises. Declines in these markets have caused in the past, and may cause in the future, a decline in our revenues and income. Global economic conditions, exacerbated by war, terrorism, natural disasters or financial crises, changes in the equity marketplace, unanticipated changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, the yield curve, defaults by derivative counterparties, bond default risks, the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and other factors that are difficult to predict affect the mix, market values and levels of our AUM. The funds we manage may be subject to an unanticipated large number of redemptions as a result of such events, causing the funds to sell securities they hold, possibly at a loss, or draw on any available lines of credit to obtain cash to settle these redemptions, or settle in-kind with securities held in the applicable fund. We may also, in our discretion, provide financial support to a fund to enable it to maintain sufficient liquidity in such event. Our investment management fee revenues are primarily based on a percentage of the value of AUM 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 AUM 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 revenues and income depending upon the nature of our AUM and the level of management fees we earn based on our AUM. We generally derive higher investment management and distribution fees from our international products than from our U.S. products, and higher sales fees from our U.S. products than from our international products. Additionally, changing market conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix towards fixed-income products and a related decline in our revenues and income, as we generally derive higher fee revenues and income from equity products 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 our AUM resulting from price declines, interest rate volatility or uncertainty, increased redemptions or other factors could negatively impact our revenues and income.
We are subject to extensive and complex, overlapping and frequently changing rules, regulations and legal interpretations. There is uncertainty associated with the regulatory environment in which we operate. Our business is subject to extensive and complex, overlapping and frequently changing rules, regulations and legal interpretations in the countries in which we operate, including, among others, securities, banking, accounting, tax, ethics and privacy laws and regulations.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Reform Act”) imposes additional restrictions and limitations on us and will likely result in increased scrutiny and oversight of our financial services and products as the various rules and regulations required for implementation continue to be adopted. Due to the complexity and broad scope of the Reform Act and the time required for regulatory implementation, we are not able to predict at this time all of the specific requirements that will be adopted by regulatory agencies having authority over us pursuant to the Reform Act, or the impact of all of the changes in regulation. The so-called “Volcker Rule” provisions of the Reform Act restrict the ability of affiliates of insured depository institutions, such as Franklin, to sponsor or invest in private funds or to engage in certain types of proprietary trading. While the Volcker Rule became effective on July 21, 2012, final rules for its implementation have not yet been adopted. On April 19, 2012, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”) issued a Statement of Policy that confirmed that banking institutions will have two years from the effective date to conform their activities to the requirements of the Volcker Rule. In addition to the rulemaking mandated by the Reform Act, new rules adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) removed or limited previously available exemptions and exclusions which will impose additional registration and reporting requirements for operators of certain mutual funds and certain other pooled vehicles that use or trade in futures, swaps and other derivatives regulated by the CFTC. These regulatory amendments may require us to change certain of our mutual fund or other pooled vehicle business practices or register additional entities with the CFTC. Further, upon implementation, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), which is intended to address tax compliance issues related to U.S. taxpayers holding non-U.S. accounts, will require non-U.S. financial institutions to report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) information about financial accounts held by U.S. taxpayers and impose withholding, documentation and reporting requirements on non-U.S. financial institutions. FATCA remains subject to the adoption of applicable regulations by the IRS, and full implementation will be phased in over a multi-year period,
commencing in 2013. We expect that FATCA will cause us to incur significant administrative and compliance costs. Changes to the regulation of money market funds currently under discussion could significantly change the structure and operations of those funds.
Financial reporting requirements, and the processes, controls and procedures that have been put in place to address them, are often comprehensive and complex. We may be adversely affected as a result of new or revised legislation or regulations or by changes in the interpretation of existing laws and regulations. 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, or our inability to keep up with, or adapt to, an ever changing, complex regulatory environment, could result in civil liability, criminal liability and/or sanctions against us, including fines and censures, injunctive relief, suspension or expulsion from a particular jurisdiction or market or the revocation of licenses, any of which could adversely affect our reputation, prospects, revenues and income.
We are subject to U.S. 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 Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the New York Stock Exchange. Because of our non-U.S. operations and/or trading in our securities that take place outside the U.S., we are also subject to regulation by non-U.S. regulators and U.S. regulators such as the Department of Justice and the SEC with respect to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977. Certain of our subsidiaries are registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and many of our funds are registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act, 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 must comply with a myriad of complex and changing U.S. and/or non-U.S. rules and regulations, some of which may conflict, as well as complex tax regimes. Additionally, as we continue to expand our operations, sometimes rapidly, into additional 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 global compliance operations.
We are also a bank holding company and a financial holding company subject to the supervision and regulation of the FRB and are subject to the restrictions, limitations and prohibitions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (the “BHC Act”) and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. In addition, significant aspects of the Reform Act relate to changes in the regulation of banks, thrifts, holding companies and related institutions, including with respect to regulation and supervision in the banking industry, and the imposition of various restrictions and limitations on certain activities of such entities. The Reform Act includes a number of measures that will increase capital and liquidity requirements, impose limits on leverage, and enhance supervisory authority and regulatory oversight of non-banking entities which may apply to our business. 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 banking subsidiary, Fiduciary Trust Company International (“Fiduciary Trust”), is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the New York State Department of Financial Services, while other subsidiaries are subject to oversight by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) and various state regulators.
The laws and regulations imposed by our banking regulators generally involve restrictions and requirements in connection with a variety of technical, specialized, and 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. Any inability to meet these requirements, within the timeframes set by regulators, may subject us to sanctions or other restrictions by the regulators that could impact our broader business. Moreover, being subject to banking regulation may put us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors which are not subject to such requirements.
On March 5, 2012, Fiduciary Trust submitted an application to the OCC to convert from a New York state-chartered bank to an uninsured national banking association with fiduciary powers, the activities of which would be limited to those authorized by the OCC for a trust bank and activities related thereto. Franklin Templeton Bank & Trust,
F.S.B. would be merged into this entity and our status as a bank holding company would end. In September 2012, the OCC advised us that it had changed its policy. We understand that it generally will no longer charter uninsured national trust banks. In light of this, we are considering alternative structures for our banking subsidiaries. There is no assurance that we will be able to successfully restructure our subsidiaries or cease to be regulated as a bank holding company. Moreover, even if such restructuring were to be completed, we could still be subject to enhanced prudential standards and FRB supervision if the Financial Stability Oversight Council were to designate us as a systemically important non-bank financial company under the Reform Act.
Regulatory and legislative actions and reforms have made the regulatory environment in which we operate more costly and future actions and reforms could adversely impact our AUM, 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, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the Reform Act. Moreover, the adoption of new laws or regulations and changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations have directly affected, and may continue to affect, our business. With new laws and changes in interpretation 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. In particular, many provisions of the Reform Act still require the adoption of rules to implement the Reform Act and mandate multiple studies, which could result in additional legislative or regulatory action. We may be required to invest significant management time and resources to address the various provisions of the Reform Act and the numerous regulations that are required to be issued under it. In addition, the SEC has proposed changes to Rule 12b-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which, if adopted, could limit our ability to recover expenses relating to the distribution of our funds. Outlays associated with meeting regulatory complexities have also increased as we expand our business into new jurisdictions. Compliance activities to meet these and other new legal requirements have required us to expend additional time and resources, 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 revenues and 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 or by making certain investment offerings less favorable to our clients.
Failure to comply with the laws, rules or regulations in any of the non-U.S. jurisdictions in which we operate could result in substantial harm to our reputation and results of operations. As with all investment management companies, our activities are highly regulated in almost all countries in which we conduct business. The regulatory environments of the non-U.S. jurisdictions where we conduct our business or where the funds and products we manage are organized or sold are complex, uncertain and subject to change. Local regulatory environments may vary widely and place additional demands on our sales, legal and compliance personnel. Failure to comply with the applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, directives, notices or guidelines in any of our non-U.S. jurisdictions could result in a wide range of penalties and disciplinary actions, including fines, censures and the suspension or expulsion from a particular jurisdiction or market or the revocation of licenses, any of which could adversely affect our reputation and operations. In recent years, the non-U.S. regulatory environments in which we operate have seen significant increased and evolving regulation, which has imposed and may continue to impose additional compliance and operational costs on us in the applicable jurisdictions. 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 offer our investment products and services in their respective markets, or we may be unable to keep up with, or adapt to, the ever changing, complex regulatory requirements in such jurisdictions or markets, which could further negatively impact our business.
Changes in tax laws or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. We are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes, in both the U.S. and various non-U.S. jurisdictions and are subject to ongoing tax audits in the U.S. and various non-U.S. jurisdictions. Tax authorities may disagree with certain positions we have taken and assess additional taxes. We regularly assess the likely outcomes of these audits in order to determine the appropriateness of our tax provision. However, there can be no assurance that we will accurately predict the outcomes of these audits, and the actual outcomes of these audits could have a material impact on our net income or financial condition. Changes in tax laws or tax rulings could materially impact our effective tax rate. For example, proposals for fundamental U.S. corporate tax reform, if enacted,
could change the amount of taxes we are required to pay and have a significant impact on our future results of operations, profitability and financial condition.
Any significant limitation, failure or security breach of our software applications, technology or other 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, systems failures or security breaches 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. Breach of our technology systems could result in the loss of valuable information, liability for stolen assets or information, remediation costs to repair damage caused by the breach, additional security costs to mitigate against future incidents and litigation costs resulting from the incident. Moreover, loss of confidential customer identification information could harm our reputation and subject us to liability under laws that protect confidential personal data, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenues.
Further, although we take precautions to password protect and encrypt 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, our failure to properly manage and operate our data centers could have an adverse impact on our business. 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 technology 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.
Our business operations are complex and a failure to properly perform operational tasks or the misrepresentation of our products and services, or the termination of investment management agreements representing a significant portion of our AUM, could have an adverse effect on our revenues and income. Through our subsidiaries, we provide investment management and related services to our sponsored investment products, that consist of investment funds and institutional, high net-worth and separately-managed accounts. In addition to investment management, our services include fund administration, sales, distribution, shareholder services, transfer agency, trustee, custodial and other fiduciary services, as well as select private banking services. In order to be competitive, we must properly perform our fund and portfolio administration and related responsibilities, including portfolio recordkeeping and accounting, security pricing, corporate actions, investment restrictions compliance, daily net asset value computations, account reconciliations, and required distributions to fund shareholders. In addition, the intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of our products and services in advertising materials, public relations information, social media or other external communications could adversely affect our reputation and business prospects. Our investment management fees, which represent a majority of our revenues, are dependent on fees earned under investment management agreements that we have with the sponsored investment products we advise. Our revenues could be adversely affected if such agreements representing a significant portion of our AUM are terminated or significantly altered. Further, certain of our subsidiaries may act as general partner for various investment partnerships, which may subject them to liability for the partnerships' liabilities. If we fail to properly perform and monitor our operations, our business could suffer and our revenues and income could be adversely affected.
We face risks, and corresponding potential costs and expenses, associated with conducting operations and growing our business in numerous 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 challenges to the adequacy of our resources, procedures and controls to consistently and effectively operate our business. 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, hiring and retaining 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. In addition, from time to time we enter into international joint ventures in which we may not have control. These investments in joint ventures may involve risks, including the risk that the controlling joint venture partner may have business interests, strategies or goals that are inconsistent with ours, and the risk that business decisions or other actions or omissions of the controlling joint venture partner or the joint venture company may result in harm to our reputation or adversely affect the value of our investment in the joint venture.
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. Competition for qualified, motivated, and highly skilled executives, professionals and other key personnel in the investment management industry remains significant. Our success depends to a substantial degree upon our ability to find, attract, retain, and motivate qualified individuals, including through competitive compensation packages, and upon the continued contributions of these people. Regulations, including those required to be adopted under the Reform Act, could impose restrictions on compensation paid by financial institutions, which could restrict our ability to compete effectively for qualified professionals. 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 revenues. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in finding, 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 income. We compete with numerous investment management companies, securities brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance companies, banks 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. The periodic establishment of new investment management companies and other competitors increases the competition that we face. 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 mix and offerings, service quality and innovation, 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 clients, 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 income could decline. Our ability to attract and retain AUM 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 fees at competitive levels.
Changes in the third-party distribution and sales channels on which we depend could reduce our income and hinder our growth. We derive nearly all of our fund sales through third-party broker/dealers and other similar investment advisers. Increasing competition for these distribution channels and 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. Pursuant to the Reform Act, the SEC may establish different standards for broker/dealers in their interaction with retail customers, which could have an impact on sales and/or distribution costs. Higher distribution costs lower our income; consolidations in the broker/dealer industry could also adversely impact our income. Moreover, if several 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 income. 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 AUM, income and overall business and financial condition.
Our increasing focus on international markets as a source of investments and sales of investment products subjects us to increased exchange rate and other risks in connection with our revenues and income generated overseas. While we maintain a significant portion of our operations in the U.S., we also provide services and earn revenues in The Bahamas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. As a result, we are subject to foreign exchange risk through our non-U.S. operations. Fluctuations in the exchange rates to the U.S. dollar may affect our financial results from one period to the next. 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 U.S. Appreciation of the U.S. dollar could moderate revenues from managing investment products internationally or could affect relative investment performance of certain funds invested in non-U.S. securities. In addition, we have risk associated with the foreign exchange revaluation of U.S. dollar balances held by certain non-U.S. subsidiaries for which the local currency is the functional currency. Separately, management fees that we earn tend to be higher in connection with international AUM than with U.S. AUM. Consequently, a downturn in international markets could have a significant effect on our revenues and income. Moreover, as our business continues to grow in non-U.S. markets, any ongoing and future business, economic, social or 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 AUM and the corresponding revenues and income that we generate from them may be negatively affected.
Harm to our reputation or poor investment performance of our products could reduce the level of our AUM or affect our sales, potentially negatively impacting our revenues and income. Our reputation is critical to the success of our business. We believe that our Franklin Templeton Investments brand has been, and continues to be, 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 AUM and cause us to suffer a corresponding loss in our revenues and income. Our investment performance, along with achieving and maintaining superior distribution and client services, is also critical to the success of our 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 AUM 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 investment performance may negatively impact our revenues and income. Reputational harm or poor investment performance 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 or poor investment performance, we may be unsuccessful in repairing any existing harm to our reputation or performance 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 or to cover uninsured losses 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 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, shareholder servicing 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 an earthquake, tsunami, terrorist attack, pandemic or other natural or man-made disaster, our continued success will depend, in part, on the safety and 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 aspects of our operations, such as key executive officers or personnel in our technology group. Moreover, as we grow our operations in new geographic regions, 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 regularly assess and take 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 significant 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 policies, expropriation, nationalization, asset confiscation and changes in legislation related to non-U.S. ownership. International trading markets, particularly in some emerging market countries, are often smaller, less liquid, less regulated and significantly more volatile than those in the U.S.
Regulatory and governmental examinations and/or investigations, litigation and the legal risks associated with our business, could adversely impact our AUM, increase costs and negatively impact our profitability and/or our future financial results. 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, and governmental or regulatory investigations and/or examinations that have been inactive could become active. In addition, we may be named in litigation. We may be obligated, and under our certificate of incorporation and by-laws and our standard form of indemnification agreement with certain 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. Even if claims made against us are without merit, 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. Eventual exposures from and expenses incurred relating to any litigation, investigations, examinations and settlements could adversely impact our AUM, increase costs and negatively impact our profitability and/or our financial results. Judgments, findings or allegations of wrongdoing by regulatory or governmental authorities or in litigation against us or settlements with respect thereto 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 the market value of our assets, operating cash flows and our perceived creditworthiness. Our ability to meet anticipated cash needs depends upon factors such as the market value of our assets, our operating cash flows and our creditworthiness as perceived by lenders. If we are unable to obtain funds and financing, we may be forced to incur unanticipated costs or revise our business plans. Further, our access to the capital markets depends significantly on our credit ratings. A reduction in our long- or short-term credit ratings could increase our borrowing costs and limit our access to the capital markets. Volatility in the global financing markets may also impact our ability to access the capital markets should we seek to do so, and have an adverse effect on investors' willingness to purchase our securities, interest rates, credit spreads and the valuation levels of equity markets. If we are unable to obtain funds and financing, or access the capital markets in a timely manner, we may be forced to incur unanticipated costs or revise our business plans, and our business could be adversely impacted.
Our business could be negatively affected if we or our banking subsidiaries fail to satisfy capital and other regulatory standards, and liquidity needs could affect our banking services. Our bank and thrift subsidiaries are subject to significant regulation and supervision, which includes minimum regulatory capital standards. Franklin is also subject to minimum capital and other regulatory standards because it is a bank holding company and financial holding company registered with the FRB under the BHC Act. Our business could be negatively affected if Franklin or its bank or thrift subsidiaries fail to meet these standards. Loss of financial holding company status could require that we either cease activities that are only permissible for us to engage in as a financial holding company or divest our banking subsidiaries if we desire to continue such activities. The banking regulators are authorized (and sometimes required) to impose a wide range of requirements, conditions, and restrictions on banks, thrifts, and bank holding companies that fail to maintain adequate capital levels. The Reform Act imposes more stringent capital, liquidity and leverage ratio requirements on bank holding companies. In addition, liquidity needs could affect our banking services, which may be subject to an unanticipated large number of withdrawals as a result of a number of factors, such as changed or unstable economic conditions, adverse trends or events, interest rates paid by competitors, general interest rate levels, and returns available to clients on alternative investments. Our banking subsidiaries may be required from time to time to rely on secondary sources of liquidity, such as the sale of investment securities, Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances and federal funds lines to enable them to meet such withdrawal demands. These secondary sources may not be sufficient to meet liquidity needs.
We are dependent on the earnings of our subsidiaries. Substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and our ability to fund operations are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to provide us with funds for our payment obligations, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. Any payments to us by our subsidiaries could be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions and are contingent upon our subsidiaries' earnings and business considerations.
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Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments. |
None.
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 U.S., including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Utah and the District of Columbia, and in various non-U.S. locations, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Colombia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the U.K. (including England and Scotland) and Vietnam. As of September 30, 2012, we leased and occupied approximately 1,061,000 square feet of space. We have also leased and subsequently subleased to third parties approximately 77,000 square feet of excess leased space.
In addition, we own four buildings in San Mateo, California; five buildings in Rancho Cordova, California; two buildings in Stockton, California; five buildings in St. Petersburg, Florida; one building in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; three buildings in Hyderabad, India; and two buildings in Nassau, The Bahamas, as well as space in office buildings in Argentina, India and Singapore. The buildings we own consist of approximately 2,113,000 square feet of space. We have leased to third parties approximately 351,000 square feet of excess owned space.
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Item 3. | Legal Proceedings. |
The information set forth in response to this Item 3 of Regulation S-K under “Legal Proceedings” is incorporated by reference from the “Legal Proceedings” section in Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies in the notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, the following description of our executive officers is included as an unnumbered item in Part I of this report in lieu of being included in our definitive proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders. Set forth below are the name, age, present title, and certain other information for each of our executive officers as of November 14, 2012. Each executive officer is appointed by Franklin’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 51
Executive Vice President - Global Advisory Services since March 2011; formerly, Executive Vice President-Global Distribution of Franklin from June 2008 to March 2011, and Executive Vice President-Global Advisor Services of Franklin from December 2005 to June 2008; officer and/or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin; employed by Franklin or its subsidiaries in various other capacities for more than the past five years.
CHARLES B. JOHNSON
AGE 79
Chairman of the Board since December 1999 and director of Franklin since 1969; formerly, Chief Executive Officer of Franklin; officer and/or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin; officer and/or director or trustee of various investment companies managed or advised by subsidiaries of Franklin.
GREGORY E. JOHNSON
AGE 51
President of Franklin since December 1999 and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin since January 2004; officer and/or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin.
JENNIFER M. JOHNSON
AGE 48
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Franklin since March 2010; formerly, Executive Vice President–Operations and Technology of Franklin from December 2005 to March 2010, and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Franklin from May 2003 to December 2005; officer of Franklin for more than the past five years; officer or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin. Director, Keynote Systems, Inc. since April 2004.
RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR.
AGE 72
Vice Chairman since December 1999 and director of Franklin since 1969; officer and/or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin; officer and/or director or trustee of various investment companies managed or advised by subsidiaries of Franklin.
KENNETH A. LEWIS
AGE 51
Executive Vice President of Franklin since October 2007 and Chief Financial Officer of Franklin since October 2006; formerly, Senior Vice–President and Treasurer of Franklin from October 2006 to October 2007, Vice President–Enterprise Risk Management of Franklin from April 2006 to October 2006 and Vice President and Treasurer of Franklin from June 2002 to April 2006; officer and/or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin for more than the past five years.
JOHN M. LUSK
AGE 54
Executive Vice President - Investment Management since March 2011; formerly, Executive Vice President-Portfolio Operations of Franklin from December 2005 to March 2011, and Vice President of Franklin from January 2004 to December 2005; officer and/or director of various subsidiaries of Franklin; employed by Franklin or its subsidiaries in various other capacities for more than the past five years.
CRAIG S. TYLE
AGE 52
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Franklin 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 of various investment companies managed or advised by subsidiaries of Franklin.
WILLIAM Y. YUN
AGE 53
Executive Vice President–Alternative Strategies of Franklin since June 2008, and formerly Executive Vice President– Institutional of Franklin from December 2005 to June 2008; President of Fiduciary Trust, a subsidiary of Franklin, from 2000 to December 2005; officer and/or director of other subsidiaries of Franklin; employed by Franklin 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. Gregory E. Johnson is the son of Charles B. Johnson, the nephew of Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and the brother of Jennifer M. Johnson. Jennifer M. Johnson is the daughter of Charles B. Johnson, the niece of Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. and the sister of Gregory E. Johnson.
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Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. |
Not applicable.
PART II
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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.” On September 28, 2012 (the last trading day of our fiscal year), the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE was $125.07 per share. At October 31, 2012, there were approximately 4,650 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.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quarter | | 2012 Fiscal Year | | 2011 Fiscal Year |
| High | | Low | | High | | Low |
October-December | | $ | 112.38 |
| | $ | 87.71 |
| | $ | 125.00 |
| | $ | 106.04 |
|
January-March | | $ | 126.48 |
| | $ | 94.38 |
| | $ | 130.97 |
| | $ | 108.33 |
|
April-June | | $ | 127.83 |
| | $ | 100.91 |
| | $ | 131.65 |
| | $ | 120.50 |
|
July-September | | $ | 128.20 |
| | $ | 105.98 |
| | $ | 137.56 |
| | $ | 93.58 |
|
We declared regular cash dividends of $1.08 per share ($0.27 per share per quarter) and a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (“fiscal year 2012”), and regular cash dividends of $1.00 per share ($0.25 per share per quarter) in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (“fiscal year 2011”). We currently expect to continue paying comparable regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis to holders of our common stock depending upon earnings and other relevant factors.
The equity compensation plan information called for by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth in Item 12 of Part III of this Form 10-K under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
On July 6, 2011, our subsidiary Franklin Templeton Investments Australia Limited transferred 85,000 unregistered shares of our common stock having an aggregate value of $11.4 million as of that date in a private placement in accordance with Rule 506 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the subsidiary's acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Balanced Equity Management Pty. Limited, a specialty Australian equity manager.
The following table provides information with respect to the shares of our common stock that we repurchased during the three months ended September 30, 2012.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Month | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased As Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs |
July 2012 | | — |
| | $ | — |
| | — |
| | 8,084,963 |
|
August 2012 | | 651,826 |
| | $ | 116.46 |
| | 651,826 |
| | 7,433,137 |
|
September 2012 | | 184,800 |
| | $ | 122.90 |
| | 184,800 |
| | 7,248,337 |
|
Total | | 836,626 |
| | | | 836,626 |
| | |
Under our stock repurchase program, we can repurchase shares of our 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 announced the existence of and updates to our continuing policy of repurchasing shares of our common stock. In December 2011, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 10.0 million additional shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. At September 30, 2012, approximately 7.2 million shares remained available for repurchase under the program, which is not subject to an expiration date.
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Item 6. | Selected Financial Data. |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
Summary of Operations (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating revenues | | $ | 7,101.0 |
| | $ | 7,140.0 |
| | $ | 5,853.0 |
| | $ | 4,194.1 |
| | $ | 6,032.4 |
|
Operating income | | 2,515.2 |
| | 2,659.8 |
| | 1,958.7 |
| | 1,202.6 |
| | 2,099.0 |
|
Operating margin | | 35.4 | % | | 37.3 | % | | 33.5 | % | | 28.7 | % | | 34.8 | % |
Net income attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc. | | 1,931.4 |
| | 1,923.6 |
| | 1,445.7 |
| | 896.8 |
| | 1,588.2 |
|
Financial Data (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 14,751.5 |
| 1 | $ | 13,775.8 |
| 1 | $ | 10,708.1 |
| | $ | 9,468.5 |
| | $ | 9,176.5 |
|
Debt | | 1,566.1 |
| | 998.2 |
| | 979.9 |
| | 121.2 |
| | 269.3 |
|
Debt of consolidated sponsored investment products | | 110.2 |
| | 134.9 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Debt of consolidated variable interest entities | | 1,100.9 |
| | 1,035.4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Franklin Resources, Inc. stockholders’ equity | | 9,201.3 |
| | 8,524.7 |
| | 7,727.0 |
| | 7,632.2 |
| | 7,074.4 |
|
Operating cash flows | | 1,066.2 |
| | 1,621.8 |
| | 1,651.0 |
| | 641.4 |
| | 1,409.2 |
|
Investing cash flows | | 873.4 |
| | 435.9 |
| | (32.7 | ) | | 289.9 |
| | (1,096.1 | ) |
Financing cash flows | | (1,084.9 | ) | | (968.2 | ) | | (594.9 | ) | | (340.6 | ) | | (1,300.0 | ) |
Assets Under Management (in billions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Ending | | $ | 749.9 |
| | $ | 659.9 |
| | $ | 644.9 |
| | $ | 523.4 |
| | $ | 507.3 |
|
Average2 | | 705.7 |
| | 694.4 |
| | 571.1 |
| | 442.2 |
| | 604.9 |
|
Per Common Share | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 8.98 |
| | $ | 8.66 |
| | $ | 6.36 |
| | $ | 3.87 |
| | $ | 6.68 |
|
Diluted | | 8.95 |
| | 8.62 |
| | 6.33 |
| | 3.85 |
| | 6.62 |
|
Cash dividends | | 3.08 |
| | 1.00 |
| | 3.88 |
| | 0.84 |
| | 0.80 |
|
Book value | | 43.36 |
| | 41.82 |
| | 34.49 |
| | 33.28 |
| | 30.39 |
|
Employee Headcount | | 8,558 |
| | 8,453 |
| | 7,927 |
| | 7,745 |
| | 8,809 |
|
__________________
1 Includes balances of variable interest entities not consolidated prior to October 1, 2010.
2 Represents simple monthly average AUM.
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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. (“Franklin”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). 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 U.S. 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,” “plan,” “seek,” “estimate,” 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 important factors that could cause 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 in Item 1A of Part I 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. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We caution you therefore against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of 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, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, we do not have an obligation, and we undertake no obligation, to announce publicly the change to our expectations, or to make any revisions to our forward-looking statements, unless required by law.
Overview
We are a global investment management organization and derive our operating revenues and net income from providing investment management and related services to investors in jurisdictions worldwide through products that include investment funds and institutional, high net-worth and separately-managed accounts (collectively, our “sponsored investment products” or “SIPs”). In addition to investment management, our services include fund administration, sales, distribution, shareholder services, transfer agency, trustee, custodial and other fiduciary services, as well as select private banking services. Our sponsored investment products and investment management and related services are distributed or marketed to the public globally under seven distinct brand names: Franklin®, Templeton®, Mutual Series®, Bissett®, Fiduciary Trust™, Darby® and Balanced Equity Management™. We offer a broad range of SIPs under equity, hybrid, fixed-income and cash management funds and accounts, including alternative investment products, that meet a wide variety of specific investment needs of individual and institutional investors. We also manage certain sub-advised investment products which may be sold to the public under one of our brand names or those of other companies or on a co-branded basis.
Effective July 1, 2012, we have one operating segment, investment management and related services. Previously, we had a secondary operating segment, banking/finance, which offered select retail banking, private banking and consumer lending services. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 (“fiscal year 2012”), we significantly reduced these services and now only offer select private banking services to investment management clients.
The level of our revenues depends largely on the level and relative mix of assets under management (“AUM”). As noted in the “Risk Factors” section set forth above in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the amount and mix of our AUM are subject to significant fluctuations and can negatively impact our revenues and income. The level of our revenues also depends on mutual fund sales and the number of mutual fund shareholder accounts. The fees charged for our services are based on contracts with our SIPs or our clients. These arrangements could change in the future.
During fiscal year 2012, global financial markets produced strong positive returns, evidenced by a 22% increase in the MSCI World Index, a 30% increase in the S&P 500 Index, and a 5% increase in the Barclays Global Aggregate Index. The markets recovered from the significant volatility and negative sentiment experienced during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 (“fiscal year 2011”), but remained volatile throughout the year amid continued investor concerns related to the European sovereign debt crisis and the global economy. In this environment our simple monthly average AUM (“average AUM”) and earnings per share increased slightly from fiscal year 2011.
Our total AUM at September 30, 2012 was $749.9 billion, 14% higher than at September 30, 2011. The increase was almost entirely due to $96.4 billion in market appreciation as the strong market returns resulted in valuation increases in all investment objectives. The increase in average AUM was lower, at 2%, due to market volatility and depreciation experienced in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. Long-term sales decreased 23% to $170.8 billion for fiscal year 2012, primarily due to reduced demand for global/international fixed-income and equity products. Redemption activity decreased 7% to $172.7 billion, as global/international equity and tax-free fixed-income product redemptions declined, but were partially offset by an increase in redemptions in global/international fixed-income products.
The business and regulatory environments in which we operate remain complex, uncertain and subject to change. In the U.S., the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Reform Act”) imposes additional restrictions and limitations on our business, and we expect that the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) will cause us to incur significant administrative and compliance costs. We are also subject to numerous regulations by U.S. and non-U.S. regulators that add further complexity to our ongoing global compliance operations.
Uncertainties regarding economic stabilization and improvement remain in the foreseeable future. As we continue to confront the challenges of the current economic and regulatory environments, we remain focused on the investment performance of our SIPs and on providing high quality customer service to our clients. While we are focused on expense management, we will also seek to attract, retain and develop employees and invest strategically in systems and technology that will provide a secure and stable environment. We will continue to protect and further our brand recognition while developing and maintaining broker/dealer and client relationships. The success of these and other strategies may be influenced by the factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section in Part I of this Annual Report.
Results of Operations
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(dollar amounts in millions, except per share data) | | | | | | | | | | |
for the fiscal years ended September 30, | | 2012 |
| | 2011 |
| | 2010 |
| | 2012 vs. 2011 | | 2011 vs. 2010 |
Operating Income | | $ | 2,515.2 |
| | $ | 2,659.8 |
| | $ | 1,958.7 |
| | (5 | )% | | 36 | % |
Net Income Attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc. | | 1,931.4 |
| | 1,923.6 |
| | 1,445.7 |
| | 0 | % | | 33 | % |
Earnings Per Share | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 8.98 |
| | $ | 8.66 |
| | $ | 6.36 |
| | 4 | % | | 36 | % |
Diluted | | 8.95 |
| | 8.62 |
| | 6.33 |
| | 4 | % | | 36 | % |
Operating Margin1 | | 35.4 | % | | 37.3 | % | | 33.5 | % | | | | |
___________________
1 Defined as operating income divided by total operating revenues.
Operating income decreased $144.6 million in fiscal year 2012 primarily due to a 2% decrease in investment management fee revenues, which resulted from a lower effective management fee rate partially offset by a 2% increase in average AUM, and $38.5 million of net insurance recoveries during fiscal year 2011 for losses incurred in previous years. Net income attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc. increased $7.8 million as higher investment and other income, net more than offset the decrease in operating income.
Operating income increased $701.1 million and net income attributable to Franklin Resources, Inc. increased $477.9 million in fiscal year 2011 primarily due to a 27% increase in investment management fee revenues, which was driven by a 22% increase in average AUM and a higher effective management fee rate.
Diluted earnings per share increased in fiscal year 2012 despite the minimal increase in net income due to a 3% decrease in diluted average common shares outstanding primarily resulting from the repurchase of shares of our common stock. Diluted earnings per share increased in fiscal year 2011 consistent with the increase in net income and a 2% decrease in diluted average common shares outstanding.
Assets Under Management
AUM by investment objective was as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(dollar amounts in billions) | | | | | | | | 2012 vs. 2011 | | 2011 vs. 2010 |
as of September 30, | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 | | |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | |
Global/international | | $ | 214.9 |
| | $ | 185.8 |
| | $ | 204.2 |
| | 16 | % | | (9 | )% |
United States | | 82.2 |
| | 68.4 |
| | 69.5 |
| | 20 | % | | (2 | )% |
Total equity | | 297.1 |
| | 254.2 |
| | 273.7 |
| | 17 | % | | (7 | )% |
Hybrid | | 110.1 |
| | 101.3 |
| | 110.8 |
| | 9 | % | | (9 | )% |
Fixed-Income | | | | | | | | | | |
Tax-free | | 83.2 |
| | 72.0 |
| | 77.7 |
| | 16 | % | | (7 | )% |
Taxable | | | | | | | | | | |
Global/international | | 196.4 |
| | 178.8 |
| | 130.7 |
| | 10 | % | | 37 | % |
United States | | 56.7 |
| | 46.9 |
| | 45.4 |
| | 21 | % | | 3 | % |
Total fixed-income | | 336.3 |
| | 297.7 |
| | 253.8 |
| | 13 | % | | 17 | % |
Cash Management | | 6.4 |
| | 6.7 |
| | 6.6 |
| | (4 | )% | | 2 | % |
Total | | $ | 749.9 |
| | $ | 659.9 |
| | $ | 644.9 |
| | 14 | % | | 2 | % |
Average for the Year | | $ | 705.7 |
| | $ | 694.4 |
| | $ | 571.1 |
| | 2 | % | | 22 | % |
AUM at September 30, 2012 increased 14% from September 30, 2011, almost entirely due to $96.4 billion in market appreciation as strong positive returns in global markets resulted in valuation increases in all investment objectives. AUM increased 2% during fiscal year 2011, driven by $36.4 billion of net new flows and $12.5 billion from acquisitions, largely offset by $30.5 billion in market depreciation as volatile market conditions led to valuation decreases.
Average AUM, which is generally more indicative of trends in revenue for providing investment management and fund administration services than the year-over-year change in ending AUM, increased by 2% and 22% during fiscal years 2012 and 2011.
The average mix of AUM by investment objective is shown below. The change in mix towards fixed-income products during fiscal years 2012 and 2011 reflects investor preference for globally diversified fixed-income investments. We expect this trend to continue in the near future.
|
| | | | | | | | | |
for the fiscal years ended September 30, | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
Equity | | | | | | |
Global/international | | 29 | % | | 32 | % | | 32 | % |
United States | | 11 | % | | 11 | % | | 12 | % |
Total equity | | 40 | % | | 43 | % | | 44 | % |
Hybrid | | 14 | % | | 16 | % | | 18 | % |
Fixed-Income | | | | | | |
Tax-free | | 11 | % | | 10 | % | | 13 | % |
Taxable | | | | | | |
Global/international | | 26 | % | | 23 | % | | 17 | % |
United States | | 8 | % | | 7 | % | | 7 | % |
Total fixed-income | | 45 | % | | 40 | % | | 37 | % |
Cash Management | | 1 | % | | 1 | % | | 1 | % |
Total | | 100 | % | | 100 | % | | 100 | % |
Components of the change in AUM were as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(dollar amounts in billions) | | | | | | | | 2012 vs. 2011 | | 2011 vs. 2010 |
for the fiscal year ended September 30, | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 | | |
Beginning AUM | | $ | 659.9 |
| | $ | 644.9 |
| | $ | 523.4 |
| | 2 | % | | 23 | % |
Long-term sales | | 170.8 |
| | 220.8 |
| | 188.5 |
| | (23 | )% | | 17 | % |
Long-term redemptions | | (172.7 | ) | | (184.8 | ) | | (122.8 | ) | | (7 | )% | | 50 | % |
Net cash management | | (0.4 | ) | | 0.4 |
| | 4.2 |
| | NM |
| | (90 | )% |
Net new flows | | (2.3 | ) | | 36.4 |
| | 69.9 |
| | NM |
| | (48 | )% |
Reinvested distributions | | 18.4 |
| | 16.3 |
| | 11.5 |
| | 13 | % | | 42 | % |
Net flows | | 16.1 |
| | 52.7 |
| | 81.4 |
| | (69 | )% | | (35 | )% |
Distributions | | (22.5 | ) | | (19.7 | ) | | (14.2 | ) | | 14 | % | | 39 | % |
Acquisitions | | — |
| | 12.5 |
| | — |
| | (100 | )% | | NM |
|
Appreciation (depreciation) and other | | 96.4 |
| | (30.5 | ) | | 54.3 |
| | NM |
| | NM |
|
Ending AUM | | $ | 749.9 |
| | $ | 659.9 |
| | $ | 644.9 |
| | 14 | % | | 2 | % |
Components of the change in AUM by investment objective were as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in billions) | | Equity | | | | Fixed-Income | | | | |
for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2012 | | Global/ International | | United States | | Hybrid | | Tax-Free | | Taxable Global/ International | | Taxable United States | | Cash Management | | Total |
AUM at October 1, 2011 | | $ | 185.8 |
| | $ | 68.4 |
| | $ | 101.3 |
| | $ | 72.0 |
| | $ | 178.8 |
| | $ | 46.9 |
| | $ | 6.7 |
| | $ | 659.9 |
|
Long-term sales | | 40.8 |
| | 16.1 |
| | 19.3 |
| | 13.5 |
| | 64.0 |
| | 17.1 |
| | — |
| | 170.8 |
|
Long-term redemptions | | (41.7 | ) | | (18.7 | ) | | (26.5 | ) | | (8.9 | ) | | (64.2 | ) | | (12.7 | ) | | — |
| | (172.7 | ) |
Net exchanges | | (1.5 | ) | | 0.2 |
| | 0.5 |
| | 0.3 |
| | (0.9 | ) | | 1.4 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Net cash management | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (0.4 | ) | | (0.4 | ) |
Net new flows | | (2.4 | ) | | (2.4 | ) | | (6.7 | ) | | 4.9 |
| | (1.1 | ) | | 5.8 |
| | (0.4 | ) | | (2.3 | ) |
Reinvested distributions | | 2.2 |
| | 1.7 |
| | 4.9 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 5.6 |
| | 1.7 |
| | — |
| | 18.4 |
|
Net flows | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.7 | ) | | (1.8 | ) | | 7.2 |
| | 4.5 |
| | 7.5 |
| | (0.4 | ) | | 16.1 |
|
Distributions | | (2.4 | ) | | (1.8 | ) | | (5.7 | ) | | (3.0 | ) | | (7.5 | ) | | (2.1 | ) | | — |
| | (22.5 | ) |
Appreciation and other | | 31.7 |
| | 16.3 |
| | 16.3 |
| | 7.0 |
| | 20.6 |
| | 4.4 |
| | 0.1 |
| | 96.4 |
|
AUM at September 30, 2012 | | $ | 214.9 |
| | $ | 82.2 |
| | $ | 110.1 |
| | $ | 83.2 |
| | $ | 196.4 |
| | $ | 56.7 |
| | $ | 6.4 |
| | $ | 749.9 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in billions) | | Equity | | | | Fixed-Income | | | | |
for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2011 | | Global/ International | | United States | | Hybrid | | Tax-Free | | Taxable Global/ International | | Taxable United States | | Cash Management | | Total |
AUM at October 1, 2010 | | $ | 204.2 |
| | $ | 69.5 |
| | $ | 110.8 |
| | $ | 77.7 |
| | $ | 130.7 |
| | $ | 45.4 |
| | $ | 6.6 |
| | $ | 644.9 |
|
Long-term sales | | 53.3 |
| | 19.6 |
| | 21.4 |
| | 9.5 |
| | 102.8 |
| | 14.2 |
| | — |
| | 220.8 |
|
Long-term redemptions | | (61.0 | ) | | (19.1 | ) | | (29.0 | ) | | (14.3 | ) | | (48.5 | ) | | (12.9 | ) | | — |
| | (184.8 | ) |
Net exchanges | | (0.5 | ) | | 0.3 |
| | 0.5 |
| | (1.9 | ) | | 2.4 |
| | (0.5 | ) | | (0.3 | ) | | — |
|
Net cash management | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 0.4 |
| | 0.4 |
|
Net new flows | | (8.2 | ) | | 0.8 |
| | (7.1 | ) | | (6.7 | ) | | 56.7 |
| | 0.8 |
| | 0.1 |
| | 36.4 |
|
Reinvested distributions | | 2.7 |
| | 1.6 |
| | 4.2 |
| | 2.2 |
| | 4.3 |
| | 1.3 |
| | — |
| | 16.3 |
|
Net flows | | (5.5 | ) | | 2.4 |
| | (2.9 | ) | | (4.5 | ) | | 61.0 |
| | 2.1 |
| | 0.1 |
| | 52.7 |
|
Distributions | | (3.3 | ) | | (1.7 | ) | | (5.2 | ) | | (3.2 | ) | | (4.6 | ) | | (1.7 | ) | | — |
| | (19.7 | ) |
Acquisitions | | 12.5 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 12.5 |
|
Appreciation (depreciation) and other | | (22.1 | ) | | (1.8 | ) | | (1.4 | ) | | 2.0 |
| | (8.3 | ) | | 1.1 |
| | — |
| | (30.5 | ) |
AUM at September 30, 2011 | | $ | 185.8 |
| | $ | 68.4 |
| | $ | 101.3 |
| | $ | 72.0 |
| | $ | 178.8 |
| | $ | 46.9 |
| | $ | 6.7 |
| | $ | 659.9 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in billions) | | Equity | | | | Fixed-Income | | | | |
for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2010 | | Global/ International | | United States | | Hybrid | | Tax-Free | | Taxable Global/ International | | Taxable United States | | Cash Management | | Total |
AUM at October 1, 2009 | | $ | 183.1 |
| | $ | 63.9 |
| | $ | 98.2 |
| | $ | 69.6 |
| | $ | 63.3 |
| | $ | 38.4 |
| | $ | 6.9 |
| | $ | 523.4 |
|
Long-term sales | | 50.5 |
| | 13.4 |
| | 16.7 |
| | 14.3 |
| | 79.5 |
| | 14.1 |
| | — |
| | 188.5 |
|
Long-term redemptions | | (47.0 | ) | | (14.1 | ) | | (13.2 | ) | | (9.1 | ) | | (29.2 | ) | | (10.2 | ) | | — |
| | (122.8 | ) |
Net exchanges | | (0.6 | ) | | (0.3 | ) | | (0.2 | ) | | (0.1 | ) | | 5.4 |
| | 0.3 |
| | (4.5 | ) | | — |
|
Net cash management | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 4.2 |
| | 4.2 |
|
Net new flows | | 2.9 |
| | (1.0 | ) | | 3.3 |
| | 5.1 |
| | 55.7 |
| | 4.2 |
| | (0.3 | ) | | 69.9 |
|
Reinvested distributions | | 1.5 |
| | 0.7 |
| | 3.8 |
| | 2.0 |
| | 2.3 |
| | 1.2 |
| | — |
| | 11.5 |
|
Net flows | | 4.4 |
| | (0.3 | ) | | 7.1 |
| | 7.1 |
| | 58.0 |
| | 5.4 |
| | (0.3 | ) | | 81.4 |
|
Distributions | | (1.5 | ) | | (0.8 | ) | | (4.9 | ) | | (3.2 | ) | | (2.3 | ) | | (1.5 | ) | | — |
| | (14.2 | ) |
Appreciation and other | | 18.2 |
| | 6.7 |
| | 10.4 |
| | 4.2 |
| | 11.7 |
| | 3.1 |
| | — |
| | 54.3 |
|
AUM at September 30, 2010 | | $ | 204.2 |
| | $ | 69.5 |
| | $ | 110.8 |
| | $ | 77.7 |
| | $ | 130.7 |
| | $ | 45.4 |
| | $ | 6.6 |
| | $ | 644.9 |
|
AUM increased $90.0 billion or 14% during fiscal year 2012, almost entirely due to market appreciation of $96.4 billion, partially offset by $2.3 billion in net new outflows. Strong positive returns in global markets, evidenced by increases in the MSCI World, S&P 500 and Barclays Global Aggregate indexes of 22%, 30% and 5%, resulted in market appreciation across all investment objectives. Long-term sales decreased 23% to $170.8 billion, primarily due to reduced demand for global/international fixed-income and equity products as a result of ongoing investor concerns related to the European sovereign debt crisis and the strength of the global economic recovery. Long-term redemptions decreased 7% to $172.7 billion, as global/international equity and tax-free fixed-income product redemptions declined, but were partially offset by an increase in redemptions in global/international fixed-income products. Redemptions included $11.1 billion from an institutional advisory account in the hybrid objective.
AUM increased $15.0 billion or 2% during fiscal year 2011, driven by $36.4 billion of net new flows and $12.5 billion from acquisitions, largely offset by $30.5 billion in market depreciation. Net new flows decreased 48% from the prior year, despite a 17% increase in long-term sales led by growth in global/international fixed-income products, as long-term redemptions increased 50%, with increases in all investment objectives as a result of persistent market volatility amid investor concerns about economic growth, the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and default risk associated with municipal bonds. The negative sentiment in the global financial markets, evidenced by a decrease in the MSCI World Index of 4%, also resulted in significant market depreciation in global/international equity and fixed-income products. Redemptions included $12.0 billion from an institutional advisory account in the hybrid objective and losses of a few global equity institutional accounts.
The average mix of AUM by sales region is shown below.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(dollar amounts in billions) | | | | % of Total | | | | % of Total | | | | % of Total |
for the fiscal years ended September 30, | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | |
United States | | $ | 461.3 |
| | 65 | % | | $ | 459.4 |
| | 66 | % | | $ | 404.3 |
| | 71 | % |
International | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Europe, the Middle East and Africa | | 112.1 |
| | 16 | % | | 109.3 |
| | 16 | % | | 68.2 |
| | 12 | % |
Asia-Pacific | | 74.3 |
| | 10 | % | | 66.5 |
| | 9 | % | | 50.0 |
| | 9 | % |
Canada | | 32.1 |
| | 5 | % | | 33.8 |
| | 5 | % | | 31.3 |
| | 5 | % |
Latin America1 | | 25.9 |
| | 4 | % | | 25.4 |
| | 4 | % | | 17.3 |
| | 3 | % |
Total international | | $ | 244.4 |
| | 35 | % | | $ | 235.0 |
| | 34 | % | | $ | 166.8 |
| | 29 | % |
Total | | $ | 705.7 |
| | 100 | % | | $ | 694.4 |
| | 100 | % | | $ | 571.1 |
| | 100 | % |
________________
1 Latin America sales region includes North America-based advisors serving non-resident clients.
Due to the global nature of our business operations, investment management and related services may be performed in locations unrelated to the sales region.
Investment Performance Overview
A key driver of our overall success is the long-term investment performance of our SIPs. A standard measure of the performance of these investment products is the percentage of AUM exceeding benchmarks and peer group medians. The long-term investment performance of our fixed-income products has been strong with AUM frequently outperforming the benchmarks and peer group medians for the three-, five- and ten-year periods ended September 30, 2012. Our global/international fixed-income funds generated exceptional results with at least 87% of AUM exceeding the benchmarks and peer group medians for all periods presented, as did our hybrid products with at least 94% of AUM exceeding the peer group median for all periods. In addition, at least 95% of AUM of our tax-free fixed-income products exceeded the peer group medians for the five- and ten-year periods. The long-term performance of our equity products has also been solid with AUM regularly exceeding the peer group medians for the three-, five- and ten-year periods.
The performance of our products against benchmarks and peer group medians is presented in the table below.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Benchmark Comparison | | Peer Group Comparison |
| | % of AUM Exceeding Benchmark | | % of AUM in Top Two Peer Group Quartiles |
As of September 30, 2012 | | 1-Year | | 3-Year | | 5-Year | | 10-Year | | 1-Year | | 3-Year | | 5-Year | | 10-Year |
Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Global/international | | 43 | % | | 36 | % | | 54 | % | | 50 | % | | 62 | % | | 60 | % | | 67 | % | | 66 | % |
United States | | 2 | % | | 13 | % | | 36 | % | | 38 | % | | 17 | % | | 44 | % | | 75 | % | | 46 | % |
Total equity | | 30 | % | | 28 | % | | 48 | % | | 46 | % | | 48 | % | | 54 | % | | 70 | % | | 58 | % |
Hybrid | | 87 | % | | 85 | % | | 13 | % | | 96 | % | | 96 | % | | 95 | % | | 94 | % | | 98 | % |
Fixed-Income | | |