FORM 10-Q
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For Quarterly Period Ended December 31, 2004
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _________ to________
Commission File No. 1-9318
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-2670991
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
One Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(650) 312-2000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
if changed since last report)
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.
YES X NO ____
-----
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES X NO ____
-----
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Outstanding: 250,379,789 shares, common stock, par value $.10 per share, at
January 31, 2005.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
UNAUDITED THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2004 2003
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING REVENUES
Investment management fees $566,483 $454,508
Underwriting and distribution fees 340,378 276,249
Shareholder servicing fees 63,167 61,338
Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net 615 26
Other, net 15,379 17,545
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues 986,022 809,666
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Underwriting and distribution 311,422 248,728
Compensation and benefits 211,507 189,204
Information systems, technology and occupancy 66,805 69,648
Advertising and promotion 26,108 21,232
Amortization of deferred sales commissions 31,378 22,448
Amortization of intangible assets 4,411 4,402
Other 34,307 31,144
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses 685,938 586,806
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income 300,084 222,860
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
Consolidated sponsored investment products gains, net 16,163 4,000
Investment and other income, net 27,389 16,191
Interest expense (7,987) (7,111)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income, net 35,565 13,080
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before taxes on income and cumulative effect of an accounting change 335,649 235,940
Taxes on income 95,660 68,423
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change, net of tax 239,989 167,517
Cumulative effect of an accounting change, net of tax -- 4,779
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $239,989 $172,296
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change $0.96 $0.68
Cumulative effect of an accounting change -- 0.02
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $0.96 $0.70
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change $0.92 $0.65
Cumulative effect of an accounting change -- 0.02
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $0.92 $0.67
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE $0.100 $0.085
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
2
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FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
UNAUDITED
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands) 2004 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $2,912,529 $2,814,184
Receivables 432,995 406,247
Investment securities, trading 236,457 257,329
Investment securities, available-for-sale 519,767 432,665
Deferred taxes and other 143,906 133,787
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 4,245,654 4,044,212
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANKING/FINANCE ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 192,681 103,004
Loans held for sale, net 40,702 82,481
Loans receivable, net 314,258 334,676
Investment securities, available-for-sale 234,475 265,870
Other 45,871 39,813
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total banking/finance assets 827,987 825,844
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Investments, other 428,869 388,819
Deferred sales commissions 314,641 299,069
Property and equipment, net 463,894 470,578
Goodwill 1,388,830 1,381,757
Other intangible assets, net 669,120 671,500
Receivable from banking/finance group 6,253 37,784
Other 106,000 108,572
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total non-current assets 3,377,607 3,358,079
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS $8,451,248 $8,228,135
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
3
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FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
UNAUDITED
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands, except share data) 2004 2004
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Compensation and benefits $179,024 $284,483
Commercial paper 170,000 170,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 195,818 249,789
Commissions 148,838 128,341
Income taxes 111,996 76,862
Other 19,591 11,640
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 825,267 921,115
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BANKING/FINANCE LIABILITIES
Deposits 637,750 555,746
Payable to parent 6,253 37,784
Other 58,250 65,187
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total banking/finance liabilities 702,253 658,717
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-term debt 1,215,774 1,196,409
Deferred taxes 240,904 236,126
Other 35,148 32,895
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total non-current liabilities 1,491,826 1,465,430
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 3,019,346 3,045,262
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINORITY INTEREST 92,570 76,089
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 13)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued -- --
Common stock, $0.10 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized;
250,242,679 and 249,680,498 shares issued and outstanding, for
December 31, 2004 and September 30, 2004 25,024 24,968
Capital in excess of par value 256,783 255,137
Retained earnings 4,966,489 4,751,504
Deferred compensation (29,717) --
Accumulated other comprehensive income 120,753 75,175
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders' equity 5,339,332 5,106,784
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $8,451,248 $8,228,135
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
4
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FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
UNAUDITED
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $239,989 $172,296
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Increase in receivables, prepaid expenses and other (18,439) (7,978)
Advances of deferred sales commissions (46,949) (52,886)
Decrease in other current liabilities (26,801) (2,863)
Provision for governmental investigations, proceedings and actions (3,257) --
Increase in deferred income taxes and taxes payable 29,667 35,036
Increase in commissions payable 20,498 13,551
Decrease in accrued compensation and benefits (57,732) (29,302)
Originations of loans held for sale, net (135,470) (69,926)
Net proceeds from securitization of loans held for sale 177,249 --
Net change in trading securities 23,169 (3,201)
Equity in net income of affiliated companies (8,330) (1,884)
Depreciation and amortization 48,704 45,014
Net gains on disposal of assets (2,407) (3,123)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 239,891 94,734
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of investments (267,934) (1,211,047)
Liquidation of investments 168,598 1,218,959
Purchase of banking/finance investments (282) (614)
Liquidation of banking/finance investments 30,174 19,657
Net proceeds from securitization of loans receivable -- 179,965
Net origination of loans receivable 21,165 (25,006)
Net additions of property and equipment (4,795) (7,747)
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired -- (40,766)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (53,074) 133,401
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in bank deposits 82,004 (210)
Exercise of common stock options 41,130 78,035
Dividends paid on common stock (21,200) (18,485)
Purchase of common stock (117,728) (12,524)
Increase in debt 26,179 30,637
Payments on debt (9,180) (6,507)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,205 70,946
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 188,022 299,081
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,917,188 1,053,695
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $3,105,210 $1,352,776
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[Table continued on next page]
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[Table continued on next page]
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
UNAUDITED
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INFORMATION
Value of common stock issued, principally restricted stock $77,444 $42,562
Total assets related to the consolidation of certain sponsored
investment products and a lessor trust, net of deconsolidated assets (6,953) 212,008
Total liabilities related to the consolidation of certain sponsored
investment products and a lessor trust, net of deconsolidated liabilities (1,738) 215,197
Fair value of subsidiary assets acquired -- 40,899
Fair value of subsidiary liabilities assumed -- 5,778
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
6
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FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
---------------------
We have prepared these unaudited interim financial statements of Franklin
Resources, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries in accordance with the
instructions to Form 10-Q and the rules and regulations of the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Under these rules and
regulations, we have shortened or omitted some information and footnote
disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under
generally accepted accounting principles. We believe that we have made all
adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and
the results of operations for the periods shown. All adjustments are normal
and recurring. You should read these financial statements together with our
audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended September 30, 2004. Certain amounts for the comparative
prior year periods have been reclassified to conform to the financial
presentation for and at the period ended December 31, 2004.
2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
------------------------
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004),
"Share-Based Payment" ("SFAS 123R"). SFAS 123R addresses the accounting for
share-based payment transactions in which an enterprise receives employee
services in exchange for equity instruments of the enterprise. It also
addresses transactions in which an entity incurs liabilities in exchange
for goods and services that are based on the fair value of the enterprise's
equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity
instruments. SFAS 123R requires an entity to recognize the grant-date
fair-value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to
employees in the income statement. The revised statement generally requires
that an entity account for those transactions using the fair-value-based
method, and eliminates the intrinsic value method of accounting in APB
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees". SFAS 123R also
requires entities to disclose information about the nature of the
share-based payment transactions, the method used to estimate fair value of
goods and services received or the value of the equity instruments granted,
and the effects of those transactions on the financial statements. For
public entities that do not file as small business issuers, the revised
pronouncement is effective as of the beginning of the first interim or
annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005 and applies to all
awards granted after the required effective date and to awards modified,
repurchased, or cancelled after that date. For entities that currently
apply the fair-value-based method for either recognition or disclosure
under the original pronouncement, Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", the revised
statement also applies to the portion of outstanding awards for which the
requisite service has not yet been rendered based on the grant-date value
of these awards. Retrospective application is permitted. We have not
completed our evaluation of the impact of adoption of SFAS 123R on our
financial position and results of operation.
In October 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 04-8, "The Effect
of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share" ("EITF
04-8"), was ratified. EITF 04-8 was effective for reporting periods ending
after December 15, 2004 and required the restatement of diluted earnings
per share for comparative prior year periods. EITF 04-8 required us to
include the potential conversion into common stock of our zero coupon
convertible senior notes (see Note 11) in the calculation of diluted
earnings per share, even if the conditions that must be satisfied to allow
conversion have not been met. Its adoption resulted in a decrease in
diluted earnings per share of $0.02 for the quarters ended December 31,
2004 and 2003 (See Note 5).
In December 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 109-2, "Accounting and
Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within
the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004" ("FSP FAS 109-2"). The American
Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the "Act") was signed into law on October 22,
2004. Under a provision of the Act, we may elect to repatriate certain
earnings of our foreign-based subsidiaries at a reduced federal tax rate in
either of our fiscal years endings September 30, 2005 or September 30,
2006. FSP FAS 109-2 provides guidance on when an enterprise should
recognize in its financial statements the effects of the one-time tax
benefit of repatriation of foreign earnings under the Act, and specifies
interim
7
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disclosure requirements. We are currently evaluating the effect of this
repatriation provision; however, we do not expect to complete this
evaluation until after the U.S. Congress or the U.S. Department of the
Treasury issue additional guidance regarding this provision. The range of
possible amounts we are considering for repatriation is between zero and
$1.9 billion, and the potential range of income tax associated with amounts
subject to the reduced rate is between zero and $117.0 million.
3. ACQUISITIONS
------------
On October 1, 2003, we acquired the remaining 87.3% interest in Darby
Overseas Investments, Ltd. and Darby Overseas Partners, L.P. (collectively
"Darby") that we did not own, for an additional cash investment of
approximately $75.9 million. The acquisition cost was allocated to tangible
net assets acquired ($31.3 million), definite-lived management contracts
($3.4 million) and goodwill ($41.2 million). These definite-lived
intangible assets are being amortized over the remaining contractual life
of the sponsored investment products, ranging from one to eight years, as
of the date of purchase. At September 30, 2003, Darby had approximately
$0.9 billion in assets under management relating to private equity,
mezzanine and emerging markets fixed-income products.
4. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
--------------------
The following table computes comprehensive income.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $239,989 $172,296
Net unrealized gains on investments, net of tax 18,680 17,777
Currency translation adjustments 26,898 12,789
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $285,567 $202,862
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. EARNINGS PER SHARE
------------------
We computed earnings per share as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $239,989 $172,296
Adjusted net income in accordance with EITF 04-8 242,183 174,443
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic 250,418 247,758
Incremental shares from assumed conversions:
Common stock options 4,002 2,476
Zero coupon convertible senior notes 8,209 8,209
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted 262,629 258,443
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change $0.96 $0.68
Cumulative effect of an accounting change -- 0.02
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $0.96 $0.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income before cumulative effect of an accounting change $0.92 $0.65
Cumulative effect of an accounting change -- 0.02
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $0.92 $0.67
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8
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6. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION AND INVESTMENT PLANS
------------------------------------------
Under our stock option plan, we may award options to some employees. In
addition, we have a qualified, non-compensatory employee stock investment
plan ("ESIP") allowing eligible participants to buy our common stock at 90%
of its market value on defined dates and to receive a 50% match of the
shares purchased, provided the employee, among other conditions, holds the
purchased shares for a defined period. We account for these plans using the
intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and related interpretations.
Accordingly, no compensation costs are recognized with respect to stock
options granted that have an exercise price equal to the market value of
the underlying stock at the date of grant, or with respect to shares
purchased at a discount under the ESIP. Matching grants provided to ESIP
participants, however, are recognized as expenses during the required
holding period.
If we had determined compensation costs for our stock option plans and the
discount available on our ESIP based upon fair values at the grant dates in
accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", our net
income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma
amounts indicated below. For pro forma purposes, the estimated fair value
of options was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and
is amortized over the options' vesting periods.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income, as reported $239,989 $172,296
Less: stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair
value method, net of tax (8,391) (10,806)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRO FORMA NET INCOME $231,598 $161,490
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
As reported $0.96 $0.70
Pro forma 0.92 0.65
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted net income in accordance with EITF 04-8, as reported $242,183 $174,443
Less: stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair
value method, net of tax (8,391) (10,806)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRO FORMA NET INCOME $233,792 $163,637
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
As reported $0.92 $0.67
Pro forma 0.89 0.63
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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7. CONSOLIDATED SPONSORED INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
------------------------------------------
The following tables present the effect on our consolidated results of
operations and financial position of consolidating majority-owned sponsored
investment products.
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
-------------------------------------------
SPONSORED
BEFORE INVESTMENT
(in thousands) CONSOLIDATION PRODUCTS CONSOLIDATED
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING REVENUES
Investment management fees $567,281 $(798) $566,483
Underwriting and distribution fees 340,449 (71) 340,378
Shareholder servicing fees 63,175 (8) 63,167
Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net 0 615 615
Other, net 15,379 -- 15,379
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues 986,284 (262) 986,022
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING EXPENSES 685,938 0 685,938
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income 300,346 (262) 300,084
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
Consolidated sponsored investment product gains, net -- 16,163 16,163
Investment and other income, net 32,263 (4,874) 27,389
Interest expense (7,984) (3) (7,987)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income, net 24,279 11,286 35,565
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before taxes on income 324,625 11,024 335,649
Taxes on income 92,518 3,142 95,660
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $232,107 $7,882 $239,989
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004
-------------------------------------------
SPONSORED
BEFORE INVESTMENT
(in thousands) CONSOLIDATION PRODUCTS CONSOLIDATED
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets $4,125,890 $119,764 $4,245,654
Banking/finance assets 827,987 -- 827,987
Non-current assets 3,407,649 (30,042) 3,377,607
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS $8,361,526 $89,722 $8,451,248
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities $817,020 $8,247 $825,267
Banking/finance liabilities 702,253 -- 702,253
Non-current liabilities 1,486,828 4,998 1,491,826
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 3,006,101 13,245 3,019,346
Minority interest 17,909 74,661 92,570
Total stockholders' equity 5,337,516 1,816 5,339,332
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $8,361,526 $89,722 $8,451,248
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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8. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
-------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following:
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands) 2004 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- ---------------
Cash and due from banks $362,648 $341,891
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell 135,053 64,029
Money market funds, time deposits and other 2,607,509 2,511,268
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- ---------------
TOTAL $3,105,210 $2,917,188
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- ---------------
Federal Reserve Board regulations require reserve balances on deposits to
be maintained with the Federal Reserve Banks by banking subsidiaries.
Required reserve balances totaled $1.9 million at December 31, 2004 and at
September 30, 2004.
9. SECURITIZATION OF LOANS RECEIVABLE
----------------------------------
From time to time, we enter into auto loan securitization transactions with
qualified special purpose entities and record these transactions as sales.
The following table shows details of auto loan securitization transactions.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross sale proceeds $178,773 $185,071
Less: net carrying amount of loans sold 178,105 180,838
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRE-TAX GAIN $668 $4,233
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we sell auto loans in a securitization transaction, we record an
interest-only strip receivable. The interest-only strip receivable
represents our contractual right to receive interest from the pool of
securitized loans after the payment of required amounts to holders of the
securities and certain other costs associated with the securitization.
Gross sales proceeds include the fair value of the interest-only strips.
We generally estimate fair value based on the present value of future
expected cash flows. The key assumptions used in the present value
calculations of our securitization transactions at the date of
securitization were as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2004 2003
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excess cash flow discount rate (annual rate) 12.0% 12.0%
Cumulative life loss rate 3.7% 3.4%
Pre-payment speed assumption (average monthly rate) 1.5% 1.8%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We determined these assumptions using data from comparable transactions,
historical information and management's estimate. Interest-only strip
receivables are generally restricted assets and subject to limited recourse
provisions.
11
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We generally estimate the fair value of the interest-only strips at each
period-end based on the present value of future expected cash flows,
consistent with the methodology used at the date of securitization. The
following shows the carrying value and the sensitivity of the interest-only
strip receivable to hypothetical adverse changes in the key economic
assumptions used to measure fair value:
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands) 2004 2004
---------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- ---------------
CARRYING AMOUNT/FAIR VALUE OF INTEREST-ONLY STRIPS $31,555 $31,808
EXCESS CASH FLOW DISCOUNT RATE (ANNUAL RATE) 12.0% 12.0%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change $(457) $(240)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change (900) (476)
CUMULATIVE LIFE LOSS RATE 3.7% 3.9%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change $(2,417) $(2,677)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change (4,837) (5,354)
PRE-PAYMENT SPEED ASSUMPTION (AVERAGE MONTHLY RATE) 1.8% 1.8%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change $(3,282) $(3,479)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change (6,540) (6,894)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actual future market conditions may differ materially. Accordingly, this
sensitivity analysis should not be considered our projection of future
events or losses.
We receive annual servicing fees ranging from 1% to 2% of the loans
securitized for services we provide to the securitization trusts. The
following is a summary of cash flows received from and paid to
securitization trusts.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Servicing fees received $3,291 $3,089
Other cash flows received 5,900 5,465
Purchase of loans from trusts (12,113) (378)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts payable to the trustee related to loan principal and interest
collected on behalf of the trusts of $39.7 million at December 31, 2004,
and $40.6 million at September 30, 2004, are included in other
banking/finance liabilities.
The securitized loan portfolio that we manage and the related delinquencies
were as follows:
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands) 2004 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securitized loans held by securitization trusts $844,824 $768,936
Delinquencies 15,628 13,301
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net charge-offs on the securitized loan portfolio were $3.5 million and
$5.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.
12
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10. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
------------------------------------
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, including those acquired
before initial application of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 141, "Business Combinations" and No. 142, "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets", are not amortized but are tested for impairment at
least annually.
All of our goodwill and intangible assets, including those arising from the
purchase of Fiduciary Trust Company International ("Fiduciary Trust") in
April 2001, relate to our investment management operating segment.
Non-amortized intangible assets represent the value of management contracts
related to certain of our sponsored investment products that are
indefinite-lived.
We completed our latest annual impairment testing of goodwill and
indefinite-lived and definite-lived intangible assets during the quarter
ended March 31, 2004, and we determined that there was no impairment in the
value of these assets as of October 1, 2003.
Intangible assets, other than goodwill were as follows:
GROSS NET
CARRYING ACCUMULATED CARRYING
(in thousands) AMOUNT AMORTIZATION AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2004
Amortized intangible assets:
Customer base $233,526 $(58,719) $174,807
Other 34,933 (22,248) 12,685
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
268,459 (80,967) 187,492
Non-amortized intangible assets
Management contracts 481,628 -- 481,628
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $750,087 $(80,967) $669,120
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
Amortized intangible assets
Customer base $233,205 $(54,716) $178,489
Other 34,933 (21,730) 13,203
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
268,138 (76,446) 191,692
Non-amortized intangible assets
Management contracts 479,808 -- 479,808
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $747,946 $(76,446) $671,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated amortization expense for each of the next 5 fiscal years is as
follows:
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDING
(in thousands) SEPTEMBER 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------
2005 $17,039
2006 17,039
2007 17,039
2008 17,039
2009 17,039
------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------
13
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The change in the carrying value of goodwill was as follows:
(in thousands)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill as of September 30, 2004 $1,381,757
Foreign currency movements 7,073
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOODWILL AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004 $1,388,830
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. DEBT
----
Outstanding debt consisted of the following:
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands) 2004 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT
Federal funds purchased $250 $--
Federal Home Loan Bank advances -- 6,000
Commercial paper 170,000 170,000
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------
170,250 176,000
NON-CURRENT
Convertible Notes (including accrued interest) 532,599 530,120
Medium Term Notes 420,000 420,000
Other 263,175 246,289
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------
1,215,774 1,196,409
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------
TOTAL DEBT $1,386,024 $1,372,409
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------
Federal funds purchased are included in deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank
advances are included in other liabilities of the banking/finance operating
segment.
On December 31, 2003, we recognized a $164.9 million five-year note
facility that was used to finance the construction of our corporate
headquarters campus under the guidance of FIN 46-R. In September 2004, we
purchased the headquarters campus from the lessor trust that held these
assets, and we issued $170.0 million of commercial paper to finance the
transaction.
In May 2001, we received approximately $490.0 million in net proceeds from
the sale of $877.0 million principal amount at maturity of zero-coupon
convertible senior notes due 2031 (the "Convertible Notes"). The
Convertible Notes, which were offered to qualified institutional buyers
only, carry an interest rate of 1.875% per annum, with an initial
conversion premium of 43%. Each of the $1,000 (principal amount at
maturity) Convertible Notes is convertible into 9.3604 shares of our common
stock, when the price of our stock reaches certain thresholds. To date, we
have repurchased Convertible Notes with a face value of $5.9 million
principal amount at maturity, for their accreted value of $3.5 million, in
cash. We may redeem the remaining Convertible Notes for cash on or after
May 11, 2006 or make additional repurchases, at the option of the holders,
on May 11 of 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026. In this event, we may choose
to pay the accreted value of the Convertible Notes in cash or shares of our
common stock. The amount that the holders may redeem in the future will
depend on, among other factors, the performance of our common stock.
In April 2003, we completed the sale of five-year senior notes due April
15, 2008 totaling $420.0 million ("Medium Term Notes"). The Medium Term
Notes, which were offered to qualified institutional buyers only, carry an
interest rate of 3.7% and are not redeemable prior to maturity by either us
or the note holders. Interest payments are due semi-annually.
Other long-term debt consists primarily of deferred commission liabilities
recognized in relation to U.S. deferred commission assets financed by
Lightning Finance Company Limited ("LFL") that were not sold by LFL in a
securitization transaction as of December 31, 2004 and September 30, 2004.
14
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12. PENSIONS AND OTHER POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS
-------------------------------------------
Fiduciary Trust has a noncontributory retirement plan (the "Retirement
Plan") covering substantially all its employees hired before we acquired
it. Fiduciary Trust also maintains a nonqualified supplementary executive
retirement plan ("SERP") to pay defined benefits in excess of limits
imposed by Federal tax law to participants in the retirement plan who
attain age 55 and ten years of service as of the plan termination date. In
April 2003, the Board of Directors of Fiduciary Trust approved a resolution
to terminate both the Retirement Plan and the SERP as of June 30, 2003. In
December 2003, Fiduciary Trust filed for approval of the Retirement Plan
termination with the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2004, the
Internal Revenue Service has not approved the Retirement Plan termination,
and therefore, a curtailment gain (loss) has not yet been recorded in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 88,
"Employers' Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit
Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits".
In addition to these pension plans, Fiduciary Trust sponsors a defined
benefit healthcare plan that provides post-retirement medical benefits to
full-time employees who have worked ten years and attained age 55 while in
the service of Fiduciary Trust, or have met alternate eligibility criteria.
The defined benefit healthcare plan was closed to new entrants in April
2003.
The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit cost
for the Retirement Plan and SERP, under pension benefits, and for the
defined healthcare plan, under other benefits.
PENSION BENEFITS OTHER BENEFITS
-----------------------------------------------------
THREE MONTHS ENDED THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service cost $-- $242 $12 $7
Interest cost 392 323 101 80
Expected return on plan assets (226) (193) -- --
Amortization of prior service costs -- (32) 64 --
Amortization of net loss 1,420 950 13 --
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST $1,586 $1,290 $190 $87
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the three months ended December 31, 2004, we have not made any
contribution to the Retirement Plan. Based on our most recent valuation, we
anticipate that we will contribute an additional $14.4 million to the
Retirement Plan and an additional $4.2 million to the SERP, when final
approval of the Retirement Plan termination is received from the Internal
Revenue Service. The benefit liability for this anticipated funding has
been accrued in our financial statements as of September 30, 2004.
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
-----------------------------
GUARANTEES
Under Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 45,
"Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees,
Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others", we are required
to recognize in our financial statements a liability for the fair value of
any guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002 as well as make
additional disclosures about existing guarantees.
In relation to the auto loan securitization transactions that we have
entered into with a number of qualified special purpose entities, we are
obligated to cover shortfalls in amounts due to the holders of the notes up
to certain levels as specified under the related agreements. As of December
31, 2004, the maximum potential amount of future payments related to these
obligations was $29.5 million. In addition, our Consolidated Balance Sheet
at December 31, 2004 included a $0.5 million liability to reflect the fair
value of certain additional obligations arising from auto securitization
transactions.
At December 31, 2004, our banking/finance operating segment had issued
financial standby letters of credit totaling $2.6 million on which
beneficiaries would be able to draw upon in the event of non-performance by
our customers, primarily in relation to lease and lien obligations of these
banking customers. These standby
15
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letters of credit, issued prior to January 1, 2003, were secured by
marketable securities with a fair value of $2.2 million as of December 31,
2004 and commercial real estate.
GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS, PROCEEDINGS AND ACTIONS
INVESTIGATIONS. As part of various investigations by a number of federal,
state, and foreign regulators and governmental entities, including the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the California Attorney
General's Office ("CAGO"), and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to certain practices in the mutual fund
industry, including late trading, market timing and marketing support
payments to securities dealers who sell fund shares, Franklin Resources,
Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (as used in this section, together,
the "Company"), as well as certain current or former executives and
employees of the Company, received subpoenas and/or requests for documents,
information and/or testimony. The Company and its current employees
provided documents and information in response to those requests and
subpoenas.
Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. ("FTIC"), a Company subsidiary and the
investment manager of Franklin Templeton's Canadian mutual funds, has been
cooperating with and responding to requests for information from the
Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") relating to the OSC's review of
frequent trading practices within the Canadian mutual fund industry. On
December 10, 2004, FTIC received a letter indicating that the staff of the
OSC is contemplating enforcement proceedings against FTIC before the OSC.
In its letter, the OSC staff expressed the view that, over the period of
February 1999 to February 2003, there were certain accounts that engaged in
a frequent trading market timing strategy in certain funds being managed by
FTIC. The letter also gave FTIC the opportunity to respond to the issues
raised in the letter and to provide the OSC staff with additional
information relevant to those matters. The Company has entered into
discussions with the OSC staff in an effort to resolve the issues raised in
the OSC's review. The Company cannot predict the likelihood of whether
those discussions will result in a settlement or the terms or amount of any
such settlement. Should a settlement be reached, the amount could be
material to the Company's financial results.
On December 9, 2004, the enforcement staff of the NASD informed the Company
that it had made a preliminary determination to recommend a disciplinary
proceeding against Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc. ("FTDI"), alleging
that FTDI violated certain NASD rules by the use of directed brokerage
commissions to pay for sales and marketing support. The enforcement staff
has since advised the Company that it has determined not to recommend a
disciplinary proceeding against FTDI and has concluded its investigation of
this matter. Separately, FTDI has also received a letter from the NASD
staff advising of its preliminary determination to recommend a disciplinary
proceeding against FTDI alleging violation of certain NASD rules relating
to FTDI's Top Producers program. The Company believes that any such charges
are unwarranted and has responded with a submission as to why such action
is not warranted. As of the date of this filing, the NASD staff has not
taken any further action.
SETTLEMENTS. Beginning in August 2004, the Company entered into settlements
with certain regulators investigating the mutual fund industry practices
noted above. The Company believes that settlement of each of the matters
described in this section is in the best interest of the Company and
shareholders of the Franklin Templeton mutual funds (the "Funds").
On August 2, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that its subsidiary,
Franklin Advisers, Inc. ("Franklin Advisers") reached an agreement with the
SEC that resolved the issues resulting from the previously disclosed SEC
investigation into market timing activity. In connection with that
agreement, the SEC issued an "Order Instituting Administrative and
Cease-and-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and Sections 9(b) and 9(f) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, Making Findings and Imposing Remedial
Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order" (the "Order"). The SEC's Order
concerned the activities of a limited number of third parties that ended in
2000 and those that were the subject of the first Massachusetts
administrative complaint described below.
Under the terms of the SEC's Order, pursuant to which Franklin Advisers
neither admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, Franklin
Advisers agreed to pay $50 million to be distributed to shareholders of
certain of the Funds, of which $20 million was a civil penalty. The
settlement and related legal and distribution costs of $60 million ($45.6
million, net of taxes) were recorded as a charge to income in the fiscal
quarter ended March 31, 2004.
16
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The Order required Franklin Advisers to, among other things:
* Enhance and periodically review compliance policies and procedures,
and establish a corporate ombudsman;
* Establish a new internal position whose responsibilities shall include
compliance matters related to conflicts of interests; and
* Retain an Independent Distribution Consultant to develop a plan to
distribute the $50 million settlement to Fund shareholders.
The Order further provided that in any related investor actions, Franklin
Advisers would not benefit from any offset or reduction of any investor's
claim by the amount of any distribution from the above-described $50
million to such investor that is proportionately attributable to the civil
penalty paid by Franklin Advisers.
On September 20, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that two of its
subsidiaries, Franklin Advisers and Franklin Templeton Alternative
Strategies, Inc. ("FTAS"), reached an agreement with the Securities
Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (the "State of Massachusetts") related to its administrative
complaint filed on February 4, 2004, concerning one instance of market
timing that was also a subject of the August 2, 2004 settlement that
Franklin Advisers reached with the SEC, as described above. Under the terms
of the settlement consent order issued by the State of Massachusetts,
Franklin Advisers and FTAS consented to the entry of a cease-and-desist
order and agreed to pay a $5 million administrative fine to the State of
Massachusetts (the "Massachusetts Consent Order"). The Company recorded
this expense in the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The Massachusetts
Consent Order included two different sections: "Statements of Fact" and
"Violations of Massachusetts Securities Laws." Franklin Advisers and FTAS
admitted the facts in the Statements of Fact.
On October 25, 2004, the State of Massachusetts filed a second
administrative complaint, alleging that Franklin Resources, Inc.'s Form 8-K
filing (in which it described the Massachusetts Consent Order and stated
that "Franklin did not admit or deny engaging in any wrongdoing") failed to
state that Franklin Advisers and FTAS admitted the Statements of Fact
portion of the Massachusetts Consent Order (the "Second Complaint").
Franklin Resources, Inc. reached a second agreement with the State of
Massachusetts on November 19, 2004, resolving the Second Complaint. As a
result of the November 19, 2004 settlement, Franklin Resources, Inc. filed
a new Form 8-K. The terms of the Massachusetts Consent Order did not change
and there was no monetary fine associated with this second settlement.
On November 17, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that FTDI reached
an agreement with the CAGO, resolving the issues resulting from the CAGO's
investigation concerning sales and marketing support payments. Under the
terms of the settlement, FTDI neither admitted nor denied the allegations
in the CAGO's complaint and agreed to pay $2 million to the State of
California as a civil penalty, $14 million to the Funds, to be allocated by
an independent distribution consultant to be paid for by FTDI, and $2
million to the CAGO for its investigative costs. The Company's results for
the quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 included a charge to
income of $18.5 million ($12.2 million, net of tax) related to this
settlement.
On December 13, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that its
subsidiaries FTDI and Franklin Advisers reached an agreement with the SEC,
resolving the issues resulting from the SEC's investigation concerning
marketing support payments to securities dealers who sell Fund shares. In
connection with that agreement, the SEC issued an "Order Instituting
Administrative and Cease-and-Desist Proceedings, Making Findings, and
Imposing Remedial Sanctions Pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Sections 9(b) and 9(f) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, and Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934" (the "Second Order").
Under the terms of the Second Order, in which FTDI and Franklin Advisers
neither admitted nor denied the findings contained therein, they agreed to
pay the Funds a penalty of $20 million and disgorgement of $1 (one dollar).
FTDI and Franklin Advisers also agreed to implement certain measures and
undertakings relating to marketing support payments to broker-dealers for
the promotion or sale of Fund shares, including making additional
disclosures in the Funds' Prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information. The Second Order further requires the appointment of an
independent distribution consultant, at the Company's expense, who shall
develop a plan for the distribution of the penalty and disgorgement to
17
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the Funds. The Company recorded a charge of $21.5 million ($17.3 million,
net of taxes) in its fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004 related to this
matter.
INTERNAL INQUIRIES. The Company also conducted its own internal
fact-finding inquiry with the assistance of outside counsel to determine
whether any Fund shareholders, including Company employees, were permitted
to engage in late trading or in market timing transactions contrary to the
policies of the affected Fund and, if so, the circumstances and persons
involved. The Company's internal inquiry regarding market timing and late
trading is complete. We did not find any late trading, though we identified
various instances of frequent trading. One officer of a subsidiary of
Franklin Resources, Inc. was placed on administrative leave and
subsequently resigned from his position with the Company in December 2003.
The Company found no instances of inappropriate mutual fund trading by any
portfolio manager, investment analyst or officer of Franklin Resources,
Inc. As previously disclosed, the Company identified some instances of
frequent trading in shares of certain Funds by a few current or former
employees in their personal 401(k) plan accounts. These individuals
included one trader and one officer of the Funds. Pending our further
inquiry, these two individuals were placed on administrative leave and the
officer resigned from his positions with the Funds. The independent
directors of the Funds and the Company also retained independent outside
counsel to review these matters and to report their findings and
recommendations. Based on independent counsel's findings and
recommendations, the Company reinstated the trader. The independent counsel
concluded that some instances of the former Fund officer's trading violated
Company policy, and the Company was prepared to institute appropriate
disciplinary action. Subsequently, the former Fund officer resigned from
his employment with the Company. The Company does not believe there were
any losses to the Funds as a result of this trading.
OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In addition, the Company and certain Funds, current and former officers,
employees, and directors have been named in multiple lawsuits in different
federal courts in Nevada, California, Illinois, New York, and Florida,
alleging violations of various federal securities laws and seeking, among
other relief, monetary damages, restitution, removal of Fund trustees,
directors, advisers, administrators, and distributors, rescission of
management contracts and 12b-1 Plans, and/or attorneys' fees and costs.
Specifically, the lawsuits claim breach of duty with respect to alleged
arrangements to permit market timing and/or late trading activity, or
breach of duty with respect to the valuation of the portfolio securities of
certain Templeton Funds managed by Franklin Resources, Inc. subsidiaries,
resulting in alleged market timing activity. The majority of these lawsuits
duplicate, in whole or in part, the allegations asserted in the February 4,
2004 Massachusetts administrative complaint and the findings in the SEC's
August 2, 2004 Order, as described above. The lawsuits are styled as class
actions, or derivative actions on behalf of either the named Funds or
Franklin Resources, Inc.
To date, more than 240 similar lawsuits against at least 19 different
mutual fund companies have been filed in federal district courts throughout
the country. Because these cases involve common questions of fact, the
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the "Judicial Panel") ordered
the creation of a multidistrict litigation in the United States District
Court for the District of Maryland, entitled "In re Mutual Funds Investment
Litigation" (the "MDL"). The Judicial Panel then transferred similar cases
from different districts to the MDL for coordinated or consolidated
pretrial proceedings.
As of February 8, 2005, the following federal lawsuits are pending against
the Company (and in some instances, against certain officers, directors
and/or Funds) and have been transferred to the MDL:
Kenerley v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 03-770 GPM, filed on
November 19, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Illinois; Cullen v. Templeton Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case
No. 03-859 MJR, filed on December 16, 2003 in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of Illinois and transferred to the United
States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on March 29,
2004; Jaffe v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No.
CV-S-04-0146-PMP-RJJ, filed on February 6, 2004 in the United States
District Court for the District of Nevada; Lum v. Franklin Resources, Inc.,
et al., Case No. C 04 0583 JSW, filed on February 11, 2004 in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of California; Fischbein v.
Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0584 JSW, filed on
February 11, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California; Beer v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case
No. 8:04-CV-249-T-26 MAP, filed on February 11, 2004 in the United States
District Court for the Middle District of Florida; Bennett v. Franklin
18
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Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. CV-S-04-0154-HDM-RJJ, filed on February
12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada;
Dukes v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0598 MJJ,
filed on February 12, 2004, in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California; McAlvey v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et
al., Case No. C 04 0628 PJH, filed on February 13, 2004 in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of California; Alexander v.
Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0639 SC, filed on
February 17, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California; Hugh Sharkey IRA/RO v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et
al., Case No. 04 CV 1330, filed on February 18, 2004 in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York; D'Alliessi v.
Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0865 SC, filed on
March 3, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of California; Marcus v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04
0901 JL, filed on March 5, 2004 in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California; Banner v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et
al., Case No. C 04 0902 JL, filed on March 5, 2004 in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California; Denenberg v.
Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0984 EMC, filed on March
10, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California; Hertz v. Burns, et al., Case No. 04 CV 02489, filed on March
30, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York.
Plaintiffs in the MDL filed consolidated amended complaints on September
29, 2004. It is anticipated that defendants will file motions to dismiss in
the coming months, with a hearing scheduled for June 2005.
As previously reported, various subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc.,
as well as certain Templeton Fund registrants, have also been named in
multiple class action lawsuits filed in state courts in Illinois, alleging
breach of duty with respect to the valuation of the portfolio securities of
certain Templeton Funds managed by such subsidiaries, and seeking, among
other relief, monetary damages and attorneys' fees and costs, as follows:
Bradfisch v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 001361, filed
on October 3, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit,
Madison County, Illinois; Woodbury v. Templeton Global Smaller Companies
Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 001362, filed on October 3, 2003 in the
Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois;
Kwiatkowski v. Templeton Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 03 L 785,
filed on December 17, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial
Circuit, St. Clair County, Illinois; Parise v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et
al., Case No. 2003 L 002049, filed on December 22, 2003 in the Circuit
Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois.
These lawsuits are state court actions and are not subject to the MDL.
In addition, FTIC has been named in two class action market timing lawsuits
in Canada, seeking, among other relief, monetary damages, an order barring
any increase in management fees for a period of two years following
judgment, and/or attorneys' fees and costs, as follows: Huneault v. AGF
Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 500-06-000256-046, filed on October 25, 2004
in the Superior Court for the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal, and
Heinrichs, et al. v. CI Mutual Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-CV-29700,
filed on December 17, 2004 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
As previously reported, the Company, as well as certain current and former
officers, employees, and directors, have been named in multiple lawsuits
alleging violations of various securities laws and pendent state law claims
relating to the disclosure of directed brokerage payments and/or payment of
allegedly excessive advisory, commission, and distribution fees, and
seeking, among other relief, monetary damages, restitution, rescission of
advisory contracts, including recovery of all fees paid pursuant to those
contracts, an accounting of all monies paid to the named advisers,
declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and/or attorneys' fees and costs.
These lawsuits are styled as class actions or derivative actions brought on
behalf of certain Funds, and are as follows:
Stephen Alexander IRA v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-982
JLL, filed on March 2, 2004 in the United States District Court for the
District of New Jersey; Strigliabotti v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al.,
Case No. C 04 0883 SI, filed on March 4, 2004 in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of California; Tricarico v. Franklin
Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. CV-04-1052 JAP, filed on March 4, 2004 in
the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; Miller v.
Franklin Mutual Advisors, LLC, et al., Case No. 04-261 DRH, filed on April
16, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Illinois and transferred to the United States District Court for the
District of New Jersey on August 5, 2004 (plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed
this action, without prejudice, on October 22,
19
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2004); Wilcox v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-2258 WHW,
filed on May 12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District
of New Jersey; Bahe, Custodian CGM Roth Conversion IRA v.
Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-11195 PBS, filed
on June 3, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts.
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
consolidated for pretrial purposes three of the above lawsuits (Stephen
Alexander IRA, Tricarico, and Wilcox) into a single action, entitled "In re
Franklin Mutual Funds Fee Litigation." Plaintiffs in those three lawsuits
filed a consolidated amended complaint (the "Complaint") on October 4,
2004. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Complaint on November 19,
2004. It is anticipated that the matter will be heard in the coming months.
Management strongly believes that the claims made in each of the lawsuits
identified above are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against
them. The Company cannot predict with certainty, however, the eventual
outcome of the remaining governmental investigations or private lawsuits,
nor whether they will have a material negative impact on the Company.
Public trust and confidence are critical to the Company's business and any
material loss of investor and/or client confidence could result in a
significant decline in assets under management by the Company, which would
have an adverse effect on future financial results. If the Company finds
that it bears responsibility for any unlawful or inappropriate conduct that
caused losses to our Funds, it is committed to making the Funds or their
shareholders whole, as appropriate. The Company is committed to taking all
appropriate actions to protect the interests of its Funds' shareholders.
In addition, pending regulatory and legislative actions and reforms
affecting the mutual fund industry may significantly increase the Company's
costs of doing business and/or negatively impact its revenues, either of
which could have a material negative impact on the Company's financial
results.
OTHER COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Under FIN 46-R, we have determined that we are a significant variable
interest holder in a number of sponsored investment products as well as in
LFL, a company established in Ireland to provide deferred commission assets
financing. As of December 31, 2004, total assets of sponsored investment
products in which we held a significant interest were approximately
$2,100.2 million and our exposure to loss as a result of our interest in
these products was $277.6 million. LFL had approximately $541.0 million in
total assets at December 31, 2004. Our exposure to loss related to our
investment in LFL was limited to the carrying value of our investment in
and loans to LFL, and interest and fees receivable from LFL aggregating
approximately $55.7 million. This amount represents our maximum exposure to
loss and does not reflect our estimate of the actual losses that could
result from adverse changes.
In July 2003, we renegotiated an agreement to outsource management of our
data center and distributed server operations, originally signed in
February 2001. We may terminate the amended agreement any time after July
1, 2006 by incurring a termination charge. The maximum termination charge
payable will depend on the termination date of the amended agreement, the
service levels before our termination of the agreement, costs incurred by
our service provider to wind-down the services and costs associated with
assuming equipment leases. As of December 31, 2004, we estimate that the
termination fee payable in July 2006, not including costs associated with
assuming equipment leases, would approximate $14.1 million and would
decrease each month for the subsequent two years, reaching a payment of
approximately $2.2 million in July 2008.
At December 31, 2004, our banking/finance operating segment had commitments
to extend credit aggregating $241.2 million, primarily under credit card
lines.
We lease office space and equipment under long-term operating leases. As of
December 31, 2004, there were no material changes in leasing arrangements
that would have a significant effect on future minimum lease payments
reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2004.
14. COMMON STOCK REPURCHASES
------------------------
During the three months ended December 31, 2004, we purchased and retired
1.8 million shares at a cost of $117.7 million. At December 31, 2004,
approximately 11.5 million shares remained available for
20
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repurchase under board authorizations. During the three months ended
December 31, 2003, we purchased and retired 0.3 million shares at a cost of
$12.5 million.
15. SEGMENT INFORMATION
-------------------
We have two operating segments: investment management and banking/finance.
We based our operating segment selection process primarily on services
offered. The investment management segment derives substantially all its
revenues and net income from providing investment advisory, administration,
distribution and related services to the Franklin, Templeton, Mutual
Series, Bissett, Fiduciary Trust and Darby Overseas sponsored investment
products. The banking/finance segment offers selected retail-banking
services to high net-worth individuals, foundations and institutions, and
consumer lending services. Our consumer lending activities include
automotive lending related to the purchase, securitization, and servicing
of retail installment sales contracts originated by independent automobile
dealerships, consumer credit and debit cards, real estate equity lines, and
home equity/mortgage lending.
Financial information for our two operating segments is presented in the
table below. Operating revenues of the banking/finance segment are reported
net of interest expense and the provision for probable loan losses.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING REVENUES
Investment management $973,609 $794,748
Banking/finance 12,413 14,918
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $986,022 $809,666
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME BEFORE TAXES AND CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE
Investment management $329,777 $228,061
Banking/finance 5,872 7,879
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $335,649 $235,940
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating segment assets were as follows:
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in thousands) 2004 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment management $7,623,261 $7,402,291
Banking/finance 827,987 825,844
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $8,451,248 $8,228,135
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21
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Operating revenues of the banking/finance segment included above were as
follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in thousands) 2004 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest on loans $6,242 $7,270
Interest and dividends on investment securities 2,130 2,964
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest income 8,372 10,234
Interest on deposits (1,439) (1,193)
Interest on short-term debt (21) (61)
Interest expense - inter-segment (380) (489)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest expense (1,840) (1,743)
Net interest income 6,532 8,491
Other income 6,150 10,469
Provision for probable loan losses (269) (4,042)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES $12,413 $14,918
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter-segment interest payments from the banking/finance segment to the
investment management segment are based on market rates prevailing at the
inception of each loan. Inter-segment interest income and expense are not
eliminated in our Consolidated Statements of Income.
16. BANKING REGULATORY RATIOS
-------------------------
Following the acquisition of Fiduciary Trust in April 2001, we became a
bank holding company and a financial holding company subject to various
regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking
agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in
certain mandatory, and possibly additional, discretionary actions by
regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material adverse effect
on our financial statements. We must meet specific capital adequacy
guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities,
and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory
accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classification are also
subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk
weightings and other factors.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy
require us to maintain a minimum Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage ratio
(as defined in the regulations), as well as minimum Tier 1 and Total
risk-based capital ratios (as defined in the regulations). Based on our
calculations, at December 31, 2004, and 2003, we exceeded the capital
adequacy requirements applicable to us as listed below.
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30, OUR CAPITAL
(in thousands) 2004 2004 ADEQUACY MINIMUM
---------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------------
Tier 1 capital $3,358,587 $3,144,919 N/A
Total risk-based capital 3,361,538 3,148,617 N/A
Tier 1 leverage ratio 51% 50% 4%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio 82% 76% 4%
Total risk-based capital ratio 82% 76% 8%
---------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------- --------------------
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In this section we discuss our results of operations and our financial
condition. In addition to historical information, we also make statements
relating to the future, called "forward-looking" statements. These
forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other
important factors that could cause the actual results and outcomes to differ
materially from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by
22
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such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are our best
prediction at the time they are made, and for this reason, you should not rely
too heavily on them and should review the "Risk Factors" section set forth below
and in our recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"), which describes these risks, uncertainties and other important factors
in more detail.
OVERVIEW
The past year was challenging for the mutual fund industry as various regulatory
bodies continued their investigations of certain industry practices. While these
investigations continue during the first quarter of fiscal 2005, current
regulatory and legislative developments could adversely impact the mutual fund
industry, our assets under management and profitability.
Despite these uncertainties, many of our key performance measures including net
income, earnings per share and operating margin continued to improve during the
first quarter of fiscal 2005. In part, we can attribute these improvements to
our continued focus to broaden our client base geographically. This expansion,
along with the overall increases in the global equity markets, has lead to
increases in our assets under management driven from both market appreciation
and positive cash flows into our sponsored investment products.
GENERAL
We derive the majority of our operating revenues, operating expenses and net
income from providing investment advisory and related services to retail mutual
funds, institutional accounts, high net-worth clients, private accounts and
other investment products. This is our primary business activity and operating
segment. The mutual funds and other products that we advise, collectively called
our sponsored investment products, are distributed to the public globally under
six distinct names:
* Franklin
* Templeton
* Mutual Series
* Bissett
* Fiduciary Trust
* Darby Overseas
Our sponsored investment products include a broad range of global/international
equity, Domestic (U.S.) equity, hybrid, fixed-income and money market mutual
funds, and other investment products that meet a wide variety of specific
investment needs of individuals and institutions.
The level of our revenues depends largely on the level and relative mix of
assets under management. To a lesser degree, our revenues also depend on the
level of mutual fund sales and the number of mutual fund shareholder accounts.
The fees charged for our services are based on contracts with our sponsored
investment products or our clients. These arrangements could change in the
future.
Our secondary business and operating segment is banking/finance. Our
banking/finance group offers selected retail-banking services to high net-worth
individuals, foundations and institutions, and consumer lending services. Our
consumer lending activities include automotive lending related to the purchase,
securitization, and servicing of retail installment sales contracts originated
by independent automobile dealerships, consumer credit and debit cards, real
estate equity lines, and home equity/mortgage lending.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, PERCENT
(in millions except per share data) 2004 2003 CHANGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $240.0 $172.3 39%
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic $0.96 $0.70 37%
Diluted 0.92 0.67 37%
OPERATING MARGIN 30% 28% --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23
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Net income increased 39% in the three months ended December 31, 2004, as
compared to the same period last year, due primarily to higher investment
management and underwriting and distribution fees reflecting a 20% increase in
simple monthly average assets under management and a 19% increase in gross sales
over the same period last year. The increase was partly offset by higher
operating expenses including underwriting and distribution and compensation and
benefits expenses.
ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT
(in billions) DECEMBER 31, 2004 DECEMBER 31, 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITY
Global/international $155.7 $118.5
Domestic (U.S.) 73.3 63.6
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total equity 229.0 182.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HYBRID 66.4 51.1
FIXED-INCOME
Tax-free 51.8 52.4
Taxable
Domestic (U.S.) 32.5 32.2
Global/international 16.3 13.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total fixed-income 100.6 97.7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONEY MARKET 6.2 5.8
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $402.2 $336.7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIMPLE MONTHLY AVERAGE FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD (1) $381.0 $318.7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Investment management fees from approximately 37% of our assets under
management at December 31, 2004 were calculated using a daily average.
Our assets under management at December 31, 2004 were $402.2 billion, 19% higher
than they were a year ago, primarily due to excess sales over redemptions of
$23.9 billion and market appreciation of $44.2 billion. Simple monthly average
assets, which are generally more indicative of investment management fee trends
than the year over year change in ending assets under management, increased 20%
for the three months ended December 31, 2004 over the same period a year ago.
The simple monthly average mix of assets under management is shown below.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2004 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity 56% 53%
Fixed-income 26% 30%
Hybrid 16% 15%
Money market 2% 2%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 100% 100%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended December 31, 2004, our effective investment
management fee rate (investment management fees divided by simple monthly
average assets under management) increased to 0.595% from 0.570% in the same
period last year. The change in the mix of assets under management, resulting
from higher relative excess sales over redemptions, appreciation of equity as
compared to fixed-income products, and an increase in performance fees led to an
increase in our effective investment management fee rate. Generally, management
fees earned on equity products are higher than fees earned on fixed-income
products.
24
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Assets under management by sales office location were as follows:
DECEMBER 31, % OF SEPTEMBER 30, % OF
(in billions) 2004 TOTAL 2004 TOTAL
- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------- --------- --------------- --------
United States $291.7 73% $265.3 73%
Canada 29.4 7% 25.8 7%
Europe 36.2 9% 29.5 8%
Asia/Pacific and other /1 44.9 11% 41.3 12%
- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------- --------- --------------- --------
TOTAL $402.2 100% $361.9 100%
- ---------------------------------------------- ------------------- --------- --------------- --------
/1 Includes multi-jurisdictional assets under management.
Components of the change in our assets under management were as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, PERCENT
(in billions) 2004 2003 CHANGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beginning assets under management $361.9 $301.9 20%
Sales 28.4 23.8 19%
Reinvested distributions 4.3 1.9 126%
Redemptions (19.6) (16.4) 20%
Distributions (5.4) (2.7) 100%
Acquisitions -- 0.9 (100%)
Appreciation 32.6 27.3 19%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ENDING ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT $402.2 $336.7 19%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the three months ended December 31, 2004, excess sales over redemptions were
$8.8 billion, as compared to $7.4 billion in the same period last year. Market
appreciation of $32.6 billion in the three months ended December 31, 2004
related primarily to our equity and hybrid products.
OPERATING REVENUES
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, PERCENT
(in millions) 2004 2003 CHANGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment management fees $566.5 $454.5 25%
Underwriting and distribution fees 340.4 276.3 23%
Shareholder servicing fees 63.1 61.3 3%
Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net 0.6 -- N/A
Other, net 15.4 17.6 (13%)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES $986.0 $809.7 22%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES
Investment management fees, accounting for 57% of our operating revenues for the
three months ended December 31, 2004, as compared to 56% for the same period
last year, include both investment advisory and administration fees. These fees
are generally calculated under contractual arrangements with our sponsored
investment products as a percentage of the market value of assets under
management. Annual rates vary by investment objective and type of services
provided.
Investment management fees increased 25% for the three months ended December 31,
2004, as compared to the same period last year, consistent with a 20% increase
in simple monthly average assets under management and
25
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an increase in our effective investment management fee rate resulting from a
shift in asset mix toward equity products, which generally carry a higher
management fee than fixed-income products.
UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION FEES
We earn underwriting fees from the sale of certain classes of sponsored
investment products on which investors pay a sales commission at the time of
purchase. Sales commissions are reduced or eliminated on some share classes and
for sales to shareholders or intermediaries that exceed specified minimum
amounts. Therefore, underwriting fees will change with overall level of gross
sales, the size of individual transactions, and the relative mix of sales
between different share classes.
Many of our sponsored investment products pay distribution fees in return for
sales, marketing and distribution efforts on their behalf. While other
contractual arrangements exist in international jurisdictions, in the United
States, distribution fees include "12b-1 fees". These fees are subject to
maximum payout levels based on a percentage of the assets in each fund and other
regulatory limitations. We pay a significant portion of underwriting and
distribution fees to the financial advisers and other intermediaries who sell
our sponsored investment products to the public on our behalf. See the
description of underwriting and distribution expenses below.
Underwriting and distribution fees increased 23% for the three months ended
December 31, 2004 compared to the same period last year. For the three months
ended December 31, 2004, commission revenues increased 15% from the same period
last year consistent with a 19% increase in gross sales, partially offset by the
discontinuation of front-end sales charges on Class C shares sold in the United
States effective January 1, 2004. Distribution fees increased 32% for the three
months ended December 31, 2004 over the same period last year consistent with a
20% increase in simple monthly average assets under management and a shift in
the asset and share class mix.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEES
Shareholder servicing fees are generally fixed charges per shareholder account
that vary with the particular type of fund and the service being rendered. In
some instances, sponsored investment products are charged these fees based on
the level of assets under management. We receive fees as compensation for
providing transfer agency services, including providing customer statements,
transaction processing, customer service and tax reporting. In the United
States, transfer agency service agreements provide that accounts closed in a
calendar year generally remain billable at a reduced rate through the second
quarter of the following calendar year. In Canada, such agreements provide that
accounts closed in the calendar year remain billable for four months after the
end of the calendar year. Accordingly, the level of fees will vary with the
growth in new accounts and the level of closed accounts that remain billable.
Shareholder servicing fees increased 3% for the three months ended December 31,
2004 from the same period last year consistent with an increase in billable
shareholder accounts.
CONSOLIDATED SPONSORED INVESTMENT PRODUCTS INCOME, NET
Consolidated sponsored investment products income, net reflects the net
operating income of majority-owned sponsored investment products, including
dividends received. The increase for the three months ended December 31, 2004,
as compared to the same period last year, reflects an increase in the number of
products that have been consolidated in our results of operations.
OTHER, NET
Other, net consists primarily of revenues from the banking/finance operating
segment as well as income from custody services. Revenues from the
banking/finance operating segment include interest income on loans, servicing
income, and investment income on banking/finance investment securities, and are
reduced by interest expense and the provision for probable loan losses.
Other, net decreased 13% in the three months ended December 31, 2004 from the
same period last year due to lower realized gains on sales of automotive loans,
lower interest income on loans held for sale, and lower interest income on
investments, partially offset by a decrease in interest on deposits and the
decline in provision for probable loan losses primarily related to our
automotive portfolio.
26
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OPERATING EXPENSES
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, PERCENT
(in millions) 2004 2003 CHANGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underwriting and distribution $311.4 $248.7 25%
Compensation and benefits 211.5 189.2 12%
Information systems, technology and occupancy 66.8 69.7 (4%)
Advertising and promotion 26.1 21.2 23%
Amortization of deferred sales commissions 31.4 22.5 40%
Amortization of intangible assets 4.4 4.4 --
Other 34.3 31.1 10%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES $685.9 $586.8 17%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION
Underwriting and distribution includes amounts payable to brokers and other
third parties for selling, distributing and providing ongoing services to
investors in our sponsored investment products. Underwriting and distribution
expense increased 25% for the three months ended December 31, 2004 over the same
period last year consistent with similar trends in underwriting and distribution
revenue.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Compensation and benefits expense increased 12% for the three months ended
December 31, 2004 compared to the same period last year. The increase resulted
primarily from an increase in bonus expense under our Amended and Restated
Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, which awards cash and stock bonuses based,
in part, on our performance, as well as under other performance-based plans. In
addition, we experienced increases related to annual merit salary adjustments
effective in October 2004 and to other employee benefits. We employed
approximately 6,800 people at December 31, 2004 as compared to about 6,500 at
December 31, 2003.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS, TECHNOLOGY AND OCCUPANCY
Information systems, technology and occupancy costs decreased 4% during the
three months ended December 31, 2004. This decrease was primarily due to lower
depreciation levels related to a decrease in purchases of information system and
technology equipment as certain of our technology equipment is periodically
replaced under our technology outsourcing agreement, as well as lower
expenditures on software due to the stabilization in the number and scope of new
technology project initiatives. The decline in information systems and
technology expense was partly offset by an increase in building costs related to
global expansion.
Details of capitalized information systems and technology costs were as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
(in millions) 2004 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net book value at beginning of period $51.3 $79.2
Additions during period, net of disposals and other adjustments 2.9 7.3
Net assets added through acquisitions -- 0.3
Amortization during period (7.3) (13.0)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET CARRYING AMOUNT AT END OF PERIOD $46.9 $73.8
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27
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ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION
Advertising and promotion expense increased 23% for the three months ended
December 31, 2004 over the same period last year due to higher expenditures on
direct advertising campaigns and marketing materials. We are committed to invest
in advertising and promotion in response to changing business conditions, which
means that the level of advertising and promotion expenditures may increase more
rapidly or decrease more slowly than our revenues.
AMORTIZATION OF DEFERRED SALES COMMISSIONS
Certain fund share classes, including Class B, are sold without a front-end
sales charge to shareholders, although our distribution subsidiaries pay a
commission on the sale. Furthermore, in the United States, Class A shares are
sold without a front-end sales charge to shareholders when minimum investment
criteria are met, and Class C shares are sold without a front-end sales charge
since January 1, 2004. However, our U.S. distribution subsidiary pays a
commission on these sales. We defer and amortize all up-front commissions paid
by our distribution subsidiaries and amortize them over 12 months to 8 years
depending on share class or financing arrangements.
Class B and certain of our Class C deferred commission assets ("DCA") arising
from our U.S., Canadian and European operations are financed through Lightning
Finance Company Limited ("LFL"), a company in which we have a 49% ownership
interest. LFL has entered into a financing agreement with our U.S. distribution
subsidiary and we maintain a continuing interest in the DCA transferred to LFL
until resold by LFL. As a result, we retain DCA sold to LFL under the U.S.
agreement in our financial statements and amortize them over an 8-year period,
or until sold by LFL to third parties. In contrast to the U.S. arrangement, LFL
has entered into direct agreements with our Canadian and European sponsored
investment products, and, as a result, we do not record DCA from these sources
in our financial statements. The boards of the U.S. funds that offer Class B
shares have approved a proposal to cease the offering of Class B shares to new
investors and existing shareholders desiring to make additional purchases.
Existing Class B shareholders would continue to be permitted to exchange shares
into Class B shares of different funds. Existing Class B shareholders would also
be permitted to continue to reinvest dividends in additional Class B shares. The
cessation of purchases of Class B shares by new investors and existing
shareholders will be effective in the first calendar quarter of 2005 and may
have a negative effect on the overall sales of the funds' shares.
Amortization of deferred sales commissions increased 40% for the three months
ended December 31, 2004 over the same period last year principally due to a 19%
increase in gross product sales and because LFL has not sold U.S. DCA in a
securitization transaction since fiscal 2002.
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
Other income (expenses) includes net realized and unrealized investment gains
(losses) of consolidated sponsored investment products, investment and other
income, net and interest expense. Investment and other income, net is comprised
primarily of income related to our investments, including dividends, interest
income, realized gains and losses and income from investments accounted for
using the equity method of accounting, as well as minority interest expense and
foreign currency exchange gains and losses.
Other income (expenses) increased 172% during the three months ended December
31, 2004 from the same period last year primarily due to higher realized and
unrealized net gains from our consolidated sponsored investment products, net of
related minority interest expense, higher interest income from term deposits and
debt securities and higher equity method income from our investments.
TAXES ON INCOME
As a multi-national corporation, we provide investment management services to a
wide range of international sponsored investment products, often managed from
locations outside the United States. Some of these jurisdictions have lower tax
rates than the United States. The mix of pre-tax income (primarily from our
investment management business) subject to these lower rates, when aggregated
with income originating in the United States, produces a lower overall effective
tax rate than existing U.S. Federal and state tax rates.
Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2004 was
28.5% and remained substantially unchanged from 29% for the same period last
year. The effective tax rate will continue to reflect
28
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the relative contributions of foreign earnings that are subject to reduced tax
rates and that are not currently included in U.S. taxable income, as well as
other factors.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The following table summarizes certain key financial data relating to our
liquidity, and sources and uses of capital:
DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
(in millions) 2004 2004
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA
Assets
Liquid assets $4,528.9 $4,279.3
Cash and cash equivalents 3,105.2 2,917.2
Liabilities
Federal funds purchased and Federal Home Loan Bank Advances $0.2 $6.0
Commercial paper 170.0 170.0
Convertible Notes 532.6 530.1
Medium Term Notes 420.0 420.0
Other long-term debt 263.2 246.3
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total debt $1,386.0 $1,372.4
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2004 2003
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOW DATA
Operating cash flows $239.9 $94.7
Investing cash flows (53.1) 133.4
Financing cash flows 1.2 70.9
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquid assets, which consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments (trading
and available-for-sale) and current receivables, increased from September 30,
2004, primarily due to cash provided by operating activities. Cash and cash
equivalents include cash, debt instruments with maturities of three months or
less at the purchase date and other highly liquid investments that are readily
convertible into cash, including money market funds. Cash and cash equivalents
increased from September 30, 2004 as we invested operating cash flows in debt
instruments, including term deposits, U.S. T-bills and other interest-bearing
deposits, with maturities of three months or less from the purchase date.
The increase in total debt outstanding from September 30, 2004 relates primarily
to an increase in long-term financing liability recognized in relation to U.S.
DCA financed by LFL.
We experienced higher operating cash flows for the three months ended December
31, 2004 as compared to the same period last year due to higher net income and
net proceeds from the securitization of loans held for sale. The decline in
investing cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2004 as compared to
the same period last year related primarily to excess purchases of investments
over liquidations. Financing activities in the three months ended December 31,
2004 included the purchase and retirement of 1.8 million shares at a cost of
$117.7 million. At December 31, 2004, approximately 11.5 million shares remained
available for repurchase under board authorizations. We purchased and retired
0.3 million shares at a cost of $12.5 million during the three months ended
December 31, 2003.
29
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CAPITAL RESOURCES
We believe that we can meet our present and reasonably foreseeable operating
cash needs and future commitments through existing liquid assets, continuing
cash flows from operations, borrowing capacity under current credit facilities,
the ability to issue debt or equity securities, and mutual fund sales commission
financing arrangements. In particular, we expect to finance future investment in
our banking/finance activities through operating cash flows, debt, increased
deposit base, and through the securitization of a portion of the receivables
from consumer lending activities.
As of December 31, 2004, we had $300.0 million of debt and equity securities
available to be issued under shelf registration statements filed with the SEC
and $330.0 million of additional commercial paper available for issuance. Our
committed revolving credit facilities at December 31, 2004 totaled $420.0
million, of which, $210.0 million was under a 364-day facility expiring in June
2005. The remaining $210.0 million facility is under a five-year facility that
will expire in June 2007. In addition, at December 31, 2004, our banking/finance
operating segment had $511.5 million in available uncommitted short-term bank
lines under the Federal Reserve Funds system, the Federal Reserve Bank discount
window, and Federal Home Loan Bank short-term borrowing capacity. Our ability to
access the capital markets in a timely manner depends on a number of factors
including our credit rating, the condition of the global economy, investors'
willingness to purchase our securities, interest rates, credit spreads and the
valuation levels of equity markets. In extreme circumstances, we might not be
able to access this liquidity readily.
Our investment management segment finances Class B and certain Class C DCA
arising from our U.S., Canadian and European operations through LFL, a company
in which we have a 49% ownership interest. Class B and C sales commissions that
we have financed globally through LFL during the three months ended December 31,
2004, were approximately $42.7 million compared to $43.3 million during the
three months ended December 31, 2003. LFL's ability to access credit facilities
and the securitization market will directly affect our existing financing
arrangements.
Our banking/finance operating segment finances its automotive lending activities
through operational cash flows, inter-segment loans and by selling its auto
loans in securitization transactions with qualified special purpose entities,
which then issue asset-backed securities to private investors. Beginning in
calendar year 2005, automotive lending activities may also be financed by
issuing auto loan backed variable funding notes to institutional investors, and
as a result, we expect that inter-segment lending activities will decrease.
Gross sale proceeds from auto loan securitization transactions were $178.8
million for the three months ended December 31, 2004 and $185.1 million in the
three months ended December 31, 2003. Our ability to access the securitization
market will directly affect our plans to finance the auto loan portfolio in the
future.
USES OF CAPITAL
We expect that the main uses of cash will be to expand our core business, make
strategic acquisitions, acquire shares of our common stock, fund property and
equipment purchases, pay operating expenses of the business, enhance technology
infrastructure and business processes, pay shareholder dividends and repay and
service debt.
In May 2001, we received approximately $490.0 million in net proceeds from the
sale of $877.0 million principal amount at maturity of zero-coupon convertible
senior notes due 2031 (the "Convertible Notes"). The Convertible Notes, which
were offered to qualified institutional buyers only, carry an interest rate of
1.875% per annum, with an initial conversion premium of 43%. Each of the $1,000
(principal amount at maturity) Convertible Notes is convertible into 9.3604
shares of our common stock, when the price of our stock reaches certain
thresholds. To date, we have repurchased Convertible Notes with a face value of
$5.9 million principal amount at maturity, for their accreted value of $3.5
million, in cash. We may redeem the remaining Convertible Notes for cash on or
after May 11, 2006 or, at the option of the holders, we may be required to make
additional repurchases on May 11 of 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026. In this
event, we may choose to pay the accreted value of the Convertible Notes in cash
or shares of our common stock. The amount that the holders may redeem in the
future will depend on, among other factors, the performance of our common stock.
30
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS
Our contractual obligations are summarized in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended September 30, 2004. As of December 31, 2004, there had been no
material changes in our contractual obligations from September 30, 2004.
In relation to the auto loan securitization transactions that we have entered
into with a number of qualified special purpose entities, we are obligated to
cover shortfalls in amounts due to the holders of the notes up to certain levels
as specified under the related agreements. As of December 31, 2004, the maximum
potential amount of future payments related to these obligations was $29.5
million. In addition, our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2004
included a $0.5 million liability to reflect the fair value of certain
additional obligations arising from auto securitization transactions.
At December 31, 2004, the banking/finance operating segment had commitments to
extend credit aggregating $241.2 million, primarily under its credit card lines,
and had issued financial standby letters of credit totaling $2.6 million on
which beneficiaries would be able to draw upon in the event of non-performance
by our customers, primarily in relation to lease and lien obligations of these
banking customers. These standby letters of credit, issued prior to January 1,
2003, were secured by marketable securities with a fair value of $2.2 million as
of December 31, 2004 and commercial real estate.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As discussed above, we obtain financing for sales commissions that we pay to
broker/dealers on Class B and certain Class C shares of our sponsored investment
products through LFL, a company established in Ireland to provide DCA financing.
We hold a 49% ownership interest in LFL and we account for this ownership
interest using the equity method of accounting. Our exposure to loss related to
our investment in LFL is limited to the carrying value of our investment and
loans, and interest and fees receivable from LFL. At December 31, 2004, those
amounts approximated $55.7 million. During the three months ended December 31,
2004, we recognized pre-tax income of approximately $2.5 million for our share
of its net income over this period.
As discussed above, our banking/finance operating segment periodically enters
into auto loan securitization transactions with qualified special purpose
entities, which then issue asset-backed securities to private investors. Our
main objective in entering in securitization transactions is to obtain financing
for auto loan activities. Securitized loans held by the securitization trusts
totaled $844.8 million at December 31, 2004 and $768.9 million at September 30,
2004.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Our financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation
of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that
impact our financial position and results of operations. These estimates and
assumptions are affected by our application of accounting policies. Below we
describe certain critical accounting policies that we believe are important to
understanding our results of operations and financial position. For additional
information about our accounting policies, please refer to Note 1 to the
financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2004.
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
We make significant estimates and assumptions when valuing goodwill and other
intangibles in connection with the initial purchase price allocation of an
acquired entity, as well as when evaluating impairment of intangibles on an
ongoing basis.
Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets", we are required to test the fair value of goodwill and
indefinite-lived intangibles when there is an indication of impairment, or at
least once a year. Goodwill impairment is indicated when the carrying amount of
a reporting unit exceeds its implied fair value, calculated based on anticipated
discounted cash flows. In estimating the fair value of the reporting unit, we
use valuation techniques based on discounted cash flows similar to models
employed in analyzing the purchase price of an acquisition target.
Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment on the
basis of the expected future undiscounted operating cash flows, without interest
charges, to be derived from these assets. We review
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definite-lived intangible assets for impairment when there is an indication of
impairment, or at least once a year.
We completed our latest annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite-lived
and definite-lived intangible assets during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 and
we determined that there was no impairment to these assets as of October 1,
2003.
In performing our analysis, we used certain assumptions and estimates including
those related to discount rates and the expected future period of cash flows to
be derived from the assets, based on, among other factors, historical trends and
the characteristics of the assets. While we believe that our testing was
appropriate, if these estimates and assumptions change in the future, we may be
required to record impairment charges or otherwise increase amortization
expense.
INCOME TAXES
As a multinational corporation, we operate in various locations outside the
United States. As of December 31, 2004, and based on tax laws in effect as of
this date, it is our intention to continue to indefinitely reinvest the
undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. As a result, we have not made a
provision for U.S. taxes and have not recorded a deferred tax liability on $2.6
billion of cumulative undistributed earnings recorded by foreign subsidiaries as
of December 31, 2004. Changes to our policy of reinvesting foreign earnings may
have a significant effect on our financial condition and results of operation.
In December 2004, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 109-2, "Accounting and
Disclosure Guidance for the Foreign Earnings Repatriation Provision within the
American Jobs Creation Act of 2004" ("FSP FAS 109-2"). The American Jobs
Creation Act of 2004 (the "Act") was signed into law on October 22, 2004. Under
a provision of the Act, we may elect to repatriate certain earnings of our
foreign-based subsidiaries at a reduced federal tax rate in either of our fiscal
years ending September 30, 2005 or September 30, 2006. FSP FAS 109-2 provides
guidance on when an enterprise should recognize in its financial statements the
effects of the one-time tax benefit of repatriation of foreign earnings under
the Act, and specifies interim disclosure requirements. We are currently
evaluating the effect of this repatriation provision; however, we do not expect
to complete this evaluation until after the U.S. Congress or the U.S. Department
of the Treasury issue additional guidance regarding this provision. The range of
possible amounts we are considering for repatriation is between zero and $1.9
billion, and the potential range of income tax associated with amounts subject
to the reduced rate is between zero and $117.0 million.
VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS
We record substantially all investments in our financial statements at fair
value or amounts that approximate fair value. Where available, we use prices
from independent sources such as listed market prices or broker or dealer price
quotations. For investments in illiquid and privately held securities that do
not have readily determinable fair values, we estimate the value of the
securities based upon available information. However, even where the value of a
security is derived from an independent market price or broker or dealer quote,
some assumptions may be required to determine the fair value. For example, we
generally assume that the size of positions in securities that we hold would not
be large enough to affect the quoted price of the securities when sold, and that
any such sale would happen in an orderly manner. However, these assumptions may
be incorrect and the actual value realized on sale could differ from the current
carrying value.
We evaluate our investments for other-than-temporary decline in value on a
periodic basis. This may exist when the fair value of an investment security has
been below the current value for an extended period of time. As most of our
investments are carried at fair value, if an other-than-temporary decline in
value is determined to exist, the unrealized investment loss recorded net of tax
in accumulated other comprehensive income is realized as a charge to net income,
in the period in which the other-than-temporary decline in value is determined.
We classify securities as trading when it is management's intent at the time of
purchase to sell the security within a short period of time. Accordingly, we
record unrealized gains and losses on these securities in our consolidated
income.
While we believe that we have accurately estimated the amount of
other-than-temporary decline in value in our portfolio, different assumptions
could result in changes to the recorded amounts in our financial statements.
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LOSS CONTINGENCIES
We are involved in various lawsuits and claims encountered in the normal course
of business. When such a matter arises and periodically thereafter, we consult
with our legal counsel and evaluate the merits of the claim based on the facts
available at that time. In management's opinion, an adequate accrual has been
made as of December 31, 2004 to provide for any probable losses that may arise
from these matters. See also "Legal Proceedings " included in Part II, Item 1 of
this report.
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Under FIN 46-R, a variable interest entity ("VIE") is an entity in which the
equity investment holders have not contributed sufficient capital to finance its
activities or the equity investment holders do not have defined rights and
obligations normally associated with an equity investment. FIN 46-R requires
consolidation of a VIE by the enterprise that has the majority of the risks and
rewards of ownership, referred to as the primary beneficiary.
Evaluating whether related entities are VIEs and determining if we qualify as
the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, is highly complex and involves the use of
estimates and assumptions. To determine our interest in the expected losses or
residual returns of each VIE, we performed an expected cash flow analysis using
certain discount rate and volatility assumptions based on available historical
information and management's estimates. Based on our analysis, we did not
consolidate any VIEs in our financial statements as of December 31, 2004. While
we believe that our testing and approach were appropriate, future changes in
estimates and assumptions may affect our decision and lead to the consolidation
of one or more VIEs in our financial statements.
IMPACT OF INFLATION
Our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes are presented in
historical dollars without considering the effect of inflation. Since a
significant portion of our assets are liquid in nature, the potential effect of
inflation is mitigated. In addition, the majority of our revenues and related
expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars, a currency that has not been
significantly affected by the impact of changes in prices in recent years. To
the extent that a potential rise in inflation may affect the securities and the
consumer lending markets, it may adversely affect our financial position and
results of operation in the future.
RISK FACTORS
WE FACE STRONG COMPETITION FROM NUMEROUS AND SOMETIMES LARGER COMPANIES WITH
COMPETING OFFERINGS AND PRODUCTS. We compete with numerous investment management
companies, mutual fund, stock brokerage and investment banking firms, insurance
companies, banks, savings and loan associations and other financial
institutions. Continuing consolidation in the financial services industry has
created stronger competitors with greater financial resources and broader
distribution channels than our own. Additionally, competing securities
broker/dealers whom we rely upon to distribute our mutual funds also sell their
own proprietary funds and investment products, which could limit the
distribution of our investment products. To the extent that existing or
potential customers, including securities broker/dealers, decide to invest in or
distribute the products of our competitors, the sales of our products as well as
our market share, revenues and net income could decline. Our ability to attract
and retain assets under our management is also dependent on the relative
investment performance of our funds and other managed investment portfolios and
our ability to maintain our investment management and administrative fees at
competitive levels.
CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS ON WHICH WE DEPEND COULD REDUCE OUR
REVENUES AND HINDER OUR GROWTH. We derive nearly all of our fund sales through
broker/dealers and other similar investment advisers. Increasing competition for
these distribution channels and recent regulatory initiatives, have caused our
distribution costs to rise and could cause further increases in the future.
Higher distribution costs lower our net revenues and earnings. Additionally, if
one of the major financial advisers who distributes our products were to cease
its operations, it could have a significant adverse impact on our revenues and
earnings. Moreover, our failure to maintain strong business relationships with
these advisers would impair our ability to distribute and sell our products,
which would have a negative effect on our level of assets under management,
related revenues and overall business and financial condition.
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WE HAVE BECOME SUBJECT TO AN INCREASED RISK OF VOLATILITY OF THE ASSETS WE
MANAGE CAUSED BY CHANGES IN THE FINANCIAL AND EQUITY MARKETS. We have become
subject to an increased risk of asset volatility from changes in the domestic
and global financial and equity markets due to the continuing threat of
terrorism. Declines in these markets have caused in the past, and would cause in
the future, a decline in our revenue and income.
THE LEVELS OF OUR ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT, WHICH IMPACT REVENUES, ARE SUBJECT TO
SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATIONS. Global economic conditions, changes in the equity
market place, currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, the
yield curve and other factors that are difficult to predict affect the mix,
market values and levels of our assets under management. Changing market
conditions may cause a shift in our asset mix towards fixed-income products and
a related decline in our revenue and income, since we generally derive higher
fee revenues and income from equity assets than from fixed-income products we
manage. Similarly, our securitized consumer receivables business is subject to
marketplace fluctuation, including economic and credit market downturns.
OUR FUTURE RESULTS ARE DEPENDENT UPON MAINTAINING AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
EXPENSES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO FLUCTUATION. The level of our expenses are
subject to fluctuation and may increase for the following or other reasons: an
increase in insurance expenses including through the assumption of higher
deductibles and/or co-insurance liability; 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; expenses and capital costs,
including costs incurred to maintain and enhance our administrative and
operating services infrastructure.
WE FACE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CONDUCTING OPERATIONS IN NUMEROUS FOREIGN
COUNTRIES. We sell mutual funds and offer investment advisory and related
services in many different regulatory jurisdictions around the world, and intend
to continue to expand our operations internationally which may involve increased
expense and capital costs. Regulators in these 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.
OUR ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE WIDELY VARIED BUSINESS LINES CAN BE
IMPEDED BY SYSTEMS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS. Our continued success in
effectively managing and growing our business both domestically and abroad,
depends on our ability to integrate the varied accounting, financial,
information and operational systems of our various businesses on a global basis.
OUR ABILITY TO MEET CASH NEEDS DEPENDS UPON CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING OUR ASSET
VALUE, CREDIT WORTHINESS AND THE MARKET VALUE OF OUR STOCK. Our ability to meet
anticipated cash needs depends upon factors including our asset value, our
creditworthiness as perceived by lenders and the market value of our stock.
Similarly, our ability to securitize and hedge future loan portfolios and credit
card receivables, and to obtain continued financing for certain Class C shares,
is also subject to the market's perception of those assets, finance rates
offered by competitors, and the general market for private debt. If we are
unable to obtain these funds and financing, we may be forced to incur
unanticipated costs or revise our business plans.
CERTAIN OF THE PORTFOLIOS WE MANAGE, INCLUDING OUR EMERGING MARKET PORTFOLIOS,
AND RELATED REVENUES, ARE VULNERABLE TO MARKET-SPECIFIC POLITICAL OR ECONOMIC
RISKS. Our emerging market portfolios and revenues derived from managing these
portfolios are subject to significant risks of loss from political and
diplomatic developments, currency fluctuations, social instability, changes in
governmental polices, expropriation, nationalization, asset confiscation and
changes in legislation related to foreign ownership. Foreign trading markets,
particularly in some emerging market countries, are often smaller, less liquid,
less regulated and significantly more volatile than the U.S. and other
established markets.
OUR REVENUES COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED IF THE TERMS OF OUR INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED OR THESE AGREEMENTS ARE
TERMINATED BY THE FUNDS WE ADVISE. Our revenues are dependent on fees earned
under investment management or related administrative agreements that we have
with the funds we advise. These revenues could be adversely affected if the
terms of these agreements are significantly altered or these agreements are
terminated.
DIVERSE AND STRONG COMPETITION LIMITS THE INTEREST RATES THAT WE CAN CHARGE ON
CONSUMER LOANS. We compete with many types of institutions for consumer loans,
which can provide loans at significantly below-market interest rates in
connection with automobile sales or in some cases zero interest rates. Our
inability to compete effectively against these companies or to maintain our
relationships with the various automobile dealers through whom we offer consumer
loans could limit the growth of our consumer loan business. Economic and credit
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market downturns could reduce the ability of our customers to repay loans, which
could cause our consumer loan portfolio losses to increase.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE REGULATION DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD. Our investment
management business and other businesses are subject to extensive regulation in
the United States and abroad, including, among others, securities, banking,
accounting and tax laws and regulations. We are subject to Federal securities
laws, state laws regarding securities fraud, other Federal and State regulations
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association
of Securities Dealers and the New York Stock Exchange, and to the extent
operations take place outside the United States, by foreign regulations and
regulators. During the past five years, the Federal securities laws have been
augmented substantially by, among other measures, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
and the USA Patriot Act. Upon completion of our acquisition of Fiduciary Trust
in April 2001, we became a bank holding company and a financial holding company
subject to the supervision and regulation of the Federal Reserve Board (the
"FRB"). We are subject to the restrictions, limitations, or prohibitions of the
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The FRB may
impose additional limitations or restrictions on our activities, including if
the FRB believes that we do not have the appropriate financial and managerial
resources to commence or conduct an activity or make an acquisition.
REGULATORY OR LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AND REFORMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE SPECIFICALLY
FOCUSED ON THE MUTUAL FUND INDUSTRY, COULD ADVERSELY IMPACT OUR ASSETS UNDER
MANAGEMENT, INCREASE COSTS AND NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR PROFITABILITY AND FUTURE
FINANCIAL RESULTS. Current and pending regulatory and legislative actions and
reforms affecting the mutual fund industry, including compliance initiatives,
may negatively impact revenues, either of which could have a material negative
impact on our financial results.
TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATING RISK AND LIMITATIONS COULD CONSTRAIN OUR OPERATIONS. We
are highly dependent on the integrity of our technology, operating systems and
premises. 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, which could negatively
impact our operations.
GOVERNMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS, SETTLEMENTS OF SUCH INVESTIGATIONS, ONGOING AND
PROPOSED GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS, AND REGULATORY EXAMINATIONS OF FRANKLIN
RESOURCES, INC. AND CERTAIN OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES (THE "COMPANY") AND ITS BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS CIVIL LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO SUCH MATTERS
COULD ADVERSELY IMPACT OUR ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT, INCREASE COSTS AND
NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE PROFITABILITY OF THE COMPANY AND FUTURE FINANCIAL RESULTS.
INVESTIGATIONS. As part of various investigations by a number of federal, state
and foreign regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), the California Attorney General's Office ("CAGO"), and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), relating to certain practices
in the mutual fund industry, including late trading, market timing and marketing
support payments to securities dealers who sell fund shares, the Company, as
well as certain current or former executives and employees of the Company,
received subpoenas and/or requests for documents, information and/or testimony.
The Company and its current employees provided documents and information in
response to those requests and subpoenas.
Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. ("FTIC"), a Company subsidiary and the
investment manager of Franklin Templeton's Canadian mutual funds, has been
cooperating with and responding to requests for information from the Ontario
Securities Commission (the "OSC") relating to the OSC's review of frequent
trading practices within the Canadian mutual fund industry. On December 10,
2004, FTIC received a letter indicating that the staff of the OSC is
contemplating enforcement proceedings against FTIC before the OSC. In its
letter, the OSC staff expressed the view that, over the period of February 1999
to February 2003, there were certain accounts that engaged in a frequent trading
market timing strategy in certain funds being managed by FTIC. The letter also
gave FTIC the opportunity to respond to the issues raised in the letter and to
provide the OSC staff with additional information relevant to those matters. The
Company has entered into discussions with the OSC staff in an effort to resolve
the issues raised in the OSC's review. The Company cannot predict the likelihood
of whether those discussions will result in a settlement or the terms or amount
of any such settlement. Should a settlement be reached, the amount could be
material to the Company's financial results.
On December 9, 2004, the enforcement staff of the NASD informed the Company that
it had made a preliminary determination to recommend a disciplinary proceeding
against Franklin/Templeton Distributors, Inc. ("FTDI"), alleging that FTDI
violated certain NASD rules by the use of directed brokerage commissions to pay
for sales and marketing support. The enforcement staff has since advised the
Company that it has determined not to recommend a disciplinary proceeding
against FTDI and has concluded its investigation of
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this matter. Separately, FTDI has also received a letter from the NASD staff
advising of its preliminary determination to recommend a disciplinary proceeding
against FTDI alleging violation of certain NASD rules relating to FTDI's Top
Producers program. The Company believes that any such charges are unwarranted
and has responded with a submission as to why such action is not warranted. As
of the date of this filing, the NASD staff has not taken any further action.
SETTLEMENTS. Beginning in August 2004, the Company entered into settlements with
certain regulators investigating the mutual fund industry practices noted above.
The Company believes that settlement of each of the matters described in this
section is in the best interest of the Company and shareholders of the Franklin
Templeton mutual funds (the "Funds").
On August 2, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that its subsidiary,
Franklin Advisers, Inc. ("Franklin Advisers") reached an agreement with the SEC
that resolved the issues resulting from the previously disclosed SEC
investigation into market timing activity. In connection with that agreement,
the SEC issued an "Order Instituting Administrative and Cease-and-Desist
Proceedings Pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940 and Sections 9(b) and 9(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
Making Findings and Imposing Remedial Sanctions and a Cease-and-Desist Order"
(the "Order"). The SEC's Order concerned the activities of a limited number of
third parties that ended in 2000 and those that were the subject of the first
Massachusetts administrative complaint described below.
Under the terms of the SEC's Order, pursuant to which Franklin Advisers neither
admitted nor denied any of the findings contained therein, Franklin Advisers
agreed to pay $50 million to be distributed to shareholders of certain of the
Funds, of which $20 million was a civil penalty. The settlement and related
legal and distribution costs of $60 million ($45.6 million, net of taxes) were
recorded as a charge to income in the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004.
The Order required Franklin Advisers to, among other things:
* Enhance and periodically review compliance policies and procedures, and
establish a corporate ombudsman;
* Establish a new internal position whose responsibilities shall include
compliance matters related to conflicts of interests; and
* Retain an Independent Distribution Consultant to develop a plan to
distribute the $50 million settlement to Fund shareholders.
The Order further provided that in any related investor actions, Franklin
Advisers would not benefit from any offset or reduction of any investor's claim
by the amount of any distribution from the above-described $50 million to such
investor that is proportionately attributable to the civil penalty paid by
Franklin Advisers.
On September 20, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that two of its
subsidiaries, Franklin Advisers and Franklin Templeton Alternative Strategies,
Inc. ("FTAS"), reached an agreement with the Securities Division of the Office
of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "State of
Massachusetts") related to its administrative complaint filed on February 4,
2004, concerning one instance of market timing that was also a subject of the
August 2, 2004 settlement that Franklin Advisers reached with the SEC, as
described above. Under the terms of the settlement consent order issued by the
State of Massachusetts, Franklin Advisers and FTAS consented to the entry of a
cease-and-desist order and agreed to pay a $5 million administrative fine to the
State of Massachusetts (the "Massachusetts Consent Order"). The Company recorded
this expense in the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The Massachusetts Consent
Order included two different sections: "Statements of Fact" and "Violations of
Massachusetts Securities Laws." Franklin Advisers and FTAS admitted the facts in
the Statements of Fact.
On October 25, 2004, the State of Massachusetts filed a second administrative
complaint, alleging that Franklin Resources, Inc.'s Form 8-K filing (in which it
described the Massachusetts Consent Order and stated that "Franklin did not
admit or deny engaging in any wrongdoing") failed to state that Franklin
Advisers and FTAS admitted the Statements of Fact portion of the Massachusetts
Consent Order (the "Second Complaint"). Franklin Resources, Inc. reached a
second agreement with the State of Massachusetts on November 19, 2004, resolving
the Second Complaint. As a result of the November 19, 2004 settlement, Franklin
Resources, Inc. filed a new Form 8-K. The terms of the Massachusetts Consent
Order did not change and there was no monetary fine associated with this second
settlement.
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On November 17, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that FTDI reached an
agreement with the CAGO, resolving the issues resulting from the CAGO's
investigation concerning sales and marketing support payments. Under the terms
of the settlement, FTDI neither admitted nor denied the allegations in the
CAGO's complaint and agreed to pay $2 million to the State of California as a
civil penalty, $14 million to the Funds, to be allocated by an independent
distribution consultant to be paid for by FTDI, and $2 million to the CAGO for
its investigative costs. The Company's results for the quarter and fiscal year
ended September 30, 2004 included a charge to income of $18.5 million ($12.2
million, net of tax) related to this settlement.
On December 13, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc. announced that its subsidiaries
FTDI and Franklin Advisers reached an agreement with the SEC, resolving the
issues resulting from the SEC's investigation concerning marketing support
payments to securities dealers who sell Fund shares. In connection with that
agreement, the SEC issued an "Order Instituting Administrative and
Cease-and-Desist Proceedings, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions
Pursuant to Sections 203(e) and 203(k) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
Sections 9(b) and 9(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and Section 15(b)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934" (the "Second Order").
Under the terms of the Second Order, in which FTDI and Franklin Advisers neither
admitted nor denied the findings contained therein, they agreed to pay the Funds
a penalty of $20 million and disgorgement of $1 (one dollar). FTDI and Franklin
Advisers also agreed to implement certain measures and undertakings relating to
marketing support payments to broker-dealers for the promotion or sale of Fund
shares, including making additional disclosures in the Funds' Prospectuses and
Statements of Additional Information. The Second Order further requires the
appointment of an independent distribution consultant, at the Company's expense,
who shall develop a plan for the distribution of the penalty and disgorgement to
the Funds. The Company recorded a charge of $21.5 million ($17.3 million, net of
taxes) in its fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004 related to this matter.
INTERNAL INQUIRIES. The Company also conducted its own internal fact-finding
inquiry with the assistance of outside counsel to determine whether any Fund
shareholders, including Company employees, were permitted to engage in late
trading or in market timing transactions contrary to the policies of the
affected Fund and, if so, the circumstances and persons involved. The Company's
internal inquiry regarding market timing and late trading is complete. We did
not find any late trading, though we identified various instances of frequent
trading. One officer of a subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. was placed on
administrative leave and subsequently resigned from his position with the
Company in December 2003.
The Company found no instances of inappropriate mutual fund trading by any
portfolio manager, investment analyst or officer of Franklin Resources, Inc. As
previously disclosed, the Company identified some instances of frequent trading
in shares of certain Funds by a few current or former employees in their
personal 401(k) plan accounts. These individuals included one trader and one
officer of the Funds. Pending our further inquiry, these two individuals were
placed on administrative leave and the officer resigned from his positions with
the Funds. The independent directors of the Funds and the Company also retained
independent outside counsel to review these matters and to report their findings
and recommendations. Based on independent counsel's findings and
recommendations, the Company reinstated the trader. The independent counsel
concluded that some instances of the former Fund officer's trading violated
Company policy, and the Company was prepared to institute appropriate
disciplinary action. Subsequently, the former Fund officer resigned from his
employment with the Company. The Company does not believe there were any losses
to the Funds as a result of this trading.
CLASS ACTION AND OTHER LAWSUITS. The Company has been named in shareholder class
action and other lawsuits related to some of the matters described above. See
"Legal Proceedings" included in Part II, Item 1 of this report. Management
believes that the claims made in the lawsuits are without merit and intends to
vigorously defend against them. It is possible that the Company may be named in
additional similar civil actions.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
In the normal course of business, our financial position is subject to market
risk: the potential loss due to changes in the value of investments including
those resulting from adverse changes in interest rates, foreign exchange and/or
equity prices. Management is responsible for managing this risk. Our Enterprise
Risk Management Committee is responsible for providing a framework to assist
management to identify, assess and manage market and other risks.
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Our banking/finance operating segment is exposed to interest rate fluctuations
on its loans receivable, debt securities held, and deposit liabilities. In our
banking/finance operating segment, we monitor the net interest rate margin and
the average maturity of interest earning assets, as well as funding sources. In
addition, as of December 31, 2004, we have considered the potential impact of
the effect on the banking/finance operating segment balances, individually and
collectively, of a 100 basis point (1%) movement in market interest rates. Based
on our analysis, we do not expect that this change would have a material impact
on our operating revenues or results of operations in either scenario.
Our investment management operating segment is exposed to changes in interest
rates through its investment in debt securities and its outstanding debt. We
minimize the impact of interest rate fluctuations related to our investments in
debt securities by managing the maturities of these securities, and through
diversification. Our exposure to interest rate changes related to our debt
issuances is not material since a significant percentage of our outstanding debt
is at fixed interest rates.
We are subject to foreign exchange risk through our foreign operations. We
operate primarily in the United States, but also provide services and earn
revenues in Canada, the Bahamas, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and
Australia. Our exposure to foreign exchange risk is minimized since a
significant portion of these revenues and associated expenses are denominated in
U.S. dollars. This situation may change in the future as our business continues
to grow outside the United States.
We are exposed to equity price fluctuations through securities we hold that are
carried at fair value and through investments held by majority-owned sponsored
investment products that we consolidate. To mitigate this risk, we maintain a
diversified investment portfolio. Our exposure to equity price fluctuations is
also minimized as we sponsor a broad range of investment products in various
global jurisdictions.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
The Company's management evaluated, with the participation of the Company's
principal executive and principal financial officers, the effectiveness of the
Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act")) as of December 31, 2004. Based on their evaluation, the Company's
principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that the
Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31,
2004.
There has been no change in the Company's internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act)
that occurred during the Company's fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004, that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Company's internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
As previously reported, on September 20, 2004, Franklin Resources, Inc.
announced that two of its subsidiaries, Franklin Advisers and Franklin Templeton
Alternative Strategies, Inc. ("FTAS"), reached an agreement with the Securities
Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(the "State of Massachusetts") related to its administrative complaint filed on
February 4, 2004, concerning one instance of market timing that was also a
subject of the August 2, 2004 settlement that Franklin Advisers reached with the
SEC, as described in Note 13, "Commitments and Contingencies - Governmental
Investigations, Proceedings and Actions", of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report ("Note 13"). Under the
terms of the settlement consent order issued by the State of Massachusetts,
Franklin Advisers and FTAS consented to the entry of a cease and desist order
and agreed to pay a $5 million administrative fine to the State of Massachusetts
(the "Massachusetts Consent Order"). Franklin Resources, Inc. and certain of its
subsidiaries (as used in this section, together, the "Company") recorded this
expense in the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The Massachusetts Consent Order
included two different sections: "Statements of Fact" and "Violations of
Massachusetts Securities Laws." Franklin Advisers and FTAS admitted the facts in
the Statements of Fact.
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On October 25, 2004, the State of Massachusetts filed a second administrative
complaint, alleging that Franklin Resources, Inc.'s Form 8-K filing (in which it
described the Massachusetts Consent Order and stated that "Franklin did not
admit or deny engaging in any wrongdoing") failed to state that Franklin
Advisers and FTAS admitted the Statements of Fact portion of the Massachusetts
Consent Order (the "Second Complaint"). Franklin Resources, Inc. reached a
second agreement with the State of Massachusetts on November 19, 2004, resolving
the Second Complaint. As a result of the November 19, 2004 settlement, Franklin
Resources, Inc. filed a new Form 8-K. The terms of the original settlement did
not change and there was no monetary fine associated with this second
settlement.
In addition, the Company and certain Funds, current and former officers,
employees, and directors have been named in multiple lawsuits in different
federal courts in Nevada, California, Illinois, New York, and Florida, alleging
violations of various federal securities laws and seeking, among other relief,
monetary damages, restitution, removal of Fund trustees, directors, advisers,
administrators, and distributors, rescission of management contracts and 12b-1
Plans, and/or attorneys' fees and costs. Specifically, the lawsuits claim breach
of duty with respect to alleged arrangements to permit market timing and/or late
trading activity, or breach of duty with respect to the valuation of the
portfolio securities of certain Templeton Funds managed by Franklin Resources,
Inc. subsidiaries, resulting in alleged market timing activity. The majority of
these lawsuits duplicate, in whole or in part, the allegations asserted in the
February 4, 2004 Massachusetts administrative complaint and the findings in the
SEC's August 2, 2004 Order, as described in Note 13. The lawsuits are styled as
class actions, or derivative actions on behalf of either the named Funds or
Franklin Resources, Inc.
To date, more than 240 similar lawsuits against at least 19 different mutual
fund companies have been filed in federal district courts throughout the
country. Because these cases involve common questions of fact, the Judicial
Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the "Judicial Panel") ordered the creation of
a multidistrict litigation in the United States District Court for the District
of Maryland, entitled "In re Mutual Funds Investment Litigation" (the "MDL").
The Judicial Panel then transferred similar cases from different districts to
the MDL for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings.
As of February 8, 2005, the following federal lawsuits are pending against the
Company (and in some instances, against certain officers, directors and/or
Funds) and have been transferred to the MDL:
Kenerley v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 03-770 GPM, filed on
November 19, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern District
of Illinois; Cullen v. Templeton Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 03-859 MJR,
filed on December 16, 2003 in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Illinois and transferred to the United States District Court for the
Southern District of Florida on March 29, 2004; Jaffe v. Franklin AGE High
Income Fund, et al., Case No. CV-S-04-0146-PMP-RJJ, filed on February 6, 2004 in
the United States District Court for the District of Nevada; Lum v. Franklin
Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0583 JSW, filed on February 11, 2004 in
the United States District Court for the Northern District of California;
Fischbein v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0584 JSW,
filed on February 11, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California; Beer v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No.
8:04-CV-249-T-26 MAP, filed on February 11, 2004 in the United States District
Court for the Middle District of Florida; Bennett v. Franklin Resources, Inc.,
et al., Case No. CV-S-04-0154-HDM-RJJ, filed on February 12, 2004 in the United
States District Court for the District of Nevada; Dukes v. Franklin AGE High
Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0598 MJJ, filed on February 12, 2004, in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of California; McAlvey v.
Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0628 PJH, filed on February 13,
2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California; Alexander v. Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04
0639 SC, filed on February 17, 2004 in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California; Hugh Sharkey IRA/RO v. Franklin Resources,
Inc., et al., Case No. 04 CV 1330, filed on February 18, 2004 in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York; D'Alliessi v.
Franklin AGE High Income Fund, et al., Case No. C 04 0865 SC, filed on March 3,
2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California; Marcus v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04 0901 JL,
filed on March 5, 2004 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California; Banner v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C
04 0902 JL, filed on March 5, 2004 in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California; Denenberg v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al.,
Case No. C 04 0984 EMC, filed on March 10, 2004 in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of California; Hertz v. Burns, et al., Case No.
04 CV 02489, filed on March 30, 2004 in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of New York.
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Plaintiffs in the MDL filed consolidated amended complaints on September 29,
2004. It is anticipated that defendants will file motions to dismiss in the
coming months, with a hearing scheduled for June 2005.
As previously reported, various subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc., as
well as certain Templeton Fund registrants, have also been named in multiple
class action lawsuits filed in state courts in Illinois, alleging breach of duty
with respect to the valuation of the portfolio securities of certain Templeton
Funds managed by such subsidiaries, and seeking, among other relief, monetary
damages and attorneys' fees and costs, as follows:
Bradfisch v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 001361, filed on
October 3, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison
County, Illinois; Woodbury v. Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund, Inc., et
al., Case No. 2003 L 001362, filed on October 3, 2003 in the Circuit Court of
the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois; Kwiatkowski v. Templeton
Growth Fund, Inc., et al., Case No. 03 L 785, filed on December 17, 2003 in the
Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, St. Clair County, Illinois;
Parise v. Templeton Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 2003 L 002049, filed on
December 22, 2003 in the Circuit Court of the Third Judicial Circuit, Madison
County, Illinois.
These lawsuits are state court actions and are not subject to the MDL.
In addition, FTIC has been named in two class action market timing lawsuits in
Canada, seeking, among other relief, monetary damages, an order barring any
increase in management fees for a period of two years following judgment, and/or
attorneys' fees and costs, as follows: Huneault v. AGF Funds, Inc., et al., Case
No. 500-06-000256-046, filed on October 25, 2004 in the Superior Court for the
Province of Quebec, District of Montreal, and Heinrichs, et al. v. CI Mutual
Funds, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-CV-29700, filed on December 17, 2004 in the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
As previously reported, the Company, as well as certain current and former
officers, employees, and directors, have been named in multiple lawsuits
alleging violations of various securities laws and pendent state law claims
relating to the disclosure of directed brokerage payments and/or payment of
allegedly excessive advisory, commission, and distribution fees, and seeking,
among other relief, monetary damages, restitution, rescission of advisory
contracts, including recovery of all fees paid pursuant to those contracts, an
accounting of all monies paid to the named advisers, declaratory relief,
injunctive relief, and/or attorneys' fees and costs. These lawsuits are styled
as class actions or derivative actions brought on behalf of certain Funds, and
are as follows:
Stephen Alexander IRA v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-982 JLL,
filed on March 2, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of
New Jersey; Strigliabotti v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. C 04
0883 SI, filed on March 4, 2004 in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California; Tricarico v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al.,
Case No. CV-04-1052 JAP, filed on March 4, 2004 in the United States District
Court for the District of New Jersey; Miller v. Franklin Mutual Advisors, LLC,
et al., Case No. 04-261 DRH, filed on April 16, 2004 in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and transferred to the
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on August 5, 2004
(plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed this action, without prejudice, on October 22,
2004); Wilcox v. Franklin Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-2258 WHW, filed
on May 12, 2004 in the United States District Court for the District of New
Jersey; Bahe, Custodian CGM Roth Conversion IRA v. Franklin/Templeton
Distributors, Inc., et al., Case No. 04-11195 PBS, filed on June 3, 2004 in the
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey consolidated for
pretrial purposes three of the above lawsuits (Stephen Alexander IRA, Tricarico,
and Wilcox) into a single action, entitled "In re Franklin Mutual Funds Fee
Litigation." Plaintiffs in those three lawsuits filed a consolidated amended
complaint (the "Complaint") on October 4, 2004. Defendants filed a motion to
dismiss the Complaint on November 19, 2004. It is anticipated that the matter
will be heard in the coming months.
Management strongly believes that the claims made in each of the lawsuits
identified above are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against
them. The Company cannot predict with certainty, however, the eventual outcome
of the remaining governmental investigations or private lawsuits, nor whether
they will have a material negative impact on the Company. Public trust and
confidence are critical to the Company's business and any material loss of
investor and/or client confidence could result in a significant decline in
assets under management by the Company, which would have an adverse effect on
future financial results. If the Company finds that it bears responsibility for
any unlawful or inappropriate conduct that caused losses to our Funds, it is
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committed to making the Funds or their shareholders whole, as appropriate. The
Company is committed to taking all appropriate actions to protect the interests
of its Funds' shareholders.
In addition, pending regulatory and legislative actions and reforms affecting
the mutual fund industry may significantly increase the Company's costs of doing
business and/or negatively impact its revenues, either of which could have a
material negative impact on the Company's financial results.
Please also see the discussion of certain governmental proceedings and
investigations in Note 13, "Commitments and Contingencies - Governmental
Investigations, Proceedings and Actions", of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Except for the matters described above, there have been no material developments
in the litigation previously reported in our annual report on Form 10-K for the
period ended September 30, 2004, as filed with the SEC on December 14, 2004. We
are involved from time to time in litigation relating to claims arising in the
normal course of business. Management is of the opinion that the ultimate
resolution of such claims will not materially affect our business or financial
position.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
The following table provides information with respect to the shares of common
stock we repurchased during the three months ended December 31, 2004:
(c) TOTAL NUMBER OF (d) MAXIMUM NUMBER
SHARES PURCHASED AS OF SHARES THAT MAY
(a) TOTAL NUMBER PART OF PUBLICLY YET BE PURCHASED
OF SHARES (b) AVERAGE PRICE ANNOUNCED PLANS OR UNDER THE PLANS OR
PERIOD PURCHASED PAID PER SHARE PROGRAMS PROGRAMS
- ------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
October 1, 2004 through 217,567 $55.55 217,567 13,013,516
October 31, 2004
November 1, 2004 through
November 30, 2004 -- -- -- 13,013,516
December 1, 2004 through
December 31, 2004 1,551,956 $68.07 1,551,956 11,461,560
------------ ------------
TOTAL 1,769,523 1,769,523
Under a stock repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors in
September of 1985, we can repurchase shares of our common stock on the open
market and in private transactions in accordance with applicable securities
laws. In August 2002, May 2003, and August 2003, we announced increases in the
number of shares available for repurchase under our stock repurchase program
totaling 30.0 million shares, of which, 11.5 million shares remain available for
repurchase as of December 31, 2004. Our stock repurchase program is not subject
to an expiration date.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NO.
-----------
Exhibit 3(i)(a) Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, as filed
November 28, 1969, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit (3)(i) to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1994 (the "1994 Annual Report").
Exhibit 3(i)(b) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed on March 1, 1985,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(ii) to the
1994 Annual Report.
Exhibit 3(i)(c) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed on April 1, 1987,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(iii) to the
1994 Annual Report.
41
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Exhibit 3(i)(d) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed on February 2, 1994,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)(iv) to the
1994 Annual Report.
Exhibit 3(i)(e) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed on February 4, 2005.
Exhibit 3(ii) Registrant's Amended and Restated By-Laws
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2002.
Exhibit 4.1 Form of Indenture between Franklin Resources, Inc.
and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly Chemical Bank),
as trustee, dated as of May 19, 1994, incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the
SEC on April 14, 1994.
Exhibit 4.2 Indenture between Franklin Resources, Inc. and The
Bank of New York dated May 11, 2001 incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the
SEC on August 6, 2001.
Exhibit 4.3 Form of Liquid Yield Option Note due 2031 (Zero
Coupon-Senior) incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-3, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2001.
Exhibit 4.4 Registration Rights Agreement between Franklin
Resources, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated dated May 11, 2001, incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the
SEC on August 6, 2001.
Exhibit 4.5 Form of 3.7% Senior Notes due 2008, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31,
2003.
Exhibit 10.78 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice
of Restricted Stock Award under the Company's 2002
Universal Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by
reference to the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on November 12, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.79 Form of Stock Option Agreement and Notice of Stock
Option Grant under the Company's 2002 Universal
Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to
the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC
on November 12, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.80 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice
of Restricted Stock Award under the Company's 2002
Universal Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by
reference to the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on November 19, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.81 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice
of Restricted Stock Unit Award under the Company's
2002 Universal Stock Incentive Plan, referenced in
the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC
on November 19, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.82 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice
of Restricted Stock Award under the Company's 2002
Universal Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on December 21, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.83 Franklin Resources, Inc. Deferred Compensation
Arrangement for Director's Fees, date as of January
21, 2005, by and between Franklin Resources, Inc. and
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Samuel H. Armacost incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on January 27, 2005.*
Exhibit 10.84 Franklin Resources, Inc. 2002 Universal Stock
Incentive Plan (as amended and restated December 16,
2004) incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to
the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January
27, 2005.*
Exhibit 10.85 Franklin Resources, Inc. Amended and Restated Annual
Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and restated
December 16, 2004).*
Exhibit 10.86 Description of Non-Management Director's Compensation.*
Exhibit 10.87 Description of Performance Goals for the Company's
Co-Chief Executive Officers for the 2005 Fiscal Year
under the 2004 Key Executive Compensation Plan.*
Exhibit 12 Computations of ratios of earnings to fixed charges.
Exhibit 31.1 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(filed herewith).
Exhibit 31.2 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant
to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(filed herewith).
Exhibit 31.3 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith).
Exhibit 32.1 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(furnished herewith).
Exhibit 32.2 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(furnished herewith).
Exhibit 32.3 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(furnished herewith).
* Management/Employment Contract or Compensatory
Plan or Arrangement.
43
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: February 8, 2005 By: /S/ JAMES R. BAIO
-------------------------------
James R. Baio
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
44
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO.
- -----------
Exhibit 3(i)(a) Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, as filed
November 28, 1969, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
(3)(i) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 1994 (the "1994 Annual
Report").
Exhibit 3(i)(b) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate
of Incorporation, as filed on March 1, 1985, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (3)(ii) to the 1994 Annual Report.
Exhibit 3(i)(c) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of
Incorporation, as filed on April 1, 1987, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (3)(iii) to the 1994 Annual Report.
Exhibit 3(i)(d) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of
Incorporation, as filed on February 2, 1994, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit (3)(iv) to the 1994 Annual Report.
Exhibit 3(i)(e) Registrant's Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of
Incorporation, as filed on February 4, 2005.
Exhibit 3(ii) Registrant's Amended and Restated By-Laws incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002.
Exhibit 4.1 Form of Indenture between Franklin Resources, Inc. and
The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly Chemical Bank), as
trustee, dated as of May 19, 1994, incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-3, filed with the SEC on April 14, 1994.
Exhibit 4.2 Indenture between Franklin Resources, Inc. and The Bank of
New York dated May 11, 2001 incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-3, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2001.
Exhibit 4.3 Form of Liquid Yield Option Note due 2031 (Zero
Coupon-Senior) incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed
with the SEC on August 6, 2001.
Exhibit 4.4 Registration Rights Agreement between Franklin Resources,
Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
dated May 11, 2001, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4
to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3,
filed with the SEC on August 6, 2001.
Exhibit 4.5 Form of 3.7% Senior Notes due 2008, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2003.
Exhibit 10.78 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice of
Restricted Stock Award under the Company's 2002 Universal
Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November
12, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.79 Form of Stock Option Agreement and Notice of Stock Option
Grant under the Company's 2002 Universal Stock Incentive
Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 12, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.80 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice of
Restricted Stock Award under the Company's 2002 Universal
Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November
19, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.81 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice of
Restricted Stock Unit Award under the Company's 2002
Universal Stock Incentive Plan, referenced in the Company's
Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 19, 2004.*
45
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Exhibit 10.82 Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Notice of
Restricted Stock Award under the Company's 2002 Universal
Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on
December 21, 2004.*
Exhibit 10.83 Franklin Resources, Inc. Deferred Compensation Arrangement
for Director's Fees, date as of January 21, 2005, by and
between Franklin Resources, Inc. and Samuel H. Armacost
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 27, 2005.*
Exhibit 10.84 Franklin Resources, Inc. 2002 Universal Stock Incentive Plan
(as amended and restated December 16, 2004) incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Form 8-K filed
with the SEC on January 27, 2005.*
Exhibit 10.85 Franklin Resources, Inc. Amended and Restated Annual
Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and restated
December 16, 2004).*
Exhibit 10.86 Description of Non-Management Director's Compensation.*
Exhibit 10.87 Description of Performance Goals for the Company's Co-Chief
Executive Officers for the 2005 Fiscal Year under the 2004
Key Executive Compensation Plan.*
Exhibit 12 Computations of ratios of earnings to fixed charges.
Exhibit 31.1 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith).
Exhibit 31.2 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith).
Exhibit 31.3 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
Exhibit 32.1 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
Exhibit 32.2 Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
Exhibit 32.3 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
* Management/Employment Contract or Compensatory Plan or
Arrangement.
46
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