[Form 4] FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC Insider Trading Activity
Karen Matsushima, a director of Franklin Resources, Inc. (BEN), reported a non-derivative acquisition on 09/16/2025 converting deferred director's fees into a hypothetical investment account denominated in Franklin common stock. The filing records 103.1353 shares credited on that date at a price basis of $24.24 and shows total beneficial ownership of 56,664.5004 shares held directly. The deferral is governed by the 2006 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan and is payable in substantially equal quarterly cash installments over ten years beginning after the director’s separation from service; alternative investment elections are permitted. The filing includes exercisable/expiration timing assumptions tied to separation and age and lists exercisable and expiration dates of 04/20/2048 and 01/20/2058 respectively.
- Director alignment with shareholders via deferred fees tracked to company stock performance under the 2006 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
- Substantial reported ownership of 56,664.5004 shares beneficially owned following the reported transaction
- Deferred amounts are hypothetical and payable in cash, not immediate issuance of tradable shares, with payments spread over ten years
Insights
TL;DR: Routine director compensation deferral recorded as share-equivalent acquisition; notable direct ownership size but no cash equity sale or purchase.
This Form 4 documents a director's conversion of deferred fees into a hypothetical account measured in Franklin Resources common stock, recorded as 103.1353 share-equivalents on 09/16/2025 and resulting in 56,664.5004 shares beneficially owned directly. The report reflects compensation planning rather than open-market trading activity and includes specified installment and expiration mechanics under the company's 2006 Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.
TL;DR: Governance-standard deferral disclosure showing alignment through share-linked compensation; payment terms are long-dated and structured.
The filing is a routine disclosure under Section 16: the director elected a plan-based deferral that references Franklin Resources' stock performance and defines long-dated installment timing and expiration assumptions tied to separation and age. The disclosure clarifies that the amounts are hypothetical account calculations and that payments will be made in cash in quarterly installments over ten years, consistent with plan governance and disclosure requirements.