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Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN) reports 26.4% holding in Clarion real estate income fund

(High)
(Neutral)
Form Type
SCHEDULE 13D/A

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Franklin Resources, Inc. and affiliates report beneficial ownership of 30,660,888 Class I shares of Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund Inc., representing 26.4% of this share class, based on 116,326,214 Class I shares outstanding as of August 10, 2026. The position consists of 4,999,845 shares in a Franklin corporate account and 25,661,042 shares held for fiduciary accounts managed by its investment management subsidiaries, including Franklin Advisers, Inc. The filing describes initial funding of these holdings with $55.6 million and $302.8 million, partial transfers to affiliated funds, and several Class I share redemptions in 2026 at prices around $11.29–$11.36 per share. Franklin states the shares were acquired for investment and to facilitate the Issuer’s commercial real estate investments and indicates it may increase or decrease its position depending on market conditions and the fund’s circumstances.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Filing Explained

Franklin reports no current control proposals, but its amended filing documents concentrated voting and disposition powers across affiliated accounts.

This Schedule 13D/A updates Franklin’s above-5% ownership report for Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund’s Class I shares. The filing is an ownership disclosure, not a completed control proposal.

Franklin states that the reporting persons have no current plans or proposals for the specified control-related actions, while reserving the ability to change their position or purpose. That leaves the disclosed ownership and voting arrangements as the current structural effect.

As of August 10, 2026, the reporting persons list 26.4% beneficial ownership, with 30,660,888 shares and 30,660,888 sole voting power versus 30,071,943 sole dispositive power. Franklin Income Fund separately has an interest in 7,867,833 shares, or 6.8% of the class.

The amendment also reports private purchases from the issuer through August 6, 2026, a 694-share sale on July 20, 2026, and a 15,760-share transfer out on August 8, 2026; these account-level transactions are disclosed alongside the aggregate ownership figure.

Beneficial ownership shares 30,660,888 Class I shares Franklin Resources, Inc. and affiliates’ reported beneficial ownership
Ownership percentage 26.4% Percent of Class I shares based on 116,326,214 outstanding as of August 10, 2026
Shares outstanding Class I 116,326,214 shares Class I Shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 10, 2026
Corporate account acquisition cost $55,628,327 Purchase price for 4,999,845 shares, including $50,000,000 from Legg Mason, Inc.
Fiduciary accounts acquisition cost $302,816,528 Purchase price for 25,661,042 shares for fiduciary accounts managed by subsidiaries
Franklin Advisers stake 21,656,097 shares (18.6%) Franklin Advisers, Inc. sole voting and dispositive power over these Class I shares
Franklin Income Fund holdings 7,867,833 shares (6.8%) Interest in Class I shares held by Franklin Income Fund
April 20, 2026 redemption 1,672,535 shares at $11.36 Class I Shares redeemed by Franklin Resources, Inc. for its corporate account
beneficial ownership financial
"Percentage represents the current beneficial ownership percentage that Franklin Resources, Inc."
Beneficial ownership means the person or entity that actually enjoys the benefits of owning shares or other assets — such as receiving dividends, voting rights, or price gains — even if the legal title is held in another name. For investors it matters because knowing who truly controls and profits from a company reveals who can influence decisions, exposes potential conflicts of interest or hidden concentration of power, and affects transparency and risk in the stock.
fiduciary accounts financial
"25,661,042 held for the benefit of fiduciary accounts managed by Franklin Resources Inc."
investment management contract financial
"pursuant to an investment management contract that grants investment and/or voting power to FAV."
disaggregated affiliates financial
"each of FRI's affiliates whose ownership of securities is disaggregated from that of FRI"
Schedule 13D regulatory
"for purposes of Section 13 of the Act and Rule 13d-3 under the Act"
A Schedule 13D is a legal document that investors file with regulators when they buy a large enough stake in a company to potentially influence its management or decisions. It provides details about the investor’s intention, ownership stake, and plans, helping other investors understand who is gaining control and what their motives might be.
Investment Company Act of 1940 regulatory
"an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940"
A U.S. federal law that sets the rulebook for pooled investment vehicles such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and similar money managers, requiring them to register with regulators, disclose holdings and fees, limit conflicts of interest, and follow governance standards. It matters to investors because these protections and transparency rules act like a referee and scoreboard, helping people compare funds, trust that managers follow fair practices, and spot hidden costs or risks.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What percentage of Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund does BEN currently report owning?

Franklin Resources (BEN) reports beneficial ownership of 30,660,888 Class I shares, representing 26.4% of that share class, based on 116,326,214 Class I shares outstanding as of August 10, 2026.

How many Clarion Class I shares are held directly in Franklin Resources, Inc.’s corporate account?

Franklin Resources, Inc. holds 4,999,845 Class I shares of Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund in its corporate account, with an additional 25,661,042 shares held for fiduciary accounts managed by its investment management subsidiaries.

What amounts has BEN invested to acquire its Clarion Class I share position?

The reporting group invested $55,628,327 to acquire 4,999,845 shares, including $50,000,000 from Legg Mason, Inc., and $302,816,528 to acquire 25,661,042 shares for fiduciary accounts from working capital.

What recent large Clarion share redemptions did Franklin Resources (BEN) report?

Franklin Resources reported Class I share redemptions of 1,672,535 shares on April 20, 2026 at $11.36 per share and 1,682,905 shares on July 20, 2026 at $11.29 per share for its corporate account.

What is Franklin Advisers, Inc.’s reported stake in Clarion’s Class I shares?

Franklin Advisers, Inc., a BEN subsidiary, reports beneficial ownership of 21,656,097 Class I shares, representing 18.6% of that share class, with sole voting and dispositive power over these shares according to the filing.

How many Clarion shares are held through Franklin Income Fund, and what percentage is that?

Franklin Income Fund, a series of Franklin Custodian Funds, has an interest in 7,867,833 Clarion Class I shares, which the filing states equals 6.8% of the reported class of securities.

Why does BEN say it holds Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund shares?

Franklin Resources states it acquired Clarion shares for investment and to facilitate the acquisition of the Issuer's commercial real estate investments, and may adjust its holdings based on market conditions and the fund’s situation.





180567406

(CUSIP Number)
Thomas C. Merchant
One Franklin Parkway,
San Mateo, CA, 94403
800-632-2350

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
08/10/2026

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)


If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).




schemaVersion:


SCHEDULE 13D




Comment for Type of Reporting Person:
1. Consists of 4,999,845 Class I Shares of Common Stock held in a Franklin Resources, Inc. corporate account and 25,661,042 held for the benefit of fiduciary accounts managed by Franklin Resources Inc.'s investment management subsidiaries, including funds managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc. 2. Percentage represents the current beneficial ownership percentage that Franklin Resources, Inc. and its investment management subsidiaries may be deemed to beneficially own based upon 116,326,214 Class I Shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 10, 2026. Class I Shares of Common Stock were initially transferred to Franklin Resources, Inc. for no consideration from Legg Mason, Inc. on March 12, 2021.


SCHEDULE 13D






SCHEDULE 13D






SCHEDULE 13D






SCHEDULE 13D


Franklin Resources, Inc.
Signature:/s/THOMAS C. MANDIA
Name/Title:Thomas C. Mandia, Assistant Secretary of Franklin Resources, Inc.
Date:08/12/2026
Charles B. Johnson
Signature:/s/THOMAS C. MANDIA
Name/Title:Attorney in Fact for Charles B. Johnson pursuant to Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule 13G
Date:08/12/2026
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
Signature:/s/THOMAS C. MANDIA
Name/Title:Attorney in Fact for Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. pursuant to Power of Attorney attached to this Schedule13G
Date:08/12/2026
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Signature:/s/THOMAS C. MANDIA
Name/Title:Thomas C. Mandia, Assistant Secretary of Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Date:08/12/2026
Comments accompanying signature:
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SECTION 13 AND 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Alison E. Baur, Thomas C. Mandia, Beth McAuley O'Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H. Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas and Navid J. Tofigh each acting individually, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to: 1. prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms ID, Schedules 13D and 13G, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto and any related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges relating to Franklin Resources, Inc. (FRI) and/or any registered closed-end company to which an affiliate of FRI is an investment adviser (each, a Reporting Entity), as considered necessary or advisable under Regulation S-T and Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the Exchange Act); and 2. seek or obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the undersigned's behalf, information on transactions in the securities of any Reporting Entity from any person, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and 3. perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing. The undersigned acknowledges that: 1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information; 2. any documents prepared and/or executed by any such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable; 3. none of FRI, any Reporting Entity nor any of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and 4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney- in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney, and indemnifies each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact against any loss of any nature whatsoever arising in connection therewith. This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of December, 2023. /s/CHARLES B. JOHNSON Signature Charles B. Johnson Print Name LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SECTION 13 AND 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes and appoints each of Alison E. Baur, Thomas C. Mandia, Beth McAuley O'Malley, Thomas C. Merchant, Kimberly H. Novotny, Virginia E. Rosas and Navid J. Tofigh each acting individually, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned to: 1. prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file Forms ID, Schedules 13D and 13G, and Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto and any related documentation) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any national securities exchanges relating to Franklin Resources, Inc. (FRI) and/or any registered closed-end company to which an affiliate of FRI is an investment adviser (each, a Reporting Entity), as considered necessary or advisable under Regulation S-T and Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time (the Exchange Act); and 2. seek or obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the undersigned's behalf, information on transactions in the securities of any Reporting Entity from any person, including brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, and the undersigned hereby authorizes any such person to release any such information to the undersigned and approves and ratifies any such release of information; and 3. perform any and all other acts which in the discretion of such attorney-in-fact are necessary or desirable for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with the foregoing. The undersigned acknowledges that: 1. this Limited Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each such attorney-in-fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without independent verification of such information; 2. any documents prepared and/or executed by any such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Limited Power of Attorney will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable; 3. none of FRI, any Reporting Entity nor any of such attorneys-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and 4. this Limited Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under the Exchange Act, including without limitation, the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The undersigned hereby gives and grants each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such attorney- in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney, and indemnifies each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact against any loss of any nature whatsoever arising in connection therewith. This Limited Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each such attorney-in-fact. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Limited Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 11th day of December, 2023. /s/RUPERT H. JOHNSON, JR. Signature Rupert H. Johnson, Jr. Print Name