FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
10-Q, 1998-08-14
INVESTMENT ADVICE
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                                    FORM 10-Q
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)

         [X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For Quarterly Period Ended June 30, 1998

                                       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.)


                 777 Mariners Island Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94404
                    (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 ______

                  APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
                     PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

    Indicate by check mark whether the  registrant  has filed all  documents and
reports  required  to be filed by  Sections  12,  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the  distribution of securities  under a plan
confirmed by a court. YES _____ NO ______


                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

Outstanding: : 253,031,290 shares,  common  stock,  par  value  $.10  per  share
at July 31, 1998.


<PAGE>

PART I -FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Condensed Financial Statements

FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
Unaudited
                                     Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                            June 30              June 30
(In thousands, except per share         1998      1997        1998     1997
 data)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating revenues:
   Investment management fees        $373,820   $314,600  $1,073,622   $855,659
   Underwriting and distribution
     fees                             252,354    219,110     774,164    573,668
   Shareholder servicing fees          40,793     36,614     117,798     90,239
   Other, net                           5,629      2,223      13,102      9,802
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total operating revenues        672,596    572,547   1,978,686  1,529,368
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating expenses:
   Underwriting and distribution      220,660    190,867     668,378    495,788
   Compensation and benefits          152,688    115,476     418,723    321,830
   Information systems,
     technology and occupancy          37,312     31,474     129,770     86,673
   Advertising and promotion           33,782     28,144      92,387     70,216
   Amortization of deferred
     sales commissions                 27,753     18,773      78,174     40,939
   Amortization of intangible
     assets                            9,336       8,931      27,280     25,333
   Other                              22,846      23,657      64,889     63,791
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total operating expenses       504,377     417,322   1,479,601  1,104,570
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating income                     168,219     155,225     499,085    424,798

Other income/(expenses):
   Investment and other income        15,435       8,784      42,006     34,479
   Interest expense                   (6,523)     (5,735)    (16,501)   (19,664)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Other income, net                8,912       3,049      25,505     14,815
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Income before taxes on income        177,131     158,274     524,590    439,613
Taxes on income                       46,118      47,086     136,393    130,785

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                          $131,013    $111,188    $388,197   $308,828
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings per share:
   Basic                               $0.52     $0.44       $1.54     $1.23
   Diluted                             $0.52     $0.44       $1.53     $1.22
Dividends per share                    $0.05    $0.045       $0.15     $0.13




The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.

<PAGE>




FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited



                                                 As of         As of
                                                June 30      September 30
(In thousands)                                   1998           1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSETS:
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                    $693,837        $434,864

   Receivables:
      Fees from Franklin Templeton funds         225,236         213,547
      Other                                       24,265          20,315
   Investment securities,
      available-for-sale                         187,184         189,674
   Prepaid expenses and other                     15,510          20,039
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total current assets                     1,146,032         878,439
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Banking/Finance assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                      13,471           7,877
   Loans receivable, net                         290,861         296,188
   Investment securities,
     available-for-sale                           23,402          24,232
   Other                                           4,164           3,739
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total banking/finance assets               331,898         332,036
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other assets:
   Deferred sales commissions                    136,661         119,537
   Property and equipment, net                   325,959         241,224
   Intangible assets, net                      1,262,336       1,224,019
   Receivable from banking/finance group         206,943         203,787
   Other                                         165,590          96,158

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total other assets                       2,097,489       1,884,725
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Total assets                           $3,575,419      $3,095,200
=============================================================================

The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.
<PAGE>


FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited                                          As of            As of
                                                  June 30        September 30
(In thousands except share data)                    1998            1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

Current liabilities:
   Compensation and benefits                    $142,503        $154,222
   Commissions                                    54,972          46,125
   Income taxes                                   44,957          31,908
   Short-term debt                               131,279         118,372
   Other                                          69,076          54,873
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total current liabilities                  442,787         405,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Banking/finance liabilities:
   Deposits:
       Interest bearing                           82,183          91,433
       Non-interest bearing                        8,730           6,971
   Payable to parent                             206,943         203,787
   Other                                           1,909           2,213
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total banking/finance liabilities          299,765         304,404
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Liabilities:
   Long-term debt                                548,681         493,244
   Other                                          50,385          37,831
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total other liabilities                    599,066         531,075
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total liabilities                       1,341,618       1,240,979
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stockholders' equity:
   Preferred stock, $1.00 par value,
   1,000,000 shares authorized; none
   issued                                             -               -
 
   Common stock, $.10 par value,
   500,000,000 shares
   authorized; 252,947,901 and
   126,230,916 shares                             
   issued; 252,947,901 and 126,031,900
   shares outstanding, respectively               25,295          12,623


   Capital in excess of par value                126,894          91,207
   Retained earnings                           2,095,169       1,757,536
   Less cost of treasury stock                         -         (11,070)
   Other                                         (13,557)          3,925
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total stockholders' equity               2,233,801       1,854,221
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Total liabilities and
         stockholders' equity                 $3,575,419      $3,095,200
=============================================================================

The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.


<PAGE>


FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
                                                    Nine months ended
(In thousands)                                     June 30       June 30
                                                    1998           1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                         $388,197    $308,828

Adjustments  to  reconcile   net  income  to  net  cash  provided  by  operating
  activities:
Increase in receivables,
  prepaid expenses and other current assets        (23,240)     (67,379)
Increase in deferred sales commissions             (95,299)     (81,474)
Increase in other current liabilities               38,161        5,456
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable         13,049       (6,635)
Increase in commissions payable                      8,847       13,975
Increase in compensation and benefits payable       23,256       61,485
Depreciation and amortization                      139,478       87,089
Gains on disposition of assets                      (8,474)     (11,969)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities          483,975      309,376
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Purchase of investments                            (113,619)    (82,296)
Liquidation of investments                           43,334      79,145
Purchase of banking/finance investments              (9,258)    (27,118)
Liquidation of banking/finance investments           10,117      27,374
Originations of banking/finance loans
  receivable                                        (98,660)    (86,076)
Collections of banking/finance loans
  receivable                                        105,624     128,627
Purchase of property and equipment                 (124,796)    (56,535)
Proceeds from sale of property                       14,517           -
Acquisition of assets and liabilities of
   Heine Securities Corporation                     (64,333)   (550,740)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities              (237,074)   (567,619)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decrease in bank deposits                           (7,492)     (23,329)
Exercise of common stock options                     2,846        1,878
Dividends paid on common stock                     (36,627)     (29,040)
Purchase of Company stock                           (2,942)     (15,356)
Issuance of debt                                   148,927      374,328
Payments on debt                                   (87,046)    (127,300)
Purchase of option rights from subordinated
   debenture holders                                     -      (91,685)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing
  activities                                         17,666      89,496
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents                                       264,567    (168,747)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
  period                                            442,741     502,189
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period           $707,308    $333,442
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:
    Value of stock issued for Heine
      acquisition                                         -     $65,588
    Value of stock issued for redemption of
      debentures                                          -     $75,015
    Value of common stock issued in other
      transactions, principally for the
      Company's incentive plans                     $37,119     $31,398


The  accompanying  notes are an integral  part of these  consolidated  financial
statements.

<PAGE>







                            FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
                    Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                                  June 30, 1998
                                   (Unaudited)

1.  Basis of Presentation
- -------------------------

The unaudited interim financial  statements of Franklin Resources,  Inc. and its
consolidated  subsidiaries (the "Company") included herein have been prepared in
accordance  with  the  instructions  to Form  10-Q  pursuant  to the  rules  and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Certain information and
footnote  disclosures  normally  included in  financial  statements  prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles have been condensed or
omitted  pursuant to such rules and  regulations.  In the opinion of management,
all appropriate  adjustments  necessary to a fair presentation of the results of
operations have been made for the periods shown. All adjustments are of a normal
recurring  nature.  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform
to current  year  presentation.  These  financial  statements  should be read in
conjunction with the Company's audited financial  statements for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 1997.

2.  Debt
- --------

At June 30, 1998, the Company had  interest-rate  swap  agreements,  maturing in
years 1998 through 2000, which  effectively fixed interest rates on $295 million
of  commercial  paper.  The fixed rates of interest  ranged from 6.24% to 6.65%.
These financial  instruments are placed with major financial  institutions.  The
creditworthiness  of the counterparties is subject to continuous review and full
performance   is   anticipated.   Any   potential   loss  from  failure  of  the
counterparties to perform is believed to be immaterial. As of June 30, 1998, the
Company  had fixed  interest  rates on  approximately  $565  million of its debt
through its interest-rate  swap agreements and its medium-term note program.  At
quarter end, the weighted average effective interest rate,  including the effect
of  interest-rate  swap agreements,  was 6.24% on approximately  $637 million of
outstanding commercial paper and medium-term notes.

3.  Acquisition
- ---------------

On November 1, 1996,  the Company  acquired (the  "Acquisition")  the assets and
liabilities of Heine Securities  Corporation  ("Heine"),  the former  investment
advisor to Mutual Series Fund Inc., other funds and managed accounts ("Mutual").
One of the Company's subsidiaries,  Franklin Mutual Advisers, Inc. ("FMAI"), now
serves as the investment  adviser to Mutual.  The  transaction  had an aggregate
value of approximately $616 million. Heine received $551 million in cash and 3.3
million  shares of common  stock  (after  the  effects  of the stock  split paid
January 15, 1997 and the stock split paid January 15, 1998).  In addition to the
base  purchase  price,  the purchase  agreement  also  provides  for  contingent
payments to Heine  ranging from $96.25  million to $192.5  million under certain
conditions if certain  agreed-upon  growth targets are met.  Agreed-upon  growth
targets range from 12.5% to 17.5% of management  fee revenues from Mutual over a
five-year period and payments are pro-rated based upon the upper and lower range
of the targets.  The first contingent  payment of $64.2 million related to these
agreed-upon  growth targets was made in the third quarter of fiscal 1998.  Other
payments are due in fiscal 2000 and 2001 if growth  targets  continue to be met.
These  contingent  payments  will  be  accounted  for  as  goodwill  related  to
additional  purchase price of Heine. The contingent payments are not expected to
have a material impact on the Company's  income  statement or balance sheet. The
first payment was funded from cash on hand and existing credit  facilities.  The
Acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.


4.  Stockholders' Equity
- ------------------------

On December 12, 1997, the Board of Directors  approved a two-for-one stock split
effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend that was paid to  shareholders  of
record on  December  31,  1997.  An amount  equal to the par value of the common
stock issued has been  transferred  from retained  earnings to common stock. The
number of shares used for purposes of calculating earnings per share and all per
share data have been  adjusted  for all periods  presented  to give  retroactive
effect to the stock split. Stockholders' equity as of September 30, 1997 has not
been restated.

During the  quarter  ended  December  31,  1997,  the  Company  retired  407,730
post-split shares of treasury stock. For treasury shares retired by the Company,
common stock was charged for the par value of the shares  retired and capital in
excess of par  value  was  charged  for the  excess of cost over the par  value.
During the quarter ended June 30, 1998, no shares were purchased by the Company.

5.  Employee Stock Investment Plan
- ----------------------------------

The Company's shareholders have approved a qualified,  non-compensatory Employee
Stock Investment Plan ("ESIP"), which allows substantially all employees of U.S.
subsidiaries  and certain  employees of non-U.S.  subsidiaries  meeting  certain
eligibility  criteria to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at 90% of
its market  value on  certain  defined  dates.  Participants  made  their  first
purchase of stock under this plan  effective as of July 31, 1998.  The Company's
shareholders  have approved  4,000,000  (post-split)  shares of common stock for
issuance under the ESIP.

As allowed under the provisions of Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards
No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based  Compensation",  the Company has elected to
apply Accounting  Principles  Board (APB) Opinion No. 25,  "Accounting for Stock
Issued  to  Employees",  and  related  interpretations  in  accounting  for  its
stock-based  plans.  Accordingly,  the Company has  recognized  no  compensation
expense for the ESIP.

In connection with the ESIP, the Company,  at its sole  discretion,  can provide
matching  grants to  participants  in the ESIP of whole or partial shares of the
Company's common stock. While reserving the right to change such  determination,
the Company has initially  determined  that it will provide one  half-share  for
each  share  held by a  participant  for a minimum  holding  period of  eighteen
months.  The fair market value of the Company's  matching  contribution  will be
recognized as compensation expense during the eighteen-month holding period.


6.  Adoption of New Statements of Financial Accounting Standards Board
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------

During the first  quarter of fiscal  1998,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128,  "Earnings per Share" ("FAS 128"). FAS
128 requires that the Company  retroactively  restate prior period  earnings per
share ("EPS") data. The impact on previously reported EPS was not material.

In June,  1998, the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial Accounting  Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("FAS 133"). FAS 133 requires that the Company recognize
all  derivatives  as assets or  liabilities  on its balance  sheet at their fair
value.  FAS 133 will be effective for interim and annual  reporting in the first
quarter  of fiscal  2000.  The  Company's  derivative  instruments  and  hedging
activities  are  limited to the  interest-rate  swap  agreements  related to its
commercial  paper debt.  See Note 2 above.  The Company does not expect that the
implementation  of  FAS  133  will  have a  material  effect  on  its  financial
statements.


7.  Subsequent events
- ---------------------

Securitization of Auto Loans

On June 15,  1998,  Franklin  Receivables  LLC and FCC  Receivables  Corp.,  two
wholly-owned  subsidiaries of the Company,  filed a Registration  Statement with
the SEC for the future  securitization  of auto loan  receivables.  The  Company
presently  plans to  securitize  approximately  $100  million  of its auto  loan
receivables before the end of calendar 1998,  although this is currently subject
to SEC review and  approval.  No material  impact to the Company's net income is
anticipated.

Pricing Structure     Underwriting and distribution fees

On August 3, 1998, the Company  effected  changes in the pricing  structure of a
number of its mutual  funds.  The  minimum  initial  and  subsequent  investment
amounts for most Franklin Templeton funds were increased. Also on this date, the
maximum  initial sales charge for Class I shares of a number of equity  products
was changed to create a standard pricing structure across the Franklin Templeton
funds.  The Company  does not expect that the change in pricing  structure  will
have a  material  effect on net  income,  because a  significant  portion of the
Company's   underwriting   and   distribution   revenues  are  paid  to  selling
intermediaries.



Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations

GENERAL

Franklin  Resources,  Inc. and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  (the  "Company")
derive  substantially  all of  their  revenues  and net  income  from  providing
investment management, administration,  distribution and related services to the
Franklin,  Templeton and Mutual Series funds,  institutional  accounts and other
investment products  (collectively the "Franklin Templeton Group").  The Company
has a diversified base of assets under management and a full range of investment
products  and  services  to meet  the  needs of a  variety  of  individuals  and
institutions.

I.  Material Changes in Results of Operations

Results of operations

                     Three months ended            Nine months ended
                          June 30                        June 30
(In millions)        1998       1997     Change      1998      1998     Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income         $131.0     $111.1        18%     $388.2     $308.8       26%
Earnings per share
     Basic          $0.52      $0.44        18%      $1.54     $1.23        25%
     Diluted        $0.52      $0.44        18%      $1.53     $1.22        25%

Operating margin      19%        19%          -        20%       20%          -
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income during the periods  ended June 30, 1998  increased as compared to the
same  periods in the  previous  fiscal  year  primarily  due to an  increase  in
investment management fees as a result of a 25% increase in average assets under
management.  Previously  reported  earnings  per share  have been  retroactively
restated to reflect the two-for-one  stock split effected in the form of a stock
dividend on January 15,  1998.  During  1998,  the  Company has  maintained  its
operating  margins while engaging in a number of long-term  information  systems
and technology initiatives.

Operating revenues will continue to be dependent upon the amount and composition
of assets  under  management,  mutual  fund sales and the number of mutual  fund
investors and institutional clients. Operating expenses are expected to increase
with the Company's ongoing  expansion,  increased  competition and the Company's
plan to improve its products and services. These endeavors will likely result in
increased  underwriting and distribution costs,  compensation and benefits costs
and information systems and technology costs.



Assets under management
                                                   As of
                                                  June 30               %
(In billions)                                 1998       1997        Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Franklin Templeton Group:
Equity:
   Global/international                     $106.6      $99.0            8%
   Domestic (U.S.)                            57.1       43.1           32%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total equity                           163.7      142.1           15%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fixed-income:
   Tax-free                                   49.1       44.4           11%
   Domestic (primarily U.S. Gov't.)           15.7       15.1            4%
   Global/international                        4.1        3.5           17%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total fixed-income                      68.9       63.0            9%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Money funds                                    4.0        3.7            8%

================================================================================
Total Franklin Templeton Group
   - end of period                          $236.6     $208.8           13%
================================================================================
Monthly average for the
     three-month period                     $240.5     $198.2           21%
================================================================================
Monthly average for the
     nine-month period                      $229.9     $183.7           25%
================================================================================

End of period  assets under the Company's  management  decreased by $3.1 billion
(1%) from March 31, 1998 and increased $27.8 billion (13%) from June 30, 1997.

The relative  composition  of assets under  management is similar to that of the
prior quarter and the same period in fiscal 1997.  Equity assets now make up 69%
of total assets under  management  compared to 70% in March 1998 and 68% in June
1997.  Fixed income funds comprise 29% of total assets under  management at June
1998, as compared to 28% and 30% in March 1998 and June 1997, respectively.  The
recent  volatility of global equity markets has led to a slight  increase in the
fixed income funds' share of total assets under management.


Operating revenue

                            Three months ended           Nine months ended
                                  June 30                     June 30
(In millions)           1998      1997     Change     1998       1997   Change
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment
   management fees     $373.8    $314.6      19%     $1,073.6    $855.7    25%
Underwriting and
   distribution fees    252.4     219.1      15%        774.2     573.7    35%
Shareholder
servicing fees           40.8     36.6       11%        117.8      90.2    31%
Other, net                5.6      2.2      155%         13.1       9.8    34%
==============================================================================
   Total operating
     revenues          $672.6   $572.5       17%     $1,978.7  $1,529.4    29%
==============================================================================


Investment  management  fees are derived  primarily from  contractual  fixed-fee
arrangements  that are  based  upon the level of assets  under  management  with
open-end  and  closed-end  investment  companies  and  managed  portfolios.  The
majority  of fund  investment  management  contracts  are  subject  to  periodic
approval  by  each  fund's  Board  of  Directors/Trustees.  There  have  been no
significant  changes in the management fee structures for the Franklin Templeton
Group in the periods  under  review.  The  previous  statement  notwithstanding,
during the current  quarter of the fiscal  year,  the  Company has  reclassified
revenues  related to the  distribution  component  of Canadian  all-in fees from
Investment  management  to  Underwriting  and  distribution  fees.  The  Company
believes this change more  accurately  reflects its pricing  structure in Canada
and more closely matches revenue  generation with the expenses  incurred.  Prior
periods have also been reclassified.  Investment  management fees increased when
compared to the prior year due to the 21% and 25% increase in average  assets in
the  three-  and  nine-month  periods,  respectively.   Future  changes  in  the
composition  of assets  under  management  may affect the  effective  investment
management fee rates earned by the Company.

Certain  subsidiaries of the Company act as distributors for its sponsored funds
and receive  commissions and  distribution  fees.  Underwriting  commissions are
earned primarily from fund sales.  Distribution  fees are generally based on the
level of assets under  management.  These  distribution  fees include 12b-1 fee,
paid by the funds in reimbursement  for distribution  expenses  incurred up to a
maximum allowed by each fund. A significant portion of underwriting  commissions
and distribution fees are paid to selling intermediaries.  See the discussion of
the reclassification of Investment management fees above.

Underwriting  and  distribution  fees increased 15% and 35% over the same three-
and  nine-month  periods last year  primarily as a result of increases in retail
mutual  fund  sales and due to 21% and 25%  increases  in average  assets  under
management in the three- and nine-month periods, respectively.

Shareholder  servicing  fees are  generally  fixed charges per account that vary
with the  particular  type of fund and the service being  rendered.  Shareholder
servicing  fees  increased  principally  as a result of a 24%  increase  in fund
shareholder  accounts to 8.7 million  from 7.0 million a year ago, and also as a
result of an  increase in the  average  per  account  charge for  certain  funds
effective February 1998.


Other, net
                      Three months ended               Nine months ended
                            June 30                         June 30
(In millions)          1998       1997     Change      1998       1997    Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues               $10.7       $9.3      15%      $30.8     $29.1       6%
Provision for loan
  losses                (0.7)      (1.9)   (63)%       (4.3)     (3.0)     43%
Interest expense        (4.4)      (5.2)   (15)%      (13.4)    (16.3)   (18)%
================================================================================
Total other, net        $5.6       $2.2     155%      $13.1      $9.8      34%
================================================================================


Other, net consists primarily of revenues from the Company's banking and finance
subsidiaries,  net of  interest  expense  and the  provision  for  loan  losses.
Compared to the corresponding  three- and nine-month  periods in the prior year,
other,  net  increased by 155% and 34%,  respectively.  Revenues  have  remained
relatively  stable despite a 6% decline in average loan  receivables as a result
of increased  effective yields. The provision for loan losses has increased over
the nine-month period in the prior year, even as charge-offs  decreased,  due to
the  Company's  decision in the last quarter of fiscal 1997 to maintain a higher
level of reserves.  Interest  expense  decreased in the current periods due to a
reduction in the average  borrowing  requirements of the  banking/finance  group
combined with a reduction in effective interest rates.


Operating expenses

                          Three months ended             Nine months ended
                                 June 30                       June 30
(In millions)            1998     1997     Change       1998     1997    Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underwriting and
  distribution         $220.7     $190.9     16%     $668.4     $495.8      35%
Compensation and
  benefits              152.7      115.5     32%      418.7      321.8      30%
Information systems,
   technology and
   occupancy             37.3      31.5      18%      129.7       86.7      50%
Advertising and
   promotion             33.8      28.1      20%       92.4       70.2      32%
Amortization of
   deferred sales
   commissions           27.8      18.8      48%       78.2       40.9      91%
Amortization of
   intangible  assets     9.3       8.9       4%       27.3       25.4       7%
Other                    22.8      23.6     (3)%       64.9       63.8       2%
===============================================================================
   Total operating
     expenses          $504.4    $417.3      21%   $1,479.6   $1,104.6      34%
================================================================================

Increases in operating expenses  principally resulted from the general expansion
of the  Company's  business,  increased  distribution  costs  and the  Company's
investment in information systems and technology.

Underwriting and distribution  include sales  commissions and distribution  fees
paid  to  brokers  and  other  third-party  intermediaries.   The  increases  in
underwriting  and  distribution  expenses were  consistent with the increases in
underwriting and distribution fee revenue in the periods under review.

Compensation  and benefits costs  increased 32% and 30% over the same three- and
nine-month  periods  in 1997  as a  result  of  increased  headcount,  increased
temporary labor costs and increased payments under the Company's incentive plans
that  are  based  on the  Company's  profitability.  The  Company  continues  to
experience  upward  pressure on  compensation  and benefits due to the Company's
growth and expansion and due to the effects of a very competitive labor market.

Information  systems,  technology and occupancy costs have increased 18% and 50%
over the prior three- and nine-month periods, respectively, due to the Company's
investment in  infrastructure.  During the past eighteen months, the Company has
embarked upon major systems implementations,  Year 2000 corrections and European
Monetary Unit preparations,  and has upgraded its network,  desktop and internet
environments.  The Company anticipates that such major systems undertakings will
continue to have an impact on the Company's  operating  results through the year
2000.

To date the Company has incurred external costs of approximately $4.3 million in
respect  of its Year 2000  compliance  efforts.  See "Other  Information  - Year
2000".

Advertising and promotion  expenses  increased during the comparative three- and
nine-month  periods  mainly  due  to  increased  promotional  activity  and  new
marketing campaigns.

Sales  commissions on certain  Franklin  Templeton Group products sold without a
front-end  sales charge are capitalized and amortized over periods not exceeding
six years - the period in which management estimates that they will be recovered
from  distribution  plan payments and from  contingent  deferred  sales charges.
Amortization  of deferred  sales  commissions  increased  48% and 91% during the
periods under review as sales of products by the Company's  Canadian  subsidiary
increased.

The Company's  effective  income tax rate  decreased from  approximately  30% in
fiscal 1997 to  approximately  26% of pretax income for the first nine months of
fiscal 1998 due to the relative  proportion  of non-U.S.  pretax  income and the
effects  of tax  law  changes.  The  effective  tax  rate  will  continue  to be
reflective of the relative contributions of foreign earnings that are subject to
reduced tax rates and that are not currently included in U.S. taxable income.


Other income/(expenses):
                       Three months ended              Nine months ended
                            June 30                         June 30
(In millions)           1998       1997     Change      1998     1997     Change
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Investment and
    other income        15.4        8.8        75%      42.0      34.5       22%
   Interest
    expense             (6.5)      (5.8)       12%     (16.5)    (19.7)    (16)%
================================================================================
      Other
       income, net       8.9        3.0        97%      25.5      14.8       72%
================================================================================

As a result of significant  growth in the Company's cash equivalents  during the
periods under review,  investment and other income have risen 75% and 22% in the
three- and nine-month  periods of fiscal 1998 over amounts reported in the prior
fiscal year.  Interest expense has increased 12% and decreased 16% in the three-
and  nine-month  periods of fiscal 1998 when compared to the same periods in the
prior  year.  These  changes  were due to a decrease  in the  Company's  overall
effective  borrowing  rate and the Company's  capitalization  of interest  costs
associated with the financing of buildings under construction.  During the third
fiscal  quarter of 1998 the majority of these  buildings  were placed in service
and accordingly, the Company ceased capitalizing interest on these properties.


II.    Material Changes in Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 1998, the Company's  assets  aggregated  $3.6 billion,  up from $3.1
billion at September 30, 1997.  Stockholders'  equity  approximated $2.2 billion
compared to  approximately  $1.9 billion at September 30, 1997.  The increase in
assets and stockholders'  equity was primarily a result of increased net income.
Cash  provided by operating  activities  for the nine months ended June 30, 1998
increased  57% to $485.3  million,  from  $309.4  million for the same period in
fiscal 1997.  The increase in cash from  operations was the result of changes in
income before depreciation and amortization. The Company invested $124.8 million
in property and equipment during the period. Property and equipment purchases in
the  current  fiscal  year  include  $74.9  related to  information  systems and
technology.  Net cash  provided by  financing  activities  during the period was
$17.7 million as the Company  increased its total debt while  continuing to make
regular  dividend  payments to  shareholders  and servicing  its existing  debt.
During the fiscal year to date, the Company paid $36.6 million in cash dividends
to stockholders and purchased 62,762  post-split  shares of its common stock for
$2.9  million.  The Company may  continue  from time to time to purchase its own
shares in the open  market  and in private  transactions  when it  believes  the
market price of its shares merits such action.


In October  1997,  the Company  sold and leased  back an office  building in San
Mateo, California.  Proceeds of $14.5 million were received in this transaction.
The gain on sale was deferred and will be  amortized  on a  straight-line  basis
through June 30, 2000, the end of the lease period.

At June 30, 1998, the Company held $707.3 million in cash and cash  equivalents,
as compared to $442.7  million at  September  30,  1997.  Liquid  assets,  which
consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments available-for-sale and current
receivables  increased to $1,167.4  million at June 30, 1998 from $889.7 million
at September 30, 1997.  Revolving credit  facilities at June 30, 1998 aggregated
$500  million  of which  $200  million  was  under a  364-day  revolving  credit
facility.  The remaining $300 million facility has a five-year term. At June 30,
1998,  approximately  $483.1  million was  available to the Company under unused
commercial paper and medium-term note programs.

In April 1998, the Company  issued $50 million in  medium-term  notes at a fixed
rate of 5.96%  that  will  mature in April  2000.  The cash was used to make the
contingent  payment  related  to the  Acquisition.  See Note 3 to the  condensed
financial statements.

Management  expects that the  principal  needs for cash will be to advance sales
commissions, fund increased property and equipment acquisitions, pay shareholder
dividends and service debt. Any future increases in the Company's  investment in
its consumer  lending  activities are expected to be financed  through  existing
debt  facilities,  operating  cash  flows,  or through the  securitization  of a
portion of the receivables  receivables from such consumer  lending  activities.
Management believes that the Company's existing liquid assets, together with the
expected  continuing  cash flow from  operations,  its borrowing  capacity under
current  credit  facilities and its ability to issue stock will be sufficient to
meet its present and reasonably foreseeable cash needs.



PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

During  the  reporting  period  hereunder  there  were no  material  changes  or
developments  to the litigation  previously  reported in the Company's Form 10-Q
for the three-month period ended March 31, 1998 as filed with the SEC on May 15,
1998.

Item 5. Other Information

Year 2000

Many of the  world's  computer  systems  currently  record  years in a two-digit
format. Such computer systems may be unable to recognize, interpret or use dates
beyond the year 1999  correctly.  In addition,  the fact that the Year 2000 is a
non-standard leap year may create  difficulties for some systems.  A few systems
may also be affected by the dates in the month of  September  1999.  Because the
activities of many  businesses  are affected by dates or are  date-related,  the
inability  to use  such  date  information  correctly  could  lead  to  business
disruptions  both in the  United  States  and  internationally  (the  "Year 2000
Problem").  The costs and  uncertainties  associated  with the Year 2000 Problem
will depend  upon a number of factors,  including  computer  software,  computer
hardware and the nature of the industry in which a company operates.

The  following  discussion  contains  "forward-looking  statements"  within  the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements regarding the Year 2000 Problem include the types of phrases with the
wording  described  more  specifically  under  the  caption  "Risk  Factors  and
Cautionary  Statements"  elsewhere in this document and  statements  such as the
following:  estimated timetables for implementation and completion of the phases
of the Company's Year 2000 plan; projections of expenditures and financial items
regarding the Year 2000 plan;  statements  regarding the possible effects of the
Year 2000 Problem on the Company's  business and that of third parties with whom
the Company does business;  and possible contingency plans of the Company.  Such
statements  are  subject to certain  risks and  uncertainties,  including  those
discussed in the paragraphs below and under the captions "Special  Concerns" and
"Risk Factors and Cautionary  Statements" below, that could cause actual results
to differ materially from historical results and those presently  anticipated or
projected.  The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

A substantial  number of the  Company's  current  computer  systems will require
modification  to avoid being  adversely  affected by the Year 2000  Problem.  In
addition,  the Company  coordinates and interacts on a daily basis with numerous
other  companies  and persons to  exchange  data  electronically.  Many of these
third-party  systems  will also  require  modification  to resolve the Year 2000
Problem.

To help  ensure  that the  Company's  computer  systems  and  those of the third
parties with whom the Company interacts will function properly in and after 1999
("Year 2000 Compliant"),  a team of information  technology  professionals began
preparing  for the Year 2000  Problem  in 1996.  The  Company  has  completed  a
preliminary assessment of its systems and programs and has identified those that
contain  two-digit  year codes or other  elements  that might be affected by the
Year 2000 Problem.  The Company is in various  stages of reviewing,  testing and
making  software  repairs and  upgrades to those  systems and  programs  that it
believes will be affected by the millenial  date.  Because the Year 2000 project
is an ongoing companywide endeavor,  the state of the Company's progress changes
daily.  With the  exception of the financial  figures,  which are provided as of
June 30, 1998, the  information  contained in this disclosure is made as of July
15, 1998, which is the latest practical date for providing such information. The
Company's Year 2000 compliance plan includes the comprehensive  testing and Year
2000 Compliant  certification of all major Company hardware and software systems
and  is  comprised  of  four  phases:  Assessment,   Remediation,   Testing  and
Implementation.


Assessment:
- -----------
The Assessment phase includes preparing an inventory of
systems that the Company's  anticipates will be affected by the millenial change
as well as creating a budget and a strategy to  evaluate  and address  potential
problems  of  each  system.   The  Company's  Year  2000  plan  prioritizes  the
information  technology  ("IT") systems over non-IT  systems in all phases,  and
further  prioritizes  mission  critical IT systems  over other IT  systems.  The
Company  currently plans to complete a final Assessment of the  approximately 60
systems that have been  validated  to date as mission  critical,  including  the
platforms and networks upon which they run, by September 1, 1998 and of other IT
systems by December 31, 1998.


Remediation:
- ------------
In this phase software  corrections,  upgrades,  software  patches and bug fixes
will be made to remedy identified Year 2000 deficiencies in software,  hardware,
operating systems, network devices and phone systems. The Remediation phase also
includes sending  questionnaires  requesting Year 2000 compliance  assurances to
vendors of such systems and, in some cases,  requesting  test scripts  which the
Company can use to test Year 2000  compliance.  The  majority  of the  Company's
mission  critical  systems,  approximately  45  systems,  are  currently  in the
Remediation  phase.  The Company has  prioritized the Remediation and Testing of
mission  critical IT systems over other systems and currently  plans to complete
Remediation of mission critical  components by December 31, 1998 and of other IT
systems as soon as possible  thereafter,  but in any event by December 31, 1999.
The Company is continuing to evaluate the most  effective  means to achieve Year
2000 compliance for its systems in a cost efficient  manner.  In the event it is
determined  that it would be more  efficient  to upgrade to a new system or to a
later version of a system,  even if the existing  system is or will be Year 2000
Compliant  by December 31,  1998,  the Company may defer  testing of such new or
upgraded  system  until after  December  31,  1998.  Certain IT systems that are
insignificant to the Company's operations may not be made Year 2000 Compliant by
December  31, 1999 but the Company  does not  anticipate  that this would have a
materially  adverse impact on the Company's  business,  results of operations or
financial condition.


Testing:
- ---------
The Testing phase includes  testing of internal  systems on a stand-alone  basis
using  Company-generated  hypothetical  dates  and  scenarios  or  test  scripts
provided by the vendor.  Testing  will be  conducted  on both  existing  and new
systems  which may be affected by the Year 2000  Problem as well as systems that
have been fixed, upgraded or otherwise altered in the Remediation phase. Testing
will be conducted in one of the five test labs that the Company has  established
near its major centers of operations  in the U.S. If required,  additional  labs
will be established in the future. Because the majority of the Company's mission
critical  systems  are  operated  and  managed in the U.S.,  the  Company has no
current  plans to establish  foreign test centers but will  continue to evaluate
this  possibility.  The Company has  prioritized  the Remediation and Testing of
mission  critical IT systems and  currently  approximately  12 mission  critical
systems are in the Testing phase.  Subject to possible system upgrades described
above, the Company plans to complete Testing of most mission critical systems by
December 31, 1998 and of other IT systems as soon as possible thereafter, but in
any event by December 31, 1999.

Testing  includes  point-to-point  testing,  which is testing the  communication
links and data exchange  capabilities between the Company's internal systems and
the internal systems of third parties. For example, sending a sample trade order
dated  after the  millenial  date  from a mutual  fund to a  broker-dealer.  The
Company currently plans to complete  point-to-point  Testing of mission critical
systems by February 28, 1999,  and of other  systems by June 30, 1999. It is the
Company's  present   intention  to  participate  in  industry-wide   testing  of
securities  processing sponsored by the Securities Industry Association which is
presently scheduled to commence in March of 1999.


Implementation:
- ---------------
In the  Implementation  phase,  a system that has been  identified as being Year
2000 Compliant is put into normal business operation.  End-user training is also
conducted as part of the  Implementation  phase. Some IT systems of the Company,
including   approximately  3  mission  critical   systems,   have  been  tested,
implemented  and are currently in use. The Company  currently  plans to complete
Implementation  of mission  critical  systems by February  28, 1999 and of other
systems as soon as possible thereafter but in any event by December 31, 1999.

Other than third-party long distance telephone and data lines and public utility
suppliers of electrical power, the Company's business operations are not heavily
dependent  on  non-information  technology  components,  systems or  third-party
vendors,  and none of the Company's mission critical systems is a non-IT system.
In  addition,  most of the  Company's  non-IT  components  have manual  override
features  that are designed to allow the component to operate in the event of an
internal  computer  malfunction.  The Company is conducting an assessment of the
Company-owned or -managed non-IT components including building,  mechanical, air
conditioning,   electrical,  security  and  conveyance  systems  for  Year  2000
compliance, which assessment is approximately 50% complete companywide.  Most of
these non-IT systems cannot easily be tested for Year 2000 compliance;  however,
the  Company  does not believe  that the  failure of any of its non-IT  systems,
other  than  electrical  or long  distance  data and voice  lines,  would have a
materially  adverse effect upon its business,  results of operation or financial
condition.


Third Parties
- -------------
The  Company  is taking  steps  designed  to verify the Year 2000  readiness  of
material  third-party  vendors and suppliers  whose lack of Year 2000  readiness
could cause a materially  adverse impact on the Company's  business,  results of
operations  or financial  condition.  The Company has contacted all of its major
external  suppliers  of  goods,  services  and data  (other  than  suppliers  of
electricity  or long distance data and  voicelines)  to assess their  compliance
efforts  and the  Company's  exposure  in the event of a failure of  third-party
compliance  efforts.  The Company is in the process of validating  and reviewing
the responses from these suppliers of mission critical systems and in some cases
is seeking additional information or certification.

The Company's business operations are heavily dependent upon a complex worldwide
network of IT systems  that contain  date  fields,  including  data feeds to the
Company, trading systems,  securities transfer agent operations and stock market
links. The Company's ability to minimize the effects of the Year 2000 Problem is
highly dependent upon the efforts of third parties. The failure of organizations
such as securities exchanges, securities clearing organizations, banks, vendors,
clients or domestic or foreign governmental regulatory agencies to resolve their
own  processing  issues with respect to the Year 2000 Problem in a timely manner
could have a materially  adverse  effect on the Company's  business,  results of
operations or financial condition.


Cost Estimates
- --------------
The Company has taken a number of actions since it began  preparing for its Year
2000  project in 1996,  however,  Year 2000  readiness  expenditures  were first
tracked as a separate  expense item  beginning in fiscal year 1998.  The Company
has incurred approximately $4.3 million in such costs during the fiscal year.

The Company is assessing the scope of the Year 2000 compliance  effort that will
be needed for all parts of its business and is conducting this  investigation by
prioritizing  IT mission  critical  systems  over  other IT  systems  and non-IT
components.  A definitive estimate of Year 2000 costs has not yet been completed
because  the full scope of effort  needed to  address  the  Company's  Year 2000
readiness is not yet completely  known.  The Company  presently  expects that it
will incur  expenses in the range of $30 to $40 million on Year 2000  compliance
efforts. This is a preliminary estimate comprised of IT expenses only, including
third-party  consulting,  software and hardware  expenses  that will be utilized
solely to combat the Year 2000 problem.  Costs  incurred  relating to making the
Company's  systems Year 2000 Compliant are being expensed in the period in which
they are incurred. In the event that additional cash commitments are required in
connection  with the Year 2000  Problem,  the Company  believes that its current
cash position,  cash flows and lines of credit provide  sufficient  liquidity to
fund any unanticipated increased expenditures.

The amount  above does not  include the  allocation  of the  internal  time of a
substantial number of employees working on the Year 2000 Problem.  Such internal
employee costs principally  represent the redeployment of existing  personnel to
the Year 2000 Problem,  not the addition of new  employees.  Such employees have
and will spend significant administrative time and effort in addressing the Year
2000  Problem.  The Company is presently  unable to  determine  the cost of such
employee resource allocation to the Year 2000 Problem.

The Company expects that its Year 2000 cost estimates will continue to change as
the  millenial  date  approaches,  during  which  time the  Company's  Year 2000
readiness efforts are expected to become more defined.  Expenditures  related to
Year 2000 are  expected to increase  as the  Company  moves the  majority of its
efforts from the relatively  inexpensive  phase of assessment to the more costly
testing, remediation and implementation phases.

The  Company  presently  expects  that the  majority  of its costs are yet to be
incurred in the remediation,  testing and implementation phases of its Year 2000
efforts.  The Company has retained outside consultants and plans to hire more in
order to complete its Year 2000 project.  Such  consultants are in great demand,
command  high fees and are  expected to demand  increasingly  higher fees as the
millenial  date  approaches,  which  could  cause  the  Company's  current  cost
estimates to be  inaccurate.  In addition,  there can be no assurances  that the
Company will be able to retain its current  employees or hire  consultants  with
the  required  skills to complete the  Company's  Year 2000 project at the times
that they are needed for the Company's projects,  at reasonable fees, or at all.
The Company may  re-allocate its internal IT employees to have them focus on the
Year 2000 project,  which may cause the Company to delay or cancel other planned
projects,  which could in turn have a materially adverse effect on the Company's
business, results of operations or financial condition.

Although the Company does not  currently  have  specific  Year 2000  contractual
obligations,  in the event that the  Company's  business  operations  experience
problems  due to lack of Year 2000  readiness,  it is likely that the  Company's
customers  and business  partners  would assert claims  against the Company.  In
addition, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to substantial regulation
by  state,  federal  and  foreign  regulatory  authorities  which  could  impose
sanctions,  fines,  or  order  the  Company  or  various  subsidiaries  to cease
operations in the event of Year 2000 non-compliance.

The Company is beginning to develop a contingency plan, including identification
of those  mission  critical  systems  for  which it is  practical  to  develop a
contingency  plan.  However,  in an  operation  as  complex  and  geographically
distributed as the Company's business the alternatives to use of normal systems,
especially mission critical systems, or supplies of electricity or long distance
voice and data lines are limited.  For example,  in the non-IT area, the Company
has installed back-up electrical  generators at its principal data facilities in
the U.S.  However,  such  generators are dependent on the  availability of fuel,
which cannot be  stockpiled  at the Company's  facilities  due to  environmental
regulations.  Major electrical disruptions in data center locations could impact
both fuel supply and fuel demand.  Although manual  work-arounds  exist for some
portions  of the  Company's  operations,  certain  mission  critical  IT systems
contain and transfer such  enormous  amounts of data that the inability of these
systems to function would  materially  and adversely  affect the majority of the
Company's  operations.  A broader failure of third-party  systems, in particular
externally-managed  data lines,  communication systems,  telephone or electrical
systems would materially and adversely affect the Company's  ability to carry on
business   operations   in  any  regular   fashion.   Although  the  Company  is
investigating   alternative  solutions,  it  is  not  clear  that  any  adequate
contingency plan can be developed for such failures.


European Monetary Unit

On January 1, 1999, a single  currency  for the  European  Economic and Monetary
Union  (the  "Euro")  is   scheduled  to  replace  the  national   currency  for
participating  member countries which include countries in which the Company has
offices  or with  which  it does  substantial  business.  Many of the  Company's
managed funds and financial  products have substantial  investments in countries
whose  currencies  will be  replaced by the Euro.  All aspects of the  Company's
investment process, including trading, foreign exchange, payments,  settlements,
cash  accounts,  custodial  accounts  and  accounting  will be  affected  by the
implementation of the Euro (the "Euro Issue").

The Company has created an  interdepartmental  team  consisting  of  information
system and  technology,  accounting,  administrative  portfolio  and  investment
operations  personnel to determine  changes that will be required in  connection
with the Euro Issue in order to process  transactions  accurately  with  minimal
disruption to business  activities.  The Company is also  communicating with its
external partners and vendors to assess their readiness to manage the Euro Issue
without disruption to the Company's business or operations.

The Company is not presently able to assess the cost impact of the Euro Issue on
the Company,  but does not presently anticipate that such impact will materially
affect the Company's cash flows, operations or operating results. Costs incurred
relating to the Euro Issue are generally  being  expensed by the Company  during
the period in which they are incurred.


Special  Concerns

The Company's  expectations as to the future costs associated with the Year 2000
Problem and the Euro Issue are subject to uncertainties  beyond its control that
could cause actual  results to differ  materially  from what has been  discussed
above.  Factors  that could  influence  the  amount  and timing of future  costs
include the success of the Company in identifying  systems and programs that are
affected by the Year 2000  Problem and the Euro Issue,  the nature and amount of
testing,  remediation,  programming,  installation  and systems work required to
upgrade or to replace  each of the  affected  programs or systems,  the rate and
magnitude  of  related  labor  and  consulting  costs,  and the  success  of the
Company's  external  partners and suppliers in addressing  their respective Year
2000 Problems and the Euro Issue. By way of example, industry-wide testing could
uncover  additional  problems  within the Company or third  parties  which could
require greater expenditures or cause greater disruptions.  While the Company is
in the process of developing  contingency plans for the failure of third parties
to achieve  Year 2000  compliance  or to manage the Euro  Issue,  the  Company's
ability to minimize  the effects of the Year 2000  Problem and the Euro Issue is
highly  dependent  upon the efforts of third  parties;  in  particular  as these
issues may affect certain of the Company's key information  systems. The failure
of   organizations   such   as   securities   exchanges,   securities   clearing
organizations,  banks,  vendors,  clients or  domestic  or foreign  governmental
regulatory  agencies to resolve their own processing  issues with respect to the
Year 2000  Problem or the Euro Issue in a timely  manner could have a materially
adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  results of operations or financial
condition.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

When used in this Form 10-Q and in future  filings by the Company  with the SEC,
in the Company's press releases and in oral statements made with the approval of
an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "will likely result", "are
expected  to",  "will  continue",  "is  anticipated",  "estimate",  "project" or
similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within
the  meaning of the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995.  Such
statements  are  subject to certain  risks and  uncertainties,  including  those
discussed under the caption "Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements" below, that
could cause actual results to differ  materially  from  historical  earnings and
those presently  anticipated or projected.  The Company  cautions readers not to
place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date made.  The Company  wishes to advise readers that the factors listed
below  could  affect the  Company's  financial  performance  and could cause the
Company's  actual  results  for  future  periods to differ  materially  from any
opinions or statements  expressed  with respect to future periods in any current
statements.

The Company will not  undertake  and  specifically  declines any  obligation  to
release  publicly any data or information the result of which might be to revise
any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or  unanticipated
events.

Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements

General Factors
- ---------------

The Company's revenues and income are derived primarily from the management of a
variety of financial services products. The level of assets under management may
be  impacted  by a  number  of  factors  such as  general  economic  and  market
conditions  (both  domestic  and  global);  changes  in  interest  rates  and/or
inflation rates; the level of fund sales and redemptions; and competition within
the  financial  services  industry,  which also  affect  sales and  redemptions.
Competition  within the industry  also impacts the level of expenses  related to
fund  distribution.  Sales of mutual  fund shares and other  financial  services
products  can also be  negatively  affected  by  burdensome  domestic or foreign
governmental regulations.

Assets Under Management
- -----------------------

The world's  securities  exchanges are currently  experiencing the longest "bull
market" in  history  with  unprecedented  levels of  investor  demand for equity
securities.  As a result of this  financial  environment,  the Company's  equity
holdings  under  management  have increased in value,  which has  contributed to
increased assets under management and increased  revenues.  The valuation of the
equity portion of the Company's assets under management is especially subject to
the securities markets,  which are cyclical and subject to periodic corrections.
A downturn in these financial  markets would have an adverse effect on the value
of the equity portion of the Company's  assets under  management,  which in turn
would have a negative effect on the Company's revenues. In addition, the Company
derives  higher  revenues from its equity assets and therefore a future shift in
assets from equity to fixed-income  would,  in most  instances,  have an adverse
impact on the Company's income and revenues.

A significant  portion of the Company's  assets under management is fixed-income
securities.  Fluctuations  in interest rates and in the yield curve will have an
effect on fixed-income  assets under management as well as on the flow of monies
to and from fixed-income  funds and,  therefore,  on the Company's revenues from
such funds.  In addition,  the impact of changes in the equity  marketplace  may
significantly  affect  assets  under  management.  The effects of the  foregoing
factors on equity funds and  fixed-income  funds often operate  inversely and it
is,  therefore,  difficult  to predict the net effect of any  particular  set of
conditions on the level of assets under  management.  In addition,  the shift in
the  Company's  asset  mix  from  primarily  fixed-income  to a  combination  of
fixed-income  and global equities has increased the possibility of volatility in
the value of the Company's managed portfolios due to the increased percentage of
equity investments managed.

The Company's  assets under  management  include a significant  number of global
equities,  which may increase the volatility of the Company's managed portfolios
and its revenue and income streams.  Certain  portions of the Company's  managed
portfolios are invested in various  securities of corporations  located or doing
business in developing  regions of the world commonly known as emerging markets.
These portfolios and the Company's  revenues derived from the management of such
portfolios are subject to significant  risks of loss from unfavorable  political
and diplomatic developments,  currency fluctuations, social instability, changes
in governmental policies, expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets
and  changes in  legislation  relating  to foreign  ownership.  Foreign  trading
markets,  particularly in some emerging market countries are often smaller, less
liquid, less regulated and significantly more volatile.

Competition
- -----------

The financial  services  industry is highly and increasingly  competitive.  Such
competition  could  negatively  impact the Company's  market share,  which could
affect assets under  management,  from which the bulk of the Company's  revenues
and income arise.

The Company is in competition  with the financial  services and other investment
alternatives offered by stock brokerage and investment banking firms,  insurance
companies,   banks,   savings  and  loan   associations   and  other   financial
institutions.  Many of these  competitors have  substantially  greater resources
than the Company.  In addition,  there has been a trend of  consolidation in the
products  industry  which has  resulted  in  stronger  competitors.  The banking
industry  also  continues  to  expand  its  sponsorship  of  proprietary   funds
distributed  through third-party  distributors.  To the extent that any of these
financial institutions,  which remain the principal distribution channel for the
Company's  shares,  limit or restrict the sale of Franklin,  Templeton or Mutual
Series shares through their  distribution  systems in favor of their proprietary
mutual funds,  assets under management might decline and the Company's  revenues
might be adversely  affected.  In addition,  as the number of competitors in the
investment management industry increases, greater demands are placed on existing
distribution channels, which may cause distribution costs to increase.

As investor interest in the mutual fund industry has continued to increase,  the
methods and costs of  distribution of mutual fund shares has become more complex
in all  segments  of the  industry.  A  multiple  pricing  structure  has become
increasingly common in what were previously two separate distribution  channels,
those with sales charges and those without sales charges. This has and will have
the effect of increasing the Company's  costs of  distribution  and has and will
increase the amount of cash required for the  advancement  of sales  commissions
and similar  charges.  If the Company is unable to fund  commissions on deferred
sales charge mutual fund shares using  existing  cash flow and debt  facilities,
additional  funding  will be  necessary.  Such  increased  sales  costs and cash
requirements  could have a material adverse effect on the Company's revenues and
earnings.

Other
- -----

The  Company  may also be subject to a variety of risks  arising out of the Year
2000 Problem and the Euro Issue as more particularly set forth above.

The Company's  real estate  activities are subject to  fluctuations  in the real
estate  marketplace  as well as to significant  competition  from companies with
much larger real estate portfolios giving them  significantly  greater economies
of scale.

The  Company's  auto  loan  receivables  business  and  credit  card  receivable
activities   are  subject  to   significant   fluctuations   in  those  consumer
marketplaces  as well as to  significant  competition  from  companies with much
larger receivable portfolios. In addition,  certain of the Company's competitors
in the auto  receivables  marketplace  finance auto loans as an adjunct to their
primary automobile  manufacturing businesses and may at times provide auto loans
at significantly  below then-market  interest rates in order to further the sale
of their automobiles.

The consumer loan market is highly  competitive.  The Company competes with many
types of institutions including banks, finance companies,  credit unions and the
finance subsidiaries of large automobile manufacturers.  The interest rates that
the  Company can charge  and,  therefore,  the yields on such vary based on this
competitive  environment.  The  Company  is reliant  on its  relationships  with
various  automobile  dealers and this  relationship  is highly  dependent on the
rates and service that the Company provides.  There is no guarantee that in this
competitive  environment the Company can maintain its  relationships  with these
dealers.  Auto loan and credit  card  portfolio  losses  can also be  influenced
significantly  by trends in the  economy  and credit  markets  which  negatively
impact borrowers' ability to repay loans.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)            The following exhibits are filed as part of the report:

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 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 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  February  2,  1994,  incorporated  by
               reference to Exhibit (3)(iv) to the 1994 Annual Report

Exhibit(3)(ii) Registrant's By-Laws incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(v) to
               the Company's  Form 10-Q for the Quarterly  Period ended December
               31, 1994

Exhibit 11     Computations of per share earnings.

Exhibit 12     Computations of ratios of earnings to fixed charges.


Exhibit 27     Financial Data Schedule.


(b)            Reports on Form 8-K:

      (i)      Form 8-K  dated  April 21,  1998  reporting  under  Item 5 "Other
               Events" the filing of an earnings press release by the Registrant
               on April 21, 1998 and including  said press release as an Exhibit
               under Item 7 "Financial Statements and Exhibits".




<PAGE>




                                   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: August 14, 1998  /S/ Martin L. Flanagan

                       MARTIN L. FLANAGAN
                       Senior Vice President,
                       Chief Financial Officer



<PAGE>






                                                                      Exhibit 11

COMPUTATIONS OF PER SHARE EARNINGS

Earnings  per share are based on net  income  divided by the  average  number of
shares outstanding  including incremental shares from assumed conversions during
the period.  The number of shares used for purposes of calculating  earnings per
share and all per share data have been  adjusted for both  periods  presented to
reflect a two-for-one stock split effected January 15, 1998.


                                    Three months ended       Nine months ended
                                         June 30                  June 30
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars and shares in               1998        1997         1998        1997
thousands)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average shares
  outstanding                       252,860     252,186      252,771     251,803
Incremental shares from
  assumed conversions                   235         574          612         656
                                   =============================================
Adjusted weighted average
  shares outstanding                253,095     252,760      253,383     252,459
                                   =============================================

Net income                         $131,013     $111,188    $388,197    $308,828


Earnings per share:
   Basic                              $0.52       $0.44        $1.54       $1.23
   Diluted                            $0.52       $0.44        $1.53       $1.22




                                                                      Exhibit 12


COMPUTATIONS OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


                                 Three months ended       Nine months ended
                                      June 30                  June 30
(Dollars in thousands)           1998         1997        1998         1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before taxes           $177,131    $158,274     $524,590    $439,613
Add fixed charges:
    Interest expense           10,932       10,869      29,897       35,930
    Interest factor on
      rent                      3,127        2,330       8,957        6,759
                              --------------------------------------------------
Total fixed charges           $14,059      $13,199     $38,854      $42,689
                              --------------------------------------------------

Earnings before fixed
  charges and taxes
    on income                $191,190     $171,473    $563,444     $482,302
                              ==================================================

Ratio of earnings to
  fixed charges                 13.6         13.0        14.5         11.3



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM REGISTRANT'S
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
<S>                                                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                                            693,837
<SECURITIES>                                                      187,184
<RECEIVABLES>                                                     249,501
<ALLOWANCES>                                                            0
<INVENTORY>                                                             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                1,146,032
<PP&E>                                                            325,959
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  3,575,419
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                             442,787
<BONDS>                                                                 0
                                                   0
                                                             0
<COMMON>                                                           25,295
<OTHER-SE>                                                      2,208,506
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    3,575,419
<SALES>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                1,978,686
<CGS>                                                                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                   1,479,601
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                 16,501
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   524,590
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      136,393
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                     0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                         0
<CHANGES>                                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      388,197
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        1.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        1.53
        

</TABLE>


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