FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
10-Q, 1999-05-12
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 March 31, 1999

                                       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: 252,115,025  shares,  common stock,  par value $.10 per share at
April 30, 1999.




                                       1
<PAGE>
PART I -FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Condensed Financial Statements

FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
Unaudited
                                    Three months ended     Six months ended
 (In thousands except per share          March 31              March 31
  data)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1999       1998      1999        1998
Operating revenues:
Investment management fees           $322,419   $351,240   $652,789   $699,802
Underwriting and distribution
  fees                                178,406    278,622    367,010    521,810
Shareholder servicing fees             47,762     39,399     93,496     77,005
Other                                   5,484      4,430      8,455      7,473
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues              554,071    673,691  1,121,750  1,306,090
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses:
Underwriting and distribution         153,300    242,406    316,346    447,718
Compensation and benefits             128,816    132,744    262,630    266,035
Information systems, technology
  and occupancy                        52,111     45,862    100,590     92,458
Advertising and promotion              25,393     31,243     53,631     58,605
Amortization of deferred sales         22,963     26,525     47,982     50,421
commissions
Amortization of intangible assets       9,283      8,949     18,656     17,944
Other                                  18,770     22,538     41,575     42,043
Restructuring charges                  12,315          -     58,455          -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses              422,951    510,267    899,865    975,224
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating income                      131,120    163,424    221,885    330,866

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other income (expense):
Investment and other income            14,490     11,596     25,026     26,571
Interest expense                       (4,776)    (3,826)   (10,949)    (9,978)

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income (expense), net             9,714      7,770     14,077     16,593

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Income before taxes on income         140,834    171,194    235,962    347,459

Taxes on income                        38,363     44,525     64,999     90,275

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income                           $102,471   $126,669   $170,963   $257,184
==============================================================================

Earnings per share:
     Basic                              $0.41      $0.50      $0.68      $1.02
     Diluted                            $0.41      $0.50      $0.68      $1.02

Dividends per share                    $0.055      $0.05      $0.11      $0.10

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

                                       2
<PAGE>



FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets



                                             Unaudited     September
                                              March 31            30
(In thousands)                                    1999          1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSETS:
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                  $620,146      $537,188
   Receivables:
      Fees from Franklin Templeton funds       209,626       204,826
      Other                                     24,646        25,773
   Investment securities, 
      available-for-sale                       379,854       470,065
   Prepaid expenses and other                   22,393        22,137

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total current assets                   1,256,665     1,259,989
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Banking/Finance assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                    11,174        18,855
   Loans receivable, net                       216,807       165,074
   Investment securities,
      available-for-sale                        16,845        21,847
   Other                                         3,714         4,991

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total banking/finance assets             248,540       210,767
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other assets:
   Deferred sales commissions                  104,461       123,508
   Property and equipment, net                 363,934       349,229
   Intangible assets, net                    1,221,342     1,253,713
   Receivable from banking/finance group       137,774        87,282
   Other                                       126,091       195,561

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total other assets                     1,953,602     2,009,293
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Total assets                          $3,458,807    $3,480,049
=========================================================================

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



                                       3
<PAGE>

FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                               Unaudited       
                                                March 31    September 30
(In thousands except share data)                    1999            1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
   Compensation and benefits                     $99,640        $156,253
   Commissions                                    55,845          53,174
   Income taxes                                   33,317          67,319
   Short-term debt                                58,730         117,956
   Other                                         118,251          82,691
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total current liabilities                  365,783         477,393
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Banking/finance liabilities:
   Deposits:
       Interest bearing                           56,750          81,615
       Non-interest bearing                        8,762           6,166
   Payable to parent                             137,774          87,282
   Other                                           9,087           3,018
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total banking/finance liabilities          212,373         178,081
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Liabilities:
   Long-term debt                                391,268         494,459
   Other                                          43,440          49,349
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total other liabilities                    443,708         543,808
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total liabilities                       1,012,864       1,199,282
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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;
   252,129,204 and 251,741,578 shares
   issued and outstanding, respectively           25,213          25,174

   Capital in excess of par value                103,822          93,033
   Retained earnings                           2,338,044       2,194,835
   Other                                          (4,509)         (4,230)
   Accumulated other comprehensive             
     income                                      (16,627)        (28,045)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total stockholders' equity               2,445,943       2,280,767
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Total liabilities and
        stockholders' equity                  $3,458,807      $3,480,049
=============================================================================

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





                                       4
<PAGE>



FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                    Six months ended
Unaudited                                                     March 31
(In thousands)                                         1999           1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                         $170,963       $257,184
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
   cash provided by operating activities:
Increase in receivables,
   prepaid expenses and other current assets        (32,448)       (30,786)
Increase in deferred sales commissions              (28,935)       (75,994)
Increase in other current liabilities                12,038         12,336
Increase in restructuring liability                  24,703              -
(Decrease) increase in income taxes payable         (34,002)         2,014
Increase in commissions payable                       2,671          9,805
Decrease in compensation and benefits               (25,305)       (15,500)
Depreciation and amortization                       114,074         88,890
Losses (gains) on disposition of assets               1,171         (5,530)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities           204,930        242,419
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Purchase of investments                            (289,507)       (91,955)
Liquidation of investments                          482,007         36,525
Purchase of banking/finance investments             (16,222)          (215)
Liquidation of banking/finance investments           21,146              -
Net (origination) collection of
    banking/finance loans receivable                (51,726)         6,361
Purchase of property and equipment                  (47,839)       (80,353)
Proceeds from sale of property                        2,635         14,517
Other                                                     -         (1,424)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing
    activities                                      100,494       (116,545)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decrease in bank deposits                           (22,270)        (7,098)
Exercise of common stock options                        476          2,791
Dividends paid on common stock                      (26,473)       (23,979)
Purchase of Company stock                           (23,459)        (2,942)
Issuance of debt                                     40,030         55,597
Payments on debt                                   (198,451)       (47,502)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in financing activities              (230,147)       (23,133)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents                75,277        102,741
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of 
    period                                          556,043        442,741
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period           $631,320       $545,482
==============================================================================

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:
   Value of common stock issued, principally
    for the Company's incentive plans               $33,014        $36,988

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



                                       5
<PAGE>



                         FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
                Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                              March 31, 1999
                                   (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  ("SEC").
   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, 1998.


2. Restructuring
   -------------
   During  the  quarter  ended  December  31,  1998,   the  Company   adopted  a
   restructuring  plan estimated to cost  approximately $58 million and designed
   to reduce  costs,  improve  service  levels and  reprioritize  the  Company's
   business  activities.  During that  quarter,  the  Company  recorded a pretax
   charge of $46.1 million in connection with the plan. Additionally, during the
   quarter  ended  March 31,  1999,  the  Company  recorded  a second  and final
   restructuring  pretax charge of $12.3  million,  also in connection  with the
   plan.  Approximately  80% of the total  estimated  charges are expected to be
   utilized  during the current  fiscal year. As of March 31, 1999,  the Company
   has utilized $33.7 million of the total estimated charges. Approximately $9.5
   million of the amounts  utilized  represented  cash  payments.  The remaining
   balance of $24.7  million is included in other current  liabilities.  See the
   table below.


                        Balance at     Additional  Restructuring      Balance
                          December  restructuring      liability        March
   (In millions)          31, 1998      liability       utilized     31, 1999
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Asset write-down          $31.9              -        $(25.5)         $6.4
   Employee severance and
      termination benefits       -          $12.3          (7.0)          5.3
   Lease termination charges
      and other               14.2              -          (1.2)         13.0
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total                     $46.1          $12.3        $(33.7)        $24.7
   ===========================================================================





                                       6
<PAGE>
   The material portion,  $31.9 million,  of the anticipated total restructuring
   charges of approximately  $58.4 million was for asset write-downs  related to
   discontinued  products.  More specifically,  these charges were primarily for
   the write-off of intangible and other assets with respect to the  termination
   of investment  management  agreements related to several off-shore investment
   products and several domestic retail products.  The products in question have
   either  been  terminated  or are in the process of  termination.  The largest
   single  write-down  was for $13.7 million of intangible  assets related to an
   offshore non-retail product.


   The other  significant  component,  $12.3  million,  of the  estimated  total
   restructuring charges was for severance and termination benefits with respect
   to efficiencies made possible by the Company's  conversion to one shareholder
   servicing  system.  Approximately  560  positions,  or  7% of  the  Company's
   workforce at December 31, 1998,  will be eliminated.  Although the reductions
   were  announced  during first quarter,  the charge was not  recognized  until
   second quarter when the affected  employees  were  notified.  The majority of
   affected employees had left the Company at March 31, 1999.


3. Debt
   ----
   At March 31, 1999 the Company had  interest  rate swap  agreements,  maturing
   through October 2000, which  effectively fix interest rates on $250.6 million
   of commercial  paper.  The fixed rates of interest range from 6.24% to 6.65%.
   At March 31, 1999, the  weighted-average  effective interest rate,  including
   the  effect of  interest-rate  swap  agreements,  was 6.30% on  approximately
   $450.0 million of outstanding debt.


4. Earnings per share
   ------------------
   Earnings per share were computed as follows:

                                    Three months ended        Six months ended
                                         March 31                  March 31
   (In thousands except per
    share amounts)                    1999       1998          1999       1998
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Net income                     $102,471   $126,669      $170,963   $257,184
   ============================================================================

   Weighted-average shares
      outstanding - basic          252,189    252,860       252,025    252,682
   Incremental shares from
      assumed conversions              390        198           779        499
   ============================================================================
   Weighted-average shares
      outstanding-diluted          252,579    253,058       252,804    253,181
   ============================================================================

   Earnings per share:
      Basic                          $0.41      $0.50         $0.68      $1.02
      Diluted                        $0.41      $0.50         $0.68      $1.02
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


5. Adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board
   -------------------------------------------------------------
   During the quarter ended December 31, 1998, the Company adopted  Statement of
   Financial Accounting Standards No. 130 ("SFAS 130"), "Reporting Comprehensive
   Income."  SFAS 130  establishes  the  disclosure  requirements  for reporting
   comprehensive income in an entity's financial statements. Total comprehensive
   income includes net income, unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale
   securities and foreign currency translation adjustments.
                                       7
<PAGE>

   These amounts were formerly reported as "Other" within  Stockholders'  equity
   and are now reported under  "Accumulated other  comprehensive  income." Items
   relating to movements in the Company's stock,  such as deferred  compensation
   in the form of  restricted  stock,  remain in  "Other"  within  Stockholders'
   equity.  There was no impact on previously  reported net income  arising from
   the adoption of SFAS 130.

   Comprehensive  income for the three- and  six-month  periods  ended March 31,
   1999 was as follows:

                                    Three months ended        Six months ended
                                          March 31                  March 31
   (In thousands)                     1999       1998          1999       1998
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Net income                     $102,471   $126,669      $170,963   $257,184
   Net unrealized gain (loss)
     on available-for-sale
     securities                      4,863      6,191        10,392       (594)
   Foreign currency translation
     adjustments                    (2,099)     1,515         1,026     (7,865)
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Comprehensive income           $105,235   $134,375      $182,381   $248,725
   ============================================================================


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

   FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   The following  discussion  contains  "forward-looking  statements" within the
   meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which include
   phrases  with  the  type  of  wording  further  described  in Part II Item 5,
   "Forward-Looking  Statements  and Risk  Factors,"  which 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.

   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 most  individuals  and
   institutions.

                                       8
<PAGE>


   ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT
                                     March 31          March 31
   (In billions)                         1999              1998
   ----------------------------------------------------------------
   Franklin Templeton Group:
   Equity:
      Global/international              $91.4            $111.7
      Domestic (U.S.)                    37.4              45.9
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
         Total equity                   128.8             157.6
  ----------------------------------------------------------------

  Hybrid funds <F1>                      10.7              12.5

  Fixed-income:
  Tax-free                               51.6              48.1
  Taxable
     Domestic (primarily 
        U.S. Gov't.)                     16.1              15.7
     Global/international                 4.0               4.1
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
        Total fixed-income               71.7              67.9
  ----------------------------------------------------------------

  Money funds                             4.8               4.0

  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  Total end of period                  $216.0            $242.0
  ================================================================
  Monthly average for
     the three-month period            $216.4           $229.4
  ----------------------------------------------------------------
  Monthly average for
     the six-month period              $216.2           $225.6
  ================================================================

  <F1> Hybrid funds include asset allocation,  balanced,  flexible and 
       income-mixed funds as defined by the Investment Company  Institute.  
       Periods prior to March 31, 1999 have been restated to reflect the  
       reclassification  of certain funds to Domestic Equity from the Hybrid 
       category.


  Assets under the  Company's  management  at March 31, 1999  decreased by $26.0
  billion  (11%) from March 31, 1998.  During the three- and  six-month  periods
  ended March 31, 1999,  redemptions have exceeded purchases in the equity funds
  managed by the Company.  Market  appreciation  for these assets has  partially
  offset this trend during the most recent three- and six-month periods.

  Equity  assets now comprise 60% of total assets under  management  compared to
  65% at March 31,  1998.  Fixed  income  funds now comprise 33% of total assets
  under  management,  as  compared  to 28% at March 31,  1998.  The shift in the
  Company's  managed asset mix toward lower fee fixed-income  products and lower
  average  assets has resulted in lower  investment  management fee revenues for
  the three- and six-month periods ended March 31, 1999, as compared to the same
  periods a year ago.

                                       9
<PAGE>


  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

  Results of operations

  (In millions               Three months ended           Six months ended
   except per share               March 31                       March 31
   amounts)              1999     1998    Change     1999     1998    Change
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Net income           $102.5   $126.7     (19)%   $171.0   $257.2     (34)%
  Earnings per share
     Basic              $0.41    $0.50     (18)%    $0.68    $1.02     (18)%
     Diluted            $0.41    $0.50     (18)%    $0.68    $1.02     (33)%

  Operating margin        24%      24%                20%      25%
  Operating margin
     before restructuring
     charges              26%       -                 25%       -
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Net income during the three- and six-month  periods ended March 1999 decreased
  compared to the same  periods  last  year, as a  result of  the  restructuring
  charge as well as decreased  investment  management  fees from reduced average
  assets under management.  Operating  margins before the restructuring  charges
  for  the  three-months  ended March 31, 1999  increased  primarily  due to the
  Company's  successful  efforts  to reduce  operating  expenses  following  the
  implementation of the restructuring plan described below.

  Operating revenues

                             Three months ended          Six months ended
                                  March 31                    March 31
  (In millions)          1999     1998    Change      1999      1998      Change
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Investment
     management fees   $322.4   $351.3      (8)%    $652.8    $699.8        (7)%
  Underwriting and
     distribution fees  178.4    278.6     (36)%     367.0     521.8       (30)%
  Shareholder
     servicing fees      47.8     39.4      21%       93.5      77.0         21%
  Other, net              5.5      4.4      25%        8.5       7.5         13%
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total operating
     revenues          $554.1   $673.7     (18)%  $1,121.8  $1,306.1       (14)%
  ==============================================================================

  Investment  management fees, the largest component of the Company's  operating
  revenues,  are  generally  calculated  under  fixed-fee  arrangements,   as  a
  percentage of the value of assets under management.  The Company's  investment
  management  fee  revenues are  generally  affected by market  appreciation  or
  depreciation  in assets under  management as well as the flow of funds into or
  out of  these  portfolios.  There  have  been no  significant  changes  in the
  investment  management fee structures for the Franklin  Templeton Group in the
  periods under review.

                                       10
<PAGE>

  The Company's effective investment management fee rate (investment  management
  fees divided by average  assets under  management)  decreased  slightly in the
  quarter  ended March 1999 to 0.60%  compared to 0.61% in the same quarter last
  year,  primarily due to the relative increase in lower fee fixed-income assets
  under management. 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.  Underwriting  and  distribution  fees
  decreased  36% and 30% over the same three- and  six-month  periods  last year
  primarily as a result of decreased  mutual fund sales and average assets under
  management.

  Shareholder  servicing fees are generally  fixed charges per account that vary
  with the particular  type of fund and the service being  rendered.  During the
  periods under review,  shareholder  servicing fees increased as a result of an
  increase in billable  shareholder  accounts to 10.7 million from 8.2 million a
  year ago and an increase in the average per account charge. In accordance with
  agreements with the majority of funds in the Franklin Templeton Group,  closed
  accounts remain billable  through the third quarter of each  fiscal  year at a
  reduced fee level. At March 31, 1999, therewere 2.2 million of such accounts.


  Other, net

                             Three months ended          Six months ended
                                  March 31                    March 31
  (In millions)          1999     1998    Change      1999      1998      Change
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Revenues             $9.2    $10.4     (12)%     $16.2     $20.1       (19)%
    Provision for
     loan losses         (1.0)    (1.6)    (38)%      (2.6)     (3.6)      (28)%
    Interest expense     (2.7)    (4.4)    (39)%      (5.1)     (9.0)      (43)%

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total other, net     $5.5     $4.4      25%       $8.5      $7.5        13%
  ==============================================================================


  Other,  net consists  primarily  of revenues  from the  Company's  banking and
  finance  subsidiaries,  net of  interest  expense and the  provision  for loan
  losses.  Other,  net  increased  slightly in the periods  ended March 31, 1999
  compared with the same periods last year, although each of the component parts
  decreased.  The revenues and the  provision for loan losses of the banking and
  finance  subsidiaries  have  decreased  in the  current  three- and  six-month
  periods as a result of the  securitization  of $134.3 million of consumer auto
  loans that took place during September 1998. The Company excludes  securitized
  loans and the related  allowance for loan losses from its balance  sheet,  and
  excludes the associated  interest  revenues and provision for loan losses from
  its results of operations.  Banking/finance  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.

                                       11
<PAGE>

  Operating expenses


                             Three months ended          Six months ended
                                  March 31                    March 31
  (In millions)          1999     1998    Change      1999      1998      Change
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Underwriting and
     distribution      $153.3   $242.4     (37)%    $316.3    $447.7       (29)%
  Compensation and
     benefits           128.8    132.8      (3)%     262.6     266.0        (1)%
  Information systems,
     technology and
     occupancy           52.1     45.9      14%      100.6      92.5         9%
  Advertising and
     promotion           25.4     31.3     (19)%      53.6      58.6        (9)%
  Amortization of
     deferred sales
     commissions         23.0     26.5     (13)%      48.0      50.4        (5)%
  Amortization of
     intangible assets    9.3      8.9       4%       18.7      18.0         4%
  Other                  18.8     22.5     (16)%      41.6      42.0        (1)%
  Restructuring
     charges             12.3        -     100%       58.5         -       100%
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Total operating
        expenses       $423.0   $510.3     (17)%    $899.9    $975.2        (8)%
  ==============================================================================

  Underwriting and distribution includes sales commissions and distribution fees
  paid to  brokers  and  other  third  party  intermediaries.  The  decrease  in
  underwriting and distribution expenses was consistent with the decrease in net
  mutual fund sales and average assets under  management.  Net mutual fund sales
  declined 36% and 33% in the three- and six-month  periods ended March 31, 1999
  compared to the same periods a year ago.

  Compensation  and benefits  decreased 3% and 1%,  respectively,  from the same
  three-  and  six-month  periods  in  1998.  The  decreases  were  due  to  the
  preliminary  effects of the reduction in the Company's workforce in accordance
  with the restructuring plan described below.  Affected employees were notified
  on January 14, 1999,  and the majority had left the Company by March 31, 1999,
  although  some will  remain  through  June  1999.  The  Company  continues  to
  experience  upward pressure on compensation and benefits due to the effects of
  a very competitive labor market.

  Information  systems,  technology  and occupancy  costs  increased 14% and 9%,
  respectively,  from the same  three-  and  six-month  periods  in 1998.  These
  increases were due to expenditures on major systems implementations, Year 2000
  corrections and European  Monetary Unit conversions.  The Company  anticipates
  that such major  systems  undertakings  will continue to have an impact on the
  Company's  operating results through the year 2000 and beyond.  See "Year 2000
  Readiness Disclosure" below.

  Advertising and promotion  expenses decreased over the same periods last year,
  mainly due to reduced promotional activity.

  Amortization of deferred sales commissions  decreased 13% and 5% over the same
  three- and six-month  periods in 1998.  Sales  commissions on certain Franklin
  Templeton Group products sold without a front-end sales charge are capitalized
  and  amortized  over periods not  exceeding  eight  years-the  period in which
  management  estimates  that  they will be  recovered  from  distribution  plan
  payments and from contingent  deferred sales charges.  Reduced sales in fiscal
  1999 have led to some  reductions  in  deferred  sales  commissions  and their
  related amortization.

                                       12
<PAGE>

  During the three- and  six-month  periods  ended March 31,  1999,  the Company
  recognized pretax restructuring charges of $12.3 million and $58.4 million (or
  $0.03 and $0.17 per diluted share after tax), respectively. These charges were
  related to a plan  announced  and initiated by management in the first quarter
  of fiscal 1999. See Note 2 to the financial  statements.  The Company does not
  expect to incur any additional  charges with respect to the plan during fiscal
  1999.

  Of the $58.4 million estimated total restructuring charges,  approximately 80%
  are expected to be utilized  during the current fiscal year.  The  anticipated
  lost revenues associated with discontinued products are not expected to have a
  material  impact on  ongoing  results  of  operations.  The net  impact of the
  restructuring  plan is also not  expected  to have a  material  impact  on the
  results of  operations  for the current  fiscal year or the results of any one
  geographic region or product line.

  The $12.3 million  charge  recognized  during the quarter ended March 31, 1999
  was for severance  and  termination  benefits  related to the  elimination  of
  approximately  560  positions or 7% of the Company's  workforce.  Although the
  reductions were announced during first quarter,  the charge was not recognized
  until  second  quarter  when  the  affected   employees  were  notified.   The
  elimination of these  positions  was  made possible primarily by the Company's
  conversion to one shareholder servicing system in the United States.

  At the  completion  of  these  restructuring  efforts,  the  Company's  annual
  operating  expenses are expected to decrease  approximately  $100 million from
  peak  levels  in  fiscal  1998,   assuming  a  continuation  of  the  business
  environment at the time of the restructuring. The operating expense savings in
  future periods are based on an analysis of current  business  activities and a
  variety of cost-savings  measures.  A substantial portion of these anticipated
  savings are expected to come from decreased  employee and occupancy costs as a
  result of the reduction in the workforce  discussed above. In the three months
  ended March 31, 1999 the Company had begun to see some  reduction in operating
  expenses as a result of the restructuring.


  Other income/(expenses):

                             Three months ended          Six months ended
                                  March 31                    March 31
  (In millions)          1999     1998    Change      1999      1998      Change
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Investment and        $14.5    $11.6       25%     $25.0     $26.6        (6)%
     other income
  Interest expense       (4.8)    (3.8)      26%     (10.9)    (10.0)        9%
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Other
     income/(expenses)   $9.7     $7.8       24%     $14.1     $16.6       (15)%
  ==============================================================================

  Interest  income exceeded that earned in the prior year, due to higher average
  levels of investment  securities in fiscal 1999.  Interest  expense  increased
  over the same  periods a year ago due to an increase  in the  weighted-average
  cost of borrowing and a decrease in capitalized  construction period interest.
  The  increases  were  partially  offset by a reduction in debt used to finance
  operations.  During the same periods, debt used to finance consumer auto loans
  also  decreased  resulting in lower interest  expense for the  banking/finance
  group. (See Other, net revenues above).

                                       13
<PAGE>

  Taxes on income

  The  Company's  effective  income tax rate for the six months ended March 1999
  has  increased  to 28%  compared to 26% for the same  period  last year.  This
  increase  reflects  the  decrease  in the  relative  contributions  of foreign
  earnings that are subject to reduced tax rates and not  currently  included in
  U.S. taxable income.


  MATERIAL   CHANGES  IN  FINANCIAL   CONDITION,   LIQUIDITY  AND  CAPITAL
  RESOURCES

  At March 31, 1999 and September 30, 1998 the Company's assets  aggregated $3.5
  billion.  Stockholders'  equity  approximated  $2.5  billion at March 31, 1999
  compared to approximately  $2.3 billion at September 30, 1998. The increase in
  stockholders'  equity was primarily a result of net income.  Outstanding  debt
  (long-term  and  short-term)  decreased by $162.4  million  (27%) at March 31,
  1999,  from  $612.4  million  at  September  30,  1998  as the  result  of the
  utilization of cash from operations.

  Cash  provided by  operating  activities  for the six months  ended March 1999
  decreased to $209.7  million from $242.4 million in the same period last year.
  This  decline was due mainly to lower net income in the current  fiscal  year.
  The  decrease  in net  income  was due to  lower  operating  revenues  and the
  restructuring plan. The Company sold $187.7 million of investment  securities,
  net of  its  purchases  and  used  $47.8  million  to  purchase  property  and
  equipment,  providing  $95.7  million  from its  investing  activities  in the
  six-month  period ended March 1999. Of these funds $198.4 million were used to
  pay down and service  debt and $23.5  million  were used to  purchase  Company
  stock,  resulting  in cash used in  financing  activities  of $230.1  million.
  During the six months ended March  31,1999,  the Company paid $26.5 million in
  cash dividends to stockholders.

  As of March 31, 1999, the Company had fixed  interest  rates on  approximately
  $410.6 million or 91% of its outstanding debt through its  interest-rate  swap
  agreements and its medium-term note program.

  Management  expects that the principal needs for cash will be to advance sales
  commissions,  fund  property  and  equipment  acquisitions,   pay  stockholder
  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  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.

                                       14
<PAGE>

  Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure

  Information  contained  in this  section  regarding  the  Company's  Year 2000
  preparations  is  provided  as of April 20,  1999,  unless  otherwise  stated.
  Because the Year 2000 project is an ongoing Company-wide  endeavor,  the state
  of the Company's progress changes daily.

  The  Company's   mission-critical   securities   trading  systems,   portfolio
  accounting  systems,  customer  service systems,  general ledger systems,  and
  several of its international  and domestic transfer agency systems,  have been
  certified as Year 2000 compliant and are operating in production.  The Company
  intends  to have  all but one of its  remaining  mission-critical  systems,  a
  replacement sales and marketing system, certified by June 1, 1999.

  The Company  participated in the Securities Industry  Association  "Streetwide
  Testing"  which  ended on April 17,  1999.  This  testing was  successful  and
  revealed no significant  problems in the Company's systems.  Due to the use of
  its domestic  transfer  agency  system  during such  Streetwide  Testing,  the
  Company delayed completion of some of its Year 2000  certification  efforts on
  such system.

  The Company has now resumed  certification  testing of its  domestic  transfer
  agency  system and expects  such  testing will be finished in the near future.
  Successful tests have been completed on certain primary  processes such as the
  establishment of new accounts and  transactions  which cross the century line.
  No material  problems have been  encountered  to date in the  remediation  and
  testing of the domestic transfer agency system.

  The  Company's  Year  2000  compliance  plan  is  comprised  of  four  phases:
  Assessment,  Remediation, Testing and Implementation.  The Company considers a
  system to be Year 2000  compliant  when it has  passed a number of  prescribed
  tests established by the Company, viewed as the industry-standard or suggested
  by regulators.  However, no testing can guarantee that a system which has been
  certified as Year 2000 compliant will not have  difficulties  associated  with
  the Year 2000.

  Assessment:       systems  are  inventoried,  budgets  and  strategies  are
                    created to address identified problems.

  Remediation:      software  corrections,   upgrades  and  other  fixes  are
                    made;  questionnaires  requesting  Year  2000  compliance
                    assurances  are sent to vendors and, in some cases,  test
                    scripts are requested.

  Testing:          internal  systems  are  tested  on a  stand-alone  basis;
                    point-to-point  testing is  conducted  for some  systems,
                    and the system is certified as Year 2000 compliant.

  Implementation:   systems  that have been  identified  as being  Year
                    2000  compliant are put into normal  business  operation;
                    end-user training is conducted.

                                       15
<PAGE>

  The Company's Year 2000 plan  prioritizes the Year 2000  certification of core
  mission-critical  information  technology ("IT") systems over other IT systems
  and  further  prioritizes  IT systems  in general  over  non-IT  systems.  The
  following percentages refer only to mission-critical IT systems.

           Phase of           % of Mission
           Project            Critical Complete
           ------------------------------------
           Assessment          100%
           Remediation          97%
           Testing              85%
           Implementation       85%

  The non  mission-critical  systems of the Company are either maintained by the
  Company's Information Systems & Technology ("IS&T") department or are end-user
  maintained systems. These systems are prioritized as "high", "medium" or "low"
  in the  Company's  Year 2000  plan.  The IS&T  systems  have been  given  high
  priority,  while the end-user  systems have been given lower  priorities.  The
  percentages below include only the IS&T-managed  systems.  Additional  systems
  were added to the pool of  non-mission  critical  systems  during the  quarter
  ended March 31, 1999, causing the Remediation completion percentage to drop by
  1% from previously reported figures.

           Phase of          % of Non Mission Critical
           Project           IS&T Systems Complete
           ---------------------------------------
           Assessment            100%
           Remediation            98%
           Testing                84%
           Implementation         79%

  Non-IT  Systems.  Non-IT  systems  include such items as building  environment
  controls and elevators,  electrical and security systems, public utility power
  supplies,  phone company systems,  and embedded computer chips in devices such
  as fax machines and copiers.  Other than third-party  long distance  telephone
  and data lines and public utility  electrical  power,  the Company's  business
  operations are not heavily dependent on non-IT components or systems, and none
  of the Company's  mission-critical  systems is a non-IT system. Based upon the
  Company's ongoing assessment and information received from third parties, very
  few of the Company's  non-IT systems will require  remediation.  The only such
  system identified as of April 20, 1999 as not being Year 2000 compliant is the
  internal  building  security  system that the  Company  uses in certain of its
  leased  properties.  The Company has ordered a Year 2000 software upgrade from
  the vendor of this  system.  The  Company  does not expect to  experience  any
  material  effects related to the Year 2000 compliance of non-IT systems unless
  there are general public utility problems beyond the Company's control.

                                       16
<PAGE>

  Third Parties and Year 2000.  The Company's  business  operations  are heavily
  dependent  upon a complex  worldwide  network of IT systems that are owned and
  managed by third parties;  including data feeds,  trading systems,  securities
  transfer agent  operations  and stock market links.  The Company has contacted
  all of its major  external  suppliers  of goods and  services 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  received  to  date  from  these  suppliers  of
  mission-critical  systems and in some cases is seeking additional information,
  written   assurances  of   certification,   or  test  scripts.   To  date,  no
  mission-critical  third-party  supplier has informed the Company that it would
  not be Year 2000 compliant by the millenium date.

  Cost  Estimates.  The total estimated costs through March 2000 associated with
  the Year 2000  project  range from $50 million to $60  million,  including  an
  unallocated  reserve.  The  estimated  costs  consist  mainly of internal  and
  third-party  labor costs,  which are  expensed as  incurred.  The total amount
  expended on the project through March 31, 1999 was  approximately $26 million.
  The  Company's  estimates of the total costs to complete the Year 2000 project
  will continue to be refined in future periods.  The Company  believes that its
  existing  liquid  assets,  together with  expected cash flow from  operations,
  combined with its borrowing  capacity under existing credit facilities will be
  sufficient to fund anticipated expenditures.

  Contingency  Planning.  The  Company  is  developing  comprehensive  worldwide
  contingency plans, including  identification of those mission-critical systems
  for which it is practical to develop a contingency plan. The Company currently
  expects to have its contingency plans complete and in place by September 1999.
  However,  in an  operation  as complex  and  geographically  dispersed  as the
  Company's business there are, in certain cases,  limited  alternatives to some
  of its mission-critical  systems or public utilities.  While redundant systems
  and back-up  power  supplies  are in place to address  communication  or power
  interruptions,  if certain  public  utilities  fail in multiple  locations  or
  mission-critical systems are not made Year 2000 compliant or fail, there could
  be a material adverse impact upon the Company's business,  financial condition
  and results of  operations.  This is  especially  true if such outages were to
  extend for a period of many days.

  The Company's  contingency plans are based on critical  processes  required to
  support the Company's  worldwide  business  units,  linking these processes to
  systems,  and providing  work-arounds to mitigate the loss of such systems.  A
  software  planning  tool has been  employed  to  facilitate  the  creation  of
  contingency plans.  Business Continuity planning  specialists are assisting in
  the  contingency  planning  process in each of the Company's  global  business
  areas.

                                       17
<PAGE>

  The Company has formed a Year 2000 cross-over team with  representatives  from
  each major business function around the globe,  including IS&T. The cross-over
  team will identify what the Company must do before,  during and after the Year
  2000  cross-over.   The  Company's   computer  systems,   including   customer
  information  records,  are already routinely backed-up and the cross-over team
  is preparing  processes to address any unusual occurrences related to the Year
  2000 cross-over.

  European Monetary Unit (the "Euro")

  In  December  1998,  the  Company  successfully  converted  its  international
  computer   applications   software  and  its  business  operations  to  enable
  transaction  processing and record keeping using the Euro, and has experienced
  no material  adverse impact as a result.  Many of the Company's  managed funds
  and  financial  products  have  substantial  investments  in  countries  whose
  currencies  eventually will be completely replaced by the Euro. All aspects of
  the  Company's  investment  process,   including  trading,  foreign  exchange,
  payments,  settlements,  cash accounts, custodial accounts and accounting have
  been affected by the implementation of the Euro (the "Euro Issue").

  Because the use of the Euro will be phased-in over several years,  the Company
  is not  presently  able to assess  the cost  impact  of the Euro  Issue on the
  Company,  but does  not  presently  anticipate  that it will  have a  material
  adverse effect on the Company's cash flows,  operations or operating  results.
  The Company is generally  expensing costs incurred  relating to the Euro Issue
  during the period in which they are incurred.

  Specific  Risks  Associated  with the Year  2000 and the Euro.  The  Company's
  ability to manage  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.  The  Company  could  become
  subject to legal  claims in the event of any Year 2000 or Euro  problem in the
  Company's business operations.  In addition,  the Company and its subsidiaries
  are subject to  regulation  by various  governmental  authorities  which could
  impose sanctions or fines or cause the Company to cease certain  operations in
  the event its systems are not Year 2000 compliant.  Also,  investors concerned
  about the Year 2000 Problem or the Euro Issue could  withdraw  monies from the
  Company's funds resulting in a decline in assets under  management which could
  have  a  material  adverse  effect  upon  the  Company's  business,  financial
  condition and results of operations.

  Factors that could  influence the effect of the Year 2000 Problem  include the
  success of the Company in  identifying  systems and programs that are affected
  by the Year 2000  Problem.  Other  facts  include  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,
  magnitude and availability of related labor and consulting  costs; the success
  of the  Company in  correcting  its  internal  systems  and the success of the
  Company's  external partners and suppliers in addressing their respective Year
  2000 Problems.

                                       18
<PAGE>

  The  failure of  organizations  such as those  mentioned  above  under  "Third
  Parties and Year 2000" to resolve  their own issues  with  respect to the Year
  2000 Problem could have a material  adverse effect on the Company's  business,
  financial condition and results of operations.

  In addition,  the  establishment of the Euro may result in market  volatility,
  expose   investments  to  currency  risk  due  to   fluctuations  in  multiple
  currencies,  change the economic  environment  and behavior of  investors,  or
  change the  competitive  environment  for the  Company's  business  in Europe.
  Similarly,  companies operating in more than one country, such as the Company,
  may gain or lose competitive  advantages  because of the Euro in ways that are
  not  predictable.  It is not  currently  possible to predict the impact of the
  Euro  on the  business  or  financial  condition  of  European  issuers  which
  Company-sponsored  funds  may hold in their  portfolios  or the  impact on the
  value of fund shares.

  Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  In the normal  course of business,  the  financial  position of the Company is
  subjected  to a variety  of  risks,  including  market  risk  associated  with
  interest rate  movements.  The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates
  primarily in its debt transactions.  Through its interest-rate swap agreements
  and its medium-term  notes program the Company has effectively  fixed the rate
  of interest it pays on 91% of its debt  outstanding  at March 31,  1999.  As a
  result,  the Company does not believe that the effect of  reasonably  possible
  near-term  changes in  interest  rates on the  Company's  financial  position,
  results of operations or cash flow would be material.


  PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

  Item 1.   Legal Proceedings

  There have been no material developments in the litigation previously reported
  in the Form 10-Q of the Company for the period  ended  December 31, 1998 filed
  with the SEC on February 12, 1999.

  The Company is  involved  from time to time in  litigation  relating to claims
  arising in the normal  course of business.  Management  is of the opinion that
  the  ultimate  resolution  of such  claims  will  not  materially  affect  the
  Company's business or financial position.

                                       19
<PAGE>


  Item 5.   Other Information

  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.
  All assumptions,  anticipations,  expectations and forecasts  contained herein
  are   forward-looking   statements  that  involve  risks  and   uncertainties.
  Discussions  in  "MD&A"  about  the  anticipated   effects  of  the  Company's
  restructuring  initiative,  estimated  completion  dates  for  phases  of  the
  Company's Year 2000 plan,  related cost estimates,  statements  about possible
  effects of the Year 2000 Problem and the Euro Issue, and possible  contingency
  plans are also  "forward-looking  statements."  Such statements are subject to
  certain risks and  uncertainties,  including those discussed below, that could
  cause actual results to differ  materially from historical  earnings and those
  presently anticipated or projected.  The Company wishes to caution readers not
  to place undue reliance on any such  forward-looking  statements,  which speak
  only as of the date  made,  and  should be read in  conjunction  with the risk
  disclosure below. 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  the  result  of any  revisions  which  may be  made  to 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.

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

  The  ability  of  the  Company  to  achieve  the  expected   benefits  of  the
  restructuring  plan,  including  improved service levels and profitability and
  cost reductions, is not certain and depends in part upon the Company's ability
  to make certain internal  operational changes and also upon world economic and
  market conditions.

  The Company's revenues and income are derived primarily from the management of
  a variety of financial  services  products.  As discussed above, the financial
  services  industry is highly  competitive.  Such competition  could negatively
  impact the Company's market share, which could impact assets under management,
  from which the bulk of the Company's revenues and income arise.

                                       20
<PAGE>

  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.  Such competition  could negatively  impact the Company's market
  share,  revenues  and net  income.  Sales of  mutual  fund  shares  and  other
  financial services products can also be negatively affected by adverse general
  securities market conditions, currency fluctuations,  governmental regulations
  and recessionary global economic conditions.

  Securities dealers,  whose large retail distribution systems play an important
  role in the sale of shares of the Franklin, Templeton and Mutual Series funds,
  also sponsor  competing  proprietary  mutual  funds.  To the extent that these
  firms limit or restrict the sale of Franklin, Templeton or Mutual Series funds
  shares through their brokerage  systems in favor of their  proprietary  mutual
  funds,  future sales may be  negatively  impacted 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  has  caused  distribution  costs  to
  increase.

  The  inability  of the  Company  to  compete  and to  distribute  and sell its
  products  effectively  would have a negative  effect on the Company's level of
  assets under  management,  related revenues and overall business and financial
  condition.

  Many of the Company's  competitors have  substantially  greater resources than
  the  Company.  In  addition,  there has been a trend of  consolidation  in the
  mutual fund 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 banks 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.

  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.

                                       21
<PAGE>

  The Company's assets under management  include a significant  number of global
  equities,  which increase the volatility of the Company's  managed  portfolios
  and  its  revenue  and  income  streams.  From  1992  until  mid-1998,  equity
  investments   increased  as  a  percentage  of  the  Company's   assets  under
  management.  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 Company's  managed  portfolios  due to the
  increased  percentage  of  equity  investments  managed.  Declines  in  global
  securities  markets  that affect the value of these  equities,  recently  have
  caused and in the future will cause,  revenue declines and may have a material
  adverse impact on the Company's  business,  financial condition and results of
  operations.  In addition,  the Company derives higher revenues and income from
  its equity assets and therefore  shifts in assets from equity to  fixed-income
  would have an adverse impact on the Company's income and revenues.

  The Company's ability to meet anticipated cash needs is dependent upon factors
  including  the value of the  Company's  assets,  the  creditworthiness  of the
  Company as perceived by lenders and the market value of the  Company's  stock.
  Similarly,  the Company's ability to securitize future portfolios of auto loan
  and credit card receivables would also be affected by the market's  perception
  of those  portfolios,  finance rates offered by  competitors,  and the general
  market  for  private  debt.  The  Company's  inability  to meet cash needs for
  various  reasons as and when  required  could  have a  negative  affect on the
  Company's financial condition and business operations.

  Market values are affected by many things,  including the general condition of
  national  and world  economics  and the  direction  and  volume of  changes in
  interest rates and/or inflation rates. A significant  portion of the Company's
  assets under management are 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.

  A number of mutual fund  sponsors  presently  market their funds without sales
  charges.  As  investor  interest in the mutual fund  industry  has  increased,
  competitive  pressures  have  increased  on  sales  charges  of  broker-dealer
  distributed  funds.  In response to such  competitive  pressures,  the Company
  might be forced to lower or further adjust sales charges, substantially all of
  which are currently paid to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries.
  The  reduction  in such  sales  charges  could  make the sale of shares of the
  Franklin,   Templeton  and  Mutual   Series  funds  less   attractive  to  the
  broker-dealer community, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on
  the Company's revenues.  In the alternative,  the Company might be required to
  pay  additional   fees,   commissions  or  charges  in  connection   with  the
  distribution of its shares which could have a negative effect on the Company's
  earnings.

                                       22
<PAGE>

  As a result of increased  competitive  pressures,  in January 1999 the Company
  implemented a new share structure using Class A, B and C shares in many of its
  funds.  Class B shares have not  previously  been offered by the Company,  and
  shares  previously  sold as "Class II shares"  are now termed  Class C shares.
  Both Class B and C shares require certain charges to be paid by the Company or
  a subsidiary  of the Company to  third-party  intermediaries,  which creates a
  significant cash requirement.  Past sales of Class C shares,  which were first
  introduced in 1995, have caused  distribution  expenses to exceed distribution
  revenues for certain  products and put  increasing  pressure on the  Company's
  profit margins.  In addition,  sales of Class C shares have increased relative
  to the Company's overall sales, resulting in higher distribution expenses. The
  Company  anticipates  that it will be able to finance  these  charges from its
  existing cash flows and other financing arrangements. If the Company is unable
  to fund  commissions  on Class B or C shares using existing cash flow and debt
  facilities,   the  Company's   liquidity  could  be  negatively  impacted  and
  additional  funding  will be  necessary.  Past sales of Class C shares are not
  necessarily  indicative of future sales volume, and future sales of Class B or
  C shares may be lower or higher than sales of other types of share  classes as
  a result of changes in  investor  demand or  lessened  or  unsuccessful  sales
  efforts by the Company.

  The  Company's  auto loan  receivables  business  and credit  card  receivable
  activities are subject to significant  fluctuations  in those consumer  market
  places as well as to significant  competition  from companies with much larger
  receivable portfolios.  In addition,  certain of the Company's competitors are
  engaged  in the  financing  of auto  loans in  connection  with a much  larger
  automobile  manufacturing  businesses  and  may  at  times  provide  loans  at
  significantly  below  market  interest  rates in order to further  the sale of
  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. Interest rates the
  Company can charge and,  therefore,  its yields 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.

                                       23
<PAGE>


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 12       Computations of ratios of earnings to fixed charges

Exhibit 27       Financial Data Schedule. (Filed with the Securities and
                 Exchange Commission only.)


(b)              Reports on Form 8-K:

      (i)        Form 8-K dated January 14, 1999  reporting  under Item 5 "Other
                 Events"  the  filing  of  a  press  release  by  the
                 Registrant on January 14, 1999 and including said press release
                 as an Exhibit under Item 7 "Financial Statements and Exhibits".

      (ii)       Form 8-K dated January 21, 1999  reporting  under Item 5 "Other
                 Events"  the  filing  of  an  earnings  press  release  by  the
                 Registrant on January 21, 1999 and including said press release
                 as an Exhibit under Item 7 "Financial Statements and Exhibits".

                                       24
<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:  May 12, 1999    /S/ Martin L. Flanagan
                       ----------------------

                       MARTIN L. FLANAGAN
                       Senior Vice President











                                       25





                                                            Exhibit 12


     COMPUTATIONS OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES



                               Three months ended       Six months ended
                                    March 31                March 31
(Dollars in thousands)           1999         1998        1999         1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before taxes          $140,834     $171,194    $235,962     $347,459
Add fixed charges:
    Interest expense            7,443        8,218      16,180       18,965
    Interest factor on rent     3,416        2,939       6,993        5,830
                             ---------------------------------------------------
Total fixed charges           $10,859      $11,157      23,173      $24,795
                             ---------------------------------------------------

Earnings before fixed
    charges and taxes
    on income                $151,693     $182,351    $259,135     $372,254
                              ==================================================
Ratio of earnings to
    fixed charges                14.0         16.3        11.2         15.0















                                       26


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM REGISTRANT'S
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
<S>                                         <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                        620,146
<SECURITIES>                                  379,854
<RECEIVABLES>                                 234,272
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            1,256,665
<PP&E>                                        363,934
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              3,458,807
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         365,783
<BONDS>                                             0
                               0
                                         0
<COMMON>                                       25,213
<OTHER-SE>                                  2,420,730
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                3,458,807
<SALES>                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            1,121,750
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 899,865
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             10,949
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               235,962
<INCOME-TAX>                                   64,999
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 0
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                  170,963
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.68
        

</TABLE>


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