Franklin Templeton to Acquire Legg Mason, Creating $1.5 Trillion AUM Global Investment Manager

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Franklin Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) [NYSE:BEN], a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Legg Mason, Inc. [NYSE:LM] for $50.00 per share of common stock in an all-cash transaction. The Company will also assume approximately $2 billion of Legg Mason’s outstanding debt. The acquisition of Legg Mason and its multiple investment affiliates, which collectively manage over $806 billion in assets as of January 31, 2020, will establish Franklin Templeton as one of the world’s largest independent, specialized global investment managers with a combined $1.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM) across one of the broadest ranges of high-quality investment teams in the industry. The combined footprint of the organization will significantly deepen Franklin Templeton’s presence in key geographies and create an expansive investment platform that is well balanced between institutional and retail client AUM. In addition, the combined platform creates a strong separately managed account business.