BW20030805002137  20030806T060042Z UTC


( BW)(FRANKLIN-RESOURCES-INC)(FKR) Franklin Resources, Inc. Announces
Agreement To Repurchase 6.1 Million Shares of Common Stock

    Business Editors
    UK REGULATORY NEWS

    SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2003--

Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) announced today that the company
will be repurchasing 6.1 million shares of its common stock in an
off-market transaction at $43.86 per share from the estate of a former
employee. The transaction is valued at approximately $267.5 million.

The company is continuing its policy of purchasing shares of its
common stock for use in connection with various corporate incentive
compensation programs, when strategic opportunities exist such as
acquiring large share blocks or when it believes that the market price
of its shares merit such action. Such purchases reflect a long-term
company policy authorized by its Board of Directors. The remaining
number of shares currently authorized for purchase by Franklin
Resources, Inc. after the completion of this transaction is
approximately 14.6 million. Including this transaction, the company
has repurchased approximately 15.3 million shares in the current
fiscal year, which began October 1, 2002.

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], is a global investment
organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin
Templeton provides global and domestic investment management services
through its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series and Fiduciary Trust
subsidiaries. The San Mateo, CA-based company has over 50 years of
investment experience and approximately $287 billion in assets under
management as of June 30, 2003. For more information, please call
1-800/DIAL BEN(R) or visit franklintempleton.com.

   Short Name: FranklinResourcesInc
   Category Code: MSC
   Sequence Number: 00008037
   Time of Receipt (offset from UTC): 20030805T225026+0100

    --30--DB/ny

    CONTACT: Franklin Resources, Inc.
             Investor Relations: Alan Weinfeld  (650) 525-8900
             Corporate Communications: Stacey Johnston (650) 525-7458
             franklintempleton.com

    KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL EUROPE
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING 
    SOURCE: FranklinResourcesInc

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