Jenny Bolt Franklin Templeton Chief Operating Officer

Company Press Release

San Mateo, CA, March 22, 2010 ­- Franklin Templeton Investments is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Bolt as executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of Franklin Resources, Inc., effective March 16, 2010.

“In recognition of her in-depth knowledge of the investment management industry and our company, Jenny will take on an expanded role overseeing Human Resources and Global Compensation,” commented Gregory E. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Franklin Resources, Inc. “Becoming COO acknowledges her successful oversight and guidance of many significant areas, including our investment operations, shareholder servicing, and technology strategy, as well as Fiduciary Trust, our wealth management business. As COO, she will continue to be instrumental in developing the company’s overall strategic direction and furthering our tradition of providing world-class client service.”

Prior to being named COO, Bolt was executive vice president of Operations and Technology for Franklin Resources, Inc. In addition to Global HR and Compensation, Bolt oversees Franklin Templeton’s Global Transfer Agency operations, Investment Management Services, Franklin’s banking subsidiaries, and has global responsibilities for software development and infrastructure/systems support. She will continue to report to Johnson.

Bolt is an officer of Franklin Resources, Inc. and serves as a director of several subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc., including Fiduciary Trust Company International. She started with the company in 1988. Bolt is a board member of Riva Financial Systems and Keynote Systems, Inc. She is also a board member of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Shelter Network.

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], is a global investment organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, Darby and Bissett investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience and over $556 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2010. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN® or visit franklinresources.com.