EXHIBIT 99.1
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                                                       One Franklin Parkway
                                                       San Mateo, CA  94403-1906

[LOGO OMITTED]                                         tel   650/312.2000
                                                       franklintempleton.com
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FROM:      Franklin Resources, Inc.
           Corporate Communications: Matt Walsh (650) 312-2245
           Investor Relations: Greta Gahl (650) 312-4091
           franklintempleton.com
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                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


        FRANKLIN RESOURCES ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY AND SPECIAL CASH DIVIDENDS



     San  Mateo,  CA,  March 15,  2005 -  Franklin  Resources,  Inc.  [NYSE:BEN]
announced that the Company's  Board of Directors  approved today the declaration
of a regular  quarterly  cash  dividend  of $0.10  per share and a special  cash
dividend of $2.00 per share,  each payable on April 15, 2005 to  stockholders of
record on March 31, 2005.  The quarterly  dividend of $0.10 is equivalent to the
dividend  paid for the prior quarter and  represents a 17.65%  increase over the
dividend  paid for the same  quarter  last  year.  As a result of the  Company's
strong  financial  position,  the special  cash  dividend  is an extra  dividend
intended to return additional value to the Company's stockholders.
     Franklin  Resources,  Inc.  [NYSE:BEN]  is a global  investment  management
organization  operating as Franklin  Templeton  Investments.  Franklin Templeton
Investments  provides global and domestic investment  management  solutions with
its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series and Fiduciary Trust teams. The San Mateo,
CA-based  company  has over 50  years of  investment  experience  and over  $415
billion  in  assets  under   management  as  of  February  28,  2005.  For  more
information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN(R) or visit franklintempleton.com.

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