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<title>ben-20220223</title></head><body><div style="display:none"><ix:header><ix:hidden><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="idb0199453f3c4c2a979595dc3002df09_D20220223-20220223" name="dei:EntityCentralIndexKey" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ2YTVjNTEzZTM3YTQ2ZWY5NDhmNmUyNzFkMjkxOTgwL3NlYzpkNmE1YzUxM2UzN2E0NmVmOTQ4ZjZlMjcxZDI5MTk4MF80L2ZyYWc6OWJkMjZiMWY1ZDkxNDA1YmEwZDcxMWI0MWNhZjdkYWUvdGFibGU6MDA5ZTkxNzI5MzUxNGNiZjk5NDBjZjZlZTE1MjM3ZmYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTowMDllOTE3MjkzNTE0Y2JmOTk0MGNmNmVlMTUyMzdmZl8xLTEtMS0xLTI5MTU3OQ_102288a2-858e-41e4-8b62-3c5894ca9dfe">0000038777</ix:nonNumeric><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="idb0199453f3c4c2a979595dc3002df09_D20220223-20220223" name="dei:AmendmentFlag" 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style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:16pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</span></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C. 20549</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">FORM <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="idb0199453f3c4c2a979595dc3002df09_D20220223-20220223" name="dei:DocumentType" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ2YTVjNTEzZTM3YTQ2ZWY5NDhmNmUyNzFkMjkxOTgwL3NlYzpkNmE1YzUxM2UzN2E0NmVmOTQ4ZjZlMjcxZDI5MTk4MF8xL2ZyYWc6Zjg5OTA4MGMzMDhkNGZlOTkwOWU1NWQxOGRjNGIyMDUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmODk5MDgwYzMwOGQ0ZmU5OTA5ZTU1ZDE4ZGM0YjIwNV8xNzMz_d3651a61-2a34-42b3-9cbf-6b1bef1dffee">8-K</ix:nonNumeric> </span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">CURRENT REPORT</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</span></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&#160;<ix:nonNumeric contextRef="idb0199453f3c4c2a979595dc3002df09_D20220223-20220223" name="dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate" format="ixt:date-monthname-day-year-en" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ2YTVjNTEzZTM3YTQ2ZWY5NDhmNmUyNzFkMjkxOTgwL3NlYzpkNmE1YzUxM2UzN2E0NmVmOTQ4ZjZlMjcxZDI5MTk4MF8xL2ZyYWc6Zjg5OTA4MGMzMDhkNGZlOTkwOWU1NWQxOGRjNGIyMDUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmODk5MDgwYzMwOGQ0ZmU5OTA5ZTU1ZDE4ZGM0YjIwNV8xMDk5NTExNjI5NTQz_b2fa43b3-ac39-4b76-83e8-4b7457c3db9c">February 23, 2022</ix:nonNumeric> </span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-top:6pt;text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:18pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"><ix:nonNumeric contextRef="idb0199453f3c4c2a979595dc3002df09_D20220223-20220223" name="dei:EntityRegistrantName" 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id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ2YTVjNTEzZTM3YTQ2ZWY5NDhmNmUyNzFkMjkxOTgwL3NlYzpkNmE1YzUxM2UzN2E0NmVmOTQ4ZjZlMjcxZDI5MTk4MF8xL2ZyYWc6Zjg5OTA4MGMzMDhkNGZlOTkwOWU1NWQxOGRjNGIyMDUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmODk5MDgwYzMwOGQ0ZmU5OTA5ZTU1ZDE4ZGM0YjIwNV8xNzM2_d7b8a07e-f93a-458d-ab9c-30868851e4c5">650</ix:nonNumeric>) <ix:nonNumeric contextRef="idb0199453f3c4c2a979595dc3002df09_D20220223-20220223" name="dei:LocalPhoneNumber" id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ2YTVjNTEzZTM3YTQ2ZWY5NDhmNmUyNzFkMjkxOTgwL3NlYzpkNmE1YzUxM2UzN2E0NmVmOTQ4ZjZlMjcxZDI5MTk4MF8xL2ZyYWc6Zjg5OTA4MGMzMDhkNGZlOTkwOWU1NWQxOGRjNGIyMDUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpmODk5MDgwYzMwOGQ0ZmU5OTA5ZTU1ZDE4ZGM0YjIwNV8xNzMw_6924434f-e3bd-40a2-9770-2fd0b2075823">312-2000</ix:nonNumeric> </span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Not Applicable</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span 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id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ2YTVjNTEzZTM3YTQ2ZWY5NDhmNmUyNzFkMjkxOTgwL3NlYzpkNmE1YzUxM2UzN2E0NmVmOTQ4ZjZlMjcxZDI5MTk4MF8xL2ZyYWc6Zjg5OTA4MGMzMDhkNGZlOTkwOWU1NWQxOGRjNGIyMDUvdGFibGU6ZTFiOWFiYmFhNmMzNDBkMWI5MDJjN2IxY2RlYTFhODMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplMWI5YWJiYWE2YzM0MGQxYjkwMmM3YjFjZGVhMWE4M18xLTItMS0xLTI5MTU3OQ_84a57651-8596-41f0-b556-e7d2ecfaa185">New York Stock Exchange</ix:nonNumeric></span></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule&#160;405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule&#160;12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span 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style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section&#160;13(a) of the Exchange Act.&#160;&#160;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial Unicode MS',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#9744;</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#160;</span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div></div><div id="id6a5c513e37a46ef948f6e271d291980_7"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Item 5.07  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The matters voted upon at the Annual Meeting and the final voting results were as follows:</span></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:10.5pt">To elect 11 directors to the Board of Directors of the Company (the &#8220;Board&#8221;) to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until that person&#8217;s successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.</span></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Each of the 11 nominees for director was elected, and the voting results are set forth below:</span></div><div style="margin-top:14pt;padding-left:36pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:82.894%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:24.825%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.681%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.536%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.681%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.536%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.681%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.536%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.681%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:16.543%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Name of Director</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">For</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Against</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Abstain</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Broker <br/>Non-Votes</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Mariann Byerwalter</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">400,271,972&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,413,930&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">267,757&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Alexander S. Friedman</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">399,205,861&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5,465,237&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">282,561&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Gregory E. Johnson</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">400,122,140&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,390,199&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">441,320&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Jennifer M. Johnson</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">403,269,894&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,481,831&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">201,934&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">402,870,575&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,701,665&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">381,419&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">John Y. Kim</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">398,453,029&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,329,562&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">171,068&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:112%">Karen M. King</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">403,314,448&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,367,191&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">272,020&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Anthony J. Noto</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">398,696,489&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">5,954,023&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">303,147&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">John W. Thiel</span></div></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">401,228,598&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3,241,944&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">483,117&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Seth H. Waugh</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">401,002,830&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3,468,259&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">482,570&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Geoffrey Y. Yang</span></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">393,467,793&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">11,243,854&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">242,012&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">35,370,789&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;padding-left:10.5pt">To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company&#8217;s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September&#160;30, 2022.</span></div><div style="margin-top:9pt;padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was ratified, and the voting results are set forth below:</span></div><div style="margin-top:14pt;padding-left:36pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:45.321%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:31.158%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:31.158%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.412%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:31.160%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">For</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Against</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Abstain</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">428,456,581&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">11,682,983&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="background-color:#cceeff;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">184,884&#160;</span></td><td style="background-color:#cceeff;border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div></div></div><div id="id6a5c513e37a46ef948f6e271d291980_13"></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"/><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><span><br/></span></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">SIGNATURE</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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 hereunto duly authorized.</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="margin-top:5pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.853%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:4.756%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:37.992%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:53.952%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">FRANKLIN&#160;RESOURCES,&#160;INC.</span></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Date:</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">February 24, 2022</span></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">/s/&#160;Thomas C. Merchant</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Thomas C. Merchant</span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Vice President and Secretary</span></td></tr></table></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">3</span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span><br/></span></div></div></div></body></html>
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ben-20220223
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
February 23, 2022
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-09318
13-2670991
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
One Franklin Parkway
,
San Mateo
,
CA
94403
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (
650
)
312-2000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
BEN
New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
☐
Item 5.07  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The matters voted upon at the Annual Meeting and the final voting results were as follows:
1.
To elect 11 directors to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until that person's successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Each of the 11 nominees for director was elected, and the voting results are set forth below:
Name of Director
For
Against
Abstain
Broker
Non-Votes
Mariann Byerwalter
400,271,972
4,413,930
267,757
35,370,789
Alexander S. Friedman
399,205,861
5,465,237
282,561
35,370,789
Gregory E. Johnson
400,122,140
4,390,199
441,320
35,370,789
Jennifer M. Johnson
403,269,894
1,481,831
201,934
35,370,789
Rupert H. Johnson, Jr.
402,870,575
1,701,665
381,419
35,370,789
John Y. Kim
398,453,029
6,329,562
171,068
35,370,789
Karen M. King
403,314,448
1,367,191
272,020
35,370,789
Anthony J. Noto
398,696,489
5,954,023
303,147
35,370,789
John W. Thiel
401,228,598
3,241,944
483,117
35,370,789
Seth H. Waugh
401,002,830
3,468,259
482,570
35,370,789
Geoffrey Y. Yang
393,467,793
11,243,854
242,012
35,370,789
2.
To ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022.
The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was ratified, and the voting results are set forth below:
For
Against
Abstain
428,456,581
11,682,983
184,884
2
SIGNATURE
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 hereunto duly authorized.
FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.
Date:
February 24, 2022
/s/ Thomas C. Merchant
Thomas C. Merchant
Vice President and Secretary
3