Who Owns Lexington Partners?
Lexington Partners is majority-owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), a publicly traded global asset manager headquartered in San Mateo, California. Founded in 1994 in New York, Lexington is one of the world's largest independent managers of secondary private equity and co-investment strategies. Franklin Templeton acquired a majority stake in a transaction completed in 2022.
Parent Company
Founded
1994
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Lexington Partners Timeline
GlobalOfficial Website
Who Owns Lexington Partners?
- Parent Company: Franklin Templeton, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: New York Stock Exchange: BEN
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Partners | Franklin Templeton, Inc. | Wholly owned |
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History of Lexington Partners
- Founded: 1994
- Founders: Brent R. Nicklas
Brent Nicklas and colleagues founded Lexington in New York in 1994 to invest in private equity secondaries, buying existing limited partnership interests from investors needing liquidity. The niche, then small, grew into a major private markets segment, and Lexington grew with it into one of the largest independent secondary managers in the world.
Through successive flagship funds the firm built relationships across the global buyout and venture ecosystem, adding co-investment and GP-led transaction capabilities. Its funds have raised tens of billions of dollars across the platform's history.
Franklin Templeton announced its majority acquisition in 2021 and completed it in 2022, one of several alternatives purchases that transformed the parent's asset mix. Lexington now anchors the private equity alternatives offering, raising its tenth flagship secondary fund among the largest in the market.
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About Franklin Templeton, Inc.
Is Franklin Resources the same as Franklin Templeton?
Yes. Franklin Resources, Inc. was the legal name until August 17, 2026, when it became Franklin Templeton, Inc. The NYSE ticker BEN is unchanged.
Is Franklin Templeton publicly traded?
Yes. It trades on the NYSE under ticker BEN.
Who is the CEO of Franklin Templeton?
Jenny Johnson, great-granddaughter of founder Rupert H. Johnson Sr., president and CEO since February 2020.
How much does Franklin Templeton manage?
Approximately $1.8 trillion as of September 30, 2026.
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Did Franklin Templeton buy Legg Mason?
Yes, in July 2020 for about $4.5 billion, adding Western Asset, ClearBridge, Brandywine Global, Martin Currie, Royce, and Clarion Partners.
Does the Johnson family still control Franklin Templeton?
The family holds a substantial ownership position and Jenny Johnson leads the company, but it is a public corporation with majority outside shareholders.
- Founded: 1947
- Headquarters: San Mateo, California, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: New York Stock Exchange: BEN
- Revenue: Approximately $7.2 billion adjusted operating revenue (FY2026, ended September 30, 2026)
- Employees: Approximately 10,000
Where Is Lexington Partners Made / Based?
- Headquarters: New York, New York, USA
Lexington Partners Categories & Tags
Brands Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
Finance FintechBenefit Street Partners
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
New York private credit manager founded in 2008 by Tom Gahan, a specialist alternatives manager of Franklin Templeton focused on middle-market lending.
private-creditalternativesasset-management
Finance FintechBrandywine Global
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
Philadelphia global macro and fixed income value manager founded in 1986, operating as a specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton.
asset-managementfixed-incomeglobal-macro
Finance FintechClarion Partners
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
New York commercial real estate investment manager founded in 1982, a specialist alternatives manager of Franklin Templeton.
real-estateasset-managementalternatives
Finance FintechClearBridge Investments
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
New York fundamental equity manager with roots to 1962, a specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton focused on active US equity strategies.
asset-managementequityactive-management
Finance FintechFranklin Templeton
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
The flagship investment brand of Franklin Templeton, Inc., covering mutual funds, ETFs, and managed solutions backed by $1.8 trillion in global AUM.
asset-managementmutual-fundsetf
Finance FintechMartin Currie
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
Edinburgh-based equity manager founded in 1881, a specialist investment manager of Franklin Templeton running global, international, and emerging market strategies.
asset-managementequityemerging-markets
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Lexington Partners Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Pioneer and scale leader in private equity secondaries
- +Long-duration fee streams diversify parent's revenue
- +GP relationships produce proprietary deal flow
Considerations
- -Fundraising cycles create lumpy AUM growth
- -Competition from mega-alternatives platforms intensifies
- -Returns depend on private market exit environment
Frequently Asked Questions About Lexington Partners
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Lexington Partners
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | USA | 1988 | Premium | Global | Unisex | |
| Kkr | USA | 1976 | Market leader | Global | All-ages | |
| Cvc Capital Partners | Luxembourg | 1981 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Franklin Templeton | USA | 2008 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Franklin Templeton | USA | 1982 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Finance FintechGoldman Sachs Asset Management
Owned by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Investment management division of Goldman Sachs overseeing $3.61 trillion in assets under supervision across public markets, alternatives, and wealth clients.
asset-managementinvestingalternatives
Finance FintechKKR
Owned by KKR & Co. Inc.
Flagship brand of KKR & Co. Inc., the global investment firm, covering its private equity, credit, and real assets investment platforms.
private-equityinvestment-managementalternatives
Finance FintechCVC Capital Partners
Owned by CVC Capital Partners plc
Global private markets investment brand managing 205 billion euros across private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure funds.
private-equityprivate-marketsasset-management
Finance FintechBenefit Street Partners
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
New York private credit manager founded in 2008 by Tom Gahan, a specialist alternatives manager of Franklin Templeton focused on middle-market lending.
private-creditalternativesasset-management
Finance FintechClarion Partners
Owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc.
New York commercial real estate investment manager founded in 1982, a specialist alternatives manager of Franklin Templeton.
real-estateasset-managementalternatives
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Lexington Partners competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Lexington Partners
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Franklin Templeton, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Finance FintechCVC Capital Partners
Owned by CVC Capital Partners plc
Global private markets investment brand managing 205 billion euros across private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure funds.
private-equityprivate-marketsasset-management
Privately Owned
CVC Capital Partners is privately owned, unlike Lexington Partners which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechBarings
Owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
Global asset management firm headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and subsidiary of MassMutual, managing investments across fixed income, real estate, and private markets.
asset-managementinvestmentsfixed-income
Privately Owned
Barings is privately owned, unlike Lexington Partners which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechKKR
Owned by KKR & Co. Inc.
Flagship brand of KKR & Co. Inc., the global investment firm, covering its private equity, credit, and real assets investment platforms.
private-equityinvestment-managementalternatives
Publicly Traded
KKR operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Finance FintechNuveen
Owned by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
American asset management brand with about $1.4 trillion in assets under management, operating as the investment management arm of TIAA since 2014.
asset-managementinvestment-managementmutual-funds
Privately Owned
Nuveen is privately owned, unlike Lexington Partners which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechBloomberg Terminal
Owned by Bloomberg L.P.
Industry-standard financial data and analytics platform used by approximately 325,000 subscribers at banks, hedge funds, and institutional investors worldwide.
financial-datamarket-dataanalytics
Privately Owned
Bloomberg Terminal is privately owned, unlike Lexington Partners which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechBybit
Owned by Bybit Fintech Limited
Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange, the world's second-largest by trading volume, serving more than 80 million registered users.
crypto-exchangetradingbitcoin
Privately Owned
Bybit is privately owned, unlike Lexington Partners which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Franklin Templeton, Inc. Stock Information
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Jobs at Franklin Templeton, Inc.
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