Franklin Templeton's Private Credit Surge Drives 2025 Asset Manager Award Win

Franklin Templeton has been named the 2025 Top Asset Manager Award winner, a recognition underscoring its strategic expansion in alternatives and global markets. The firm's recent acquisition of Apera Asset Management, a pan-European private credit firm with €5 billion in assets, has bolstered its alternatives platform to $270 billion in AUM, positioning it as a leader in the fast-growing private credit sector. The Yahoo piece noted that this move follows Franklin Templeton's 2022 acquisition of Alcentra and its partnership with Benefit Street Partners, creating one of the largest alternative credit platforms globally.

The firm's momentum extends beyond alternatives. In October 2025, Envestnet launched manager models featuring interval funds from Franklin Templeton and BlackRock on its WealthTech platform. These models, including Franklin Templeton's Multi-Manager HNW Portfolios with a 10% alternatives allocation, aim to streamline access to private markets for advisors while simplifying tax reporting and addressing liquidity challenges, according to a MarketScreener report. StockTitan coverage also highlights that Envestnet's partnership brings Franklin Templeton's institutional-grade solutions to a broader client base through $25,000 minimum Fund Strategist Portfolios.

Franklin Templeton also expanded its active ETF lineup in October, introducing two international equity strategies, Morningstar reported: the Putnam International Stock ETF (PGRI) and the Templeton International Insights ETF (TINS). PGRI focuses on high-quality global companies with durable competitive advantages, while TINS leverages Templeton's 80-year legacy to identify undervalued opportunities. These launches reinforce the firm's all-weather ETF platform, which now spans 70+ products and $50 billion in AUM.

The firm's growth is further supported by its diversification into Canadian markets. Franklin Templeton Canada announced cash distributions for several ETFs in October 2025, Yahoo Finance reported. Meanwhile, Franklin BSP Realty Trust, a subsidiary, reported its Q3 2025 results, with adjusted EPS of $0.22 per share, though net income declined compared to the prior quarter.

Franklin Templeton's strategic bets align with industry trends. Moody's projects private credit AUM to surge to $3 trillion by 2028, a point highlighted in the Yahoo article on the Apera acquisition, and Franklin Templeton's purchase of Apera directly targets this growth. Additionally, the firm's collaboration with Envestnet addresses advisor pain points in accessing alternatives, a sector expected to see increased demand as investors seek yield in a low-growth environment, as noted in coverage of the Envestnet launch.

As the firm celebrates its latest accolade, its CEO Jenny Johnson emphasized, "We are pleased to welcome Apera's outstanding team and believe our combined capabilities will deliver even greater value to clients globally." With a diversified platform spanning alternatives, ETFs, and global equities, Franklin Templeton appears well-positioned to capitalize on evolving market dynamics.