June 10 (Reuters) - Fund manager Franklin Resources ( BEN ),

better known as Franklin Templeton, will participate in rocket

maker SpaceX's blockbuster initial public offering this

week, CEO Jenny Johnson told CNBC on Wednesday.

Speaking on a CNBC interview, Johnson said clients were

calling up the asset manager and asking if the firm was involved

in the SpaceX IPO.

"We actually already have exposure and we will participate

in the IPO. Anytime you have kind of a sexy IPO, that gets

everybody excited again about the markets and the opportunities

in the innovation story there," Johnson said.

The San Mateo, California-based firm, which manages nearly

$1.7 trillion in assets, already has exposure to SpaceX as it

has been investing in late-stage private companies through its

growth equity funds for over a decade, she added.

SpaceX is currently on the road aiming to raise $75 billion

at roughly a $1.8 trillion valuation. The firm's hotly

anticipated debut is scheduled for Friday.

The firm has drawn more than $250 billion of investor demand

for what stands to be the largest-ever IPO, Reuters reported on

Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

SpaceX had also held discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public

Investment Fund for a potential anchor stake of around $5

billion in the IPO, Reuters reported in April, citing two people

familiar with the matter.