Franklin Universal Trust Shares of Beneficial Interest

Franklin Universal Trust is a closed-end management investment company whose primary investment objective is to provide high current income consistent with preservation of capital. Its secondary objective is growth of income through dividend increases and capital appreciation. The company invests mainly in two asset classes: high-yield bonds and utility stocks. Its high-yield bond portfolio consists of a diversified portfolio of bonds selected through fundamental research, while its utility stock portfolio focuses on companies with attractive dividend yields and a history of increasing their dividends.