Franklin Universal Trust Declares Monthly Dividend

SAN MATEO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 12/20/12 -- Franklin Universal Trust (NYSE: FT), a closed-end investment company managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc., announced today a dividend of $0.038 per share, payable January 15, 2013, to shareholders of record on December 31, 2012 (Ex-Dividend Date: December 27, 2012).

Franklin Advisers, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN), a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, Darby and Bissett investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience and over $768 billion in assets under management as of November 30, 2012. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN® or visit franklintempleton.com.