Franklin Universal Trust Reports Asset Allocation

SAN MATEO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/04/13 -- Franklin Universal Trust (NYSE: FT), a closed-end investment company managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc., today reported its portfolio composition, certain portfolio characteristics and NYSE closing price as of February 28, 2013.

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, Bissett, Fiduciary Trust, Darby, Balanced Equity Management and K2 investment teams. The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 65 years of investment experience and over $813 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2013. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN® or visit franklintempleton.com.

FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST ASSET ALLOCATION at February 28, 2013

                                   ============= ============= ============
                                   MARKET                      PERCENTAGE
SECURITY                           VALUE                       OF FUND (1)
                                   -------------               ------------

High Yield & Investment Grade
 Corporate Bonds & Preferred
 Securities                        $ 161,122,497                       67.9%

Utilities - Common & Preferred
 Stocks                            $  70,835,554                       29.9%

Other Investments                  $   1,628,975                        0.7%

Cash & Other Net Assets            $   3,591,678                        1.5%
                                    ------------               ------------

Total Investments (1,2)            $ 237,178,704                      100.0%

                                    ============  ============ ============
                                    MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
10 LARGEST HOLDINGS BY ISSUER       VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
                                    ------------               ------------

Duke Energy Corp.                  $   6,407,010                        2.7%
Dominion Resources Inc.            $   5,600,000                        2.4%
Southern Co.                       $   4,883,585                        2.1%
Pinnacle West Capital Corp.        $   3,915,800                        1.7%
Sempra Energy                      $   3,888,000                        1.6%
Centerpoint Energy Inc.            $   3,638,814                        1.5%
Edison International               $   3,602,250                        1.5%
Nextera Energy Inc.                $   3,593,500                        1.5%
American Electric Power Co Inc.    $   3,509,250                        1.5%
Alliant Energy Corp.               $   3,476,601                        1.5%
                                    ------------               ------------

Total (2)                          $  42,514,810                       17.9%

                                    ============  ============ ============
% OF GROSS ASSETS IN DEFAULT:       MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
ISSUER(3)                           VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
                                    ------------               ------------

Fontainebleau Las Vegas            $       1,008                        0.0%
                                    ------------               ------------

Total (2)                          $       1,008                        0.0%
Note: The value of these defaulted securities is reflected in the Fund's net
asset value. Percentages are rounded.


                                    ============  ============ ============
Number of positions                                        250
NAV per share                                    $        7.77 (4)
Market price per share                           $        7.43 (4)
Number of shares outstanding                        25,131,894
Total net assets                                 $ 195,178,704

(1) Percentage of total investments of the Fund. Total investments of the
Fund include long-term and short-term investments and other net assets,
excluding long-term debt issued by the Fund.
(2) Total figures may not represent exact sum of items as a result of
rounding.
(3) Includes issuers that have defaulted or have missed scheduled bond
payments.
(4) These figures are rounded to two decimal places.