Franklin Universal Trust Reports Asset Allocation

SAN MATEO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/05/13 -- 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 May 31, 2013. This portfolio information and other Franklin Universal Trust information can be found at https://www.franklintempleton.com/retail/jsp_app/products/closed_end_fund.jsp?fundNumber=002).

Please note that following this release, Franklin Universal Trust will begin issuing asset allocation press releases on a quarterly basis, rather than a monthly basis.

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 $846 billion in assets under management as of May 31, 2013. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN® or visit franklintempleton.com.

FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST ASSET ALLOCATION at May 31, 2013
============================================================================
                                     MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
SECURITY                             VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
------------------------------------ ------------               ------------

High Yield & Investment Grade
 Corporate Bonds & Preferred
 Securities                          $162,210,720                      67.9%

Utilities - Common & Preferred
 Stocks                               $71,928,111                      30.1%

Other Investments                      $2,507,784                       1.1%

Cash & Other Net Assets                $2,158,913                       0.9%
                                     ------------               ------------

Total Investments (1,2)              $238,805,528                     100.0%
==================================== ============ ============= ============

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

Duke Energy Corp.                      $6,192,364                       2.6%
Dominion Resources Inc.                $5,655,000                       2.4%
Southern Co.                           $4,763,150                       2.0%
Sempra Energy                          $4,065,000                       1.7%
Pinnacle West Capital Corp.            $3,953,600                       1.7%
Centerpoint Energy Inc.                $3,935,964                       1.6%
Nextera Energy Inc.                    $3,781,000                       1.6%
Alliant Energy Corp.                   $3,591,054                       1.5%
Edison International                   $3,445,500                       1.4%
Entergy Corp.                          $3,444,000                       1.4%
                                     ------------               ------------

Total (2)                             $42,826,632                      17.9%
==================================== ============ ============= ============

% OF GROSS ASSETS IN DEFAULT:        MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
ISSUER(3)                            VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
------------------------------------ ------------               ------------
Ceva Group                               $568,000                       0.2%
Fontainebleau Las Vegas                    $1,000                       0.0%
                                     ------------               ------------
Total (2)                                $569,000                       0.2%
Note: The value of these defaulted securities is reflected in the Fund's net
 asset value. Percentages are rounded.

==================================== ============ ============= ============

Number of positions                                         248
NAV per share                                            $ 8.16 (4)
Market price per share                                   $ 7.13 (4)
Number of shares outstanding                         25,131,894
Total net assets                                  $ 196,805,529


(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.

You may request a copy of the Fund's current Report to Shareholders by
contacting Franklin Templeton's Fund Information Department at 1-800/DIAL
BEN® (1-800-342-5236) or by visiting franklintempleton.com. All investments
involve risks, including possible loss of principal. Bond prices generally
move in the opposite direction of interest rates. As the prices of bonds in
a fund adjust to a rise in interest rates, the fund's share price may
decline. Investments in lower-rated bonds include higher risk of default and
loss of principal. Stock prices fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and
dramatically, due to factors affecting individual companies, particular
industries or sectors, or general market conditions. In addition to other
factors, securities issued by utility companies have historically been
sensitive to interest rate changes. When interest rates fall, utility
securities prices, and thus a utilities fund's share price, tend to rise;
when interest rates rise, their prices generally fall. The Fund is actively
managed but there is no guarantee that the manager's investment decisions
will produce the desired results. This press release contains statistical
data regarding the Fund's portfolio. The Fund's complete portfolio holdings
are publicly available on a quarterly basis on Form N-Q, as well as in the
Fund's Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents may be found at sec.gov.
For portfolio management discussions, including information regarding the
Fund's investment strategies, please view the most recent Annual or Semi-
Annual Report to Shareholders which can be found at franklintempleton.com or
sec.gov.