Franklin Universal Trust Reports Asset Allocation

| Source: Franklin Templeton Franklin Templeton

SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwire - June 1, 2009) - 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 April 30, 2009.

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 approximately $421 billion in assets under management as of April 30, 2009. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN® or visit franklintempleton.com. 


FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST ASSET ALLOCATION at April 30, 2009

==============================  ============== =============  ============
                                    MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
SECURITY                            VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
------------------------------  --------------                ------------
High Yield and Investment
 Grade Corporate Bonds &
 Preferred                      $  122,050,607                        73.9%

Utilities Common and Preferred
 Stocks                         $   37,875,275                        22.9%

Other Investments               $    2,008,145                         1.2%

Cash & Other Net Assets         $    3,324,895                         2.0%
                                --------------                ------------
Total Investments (1),(2)       $  165,258,922                       100.0%
==============================  ============== =============  ============
                                    MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
10 LARGEST HOLDINGS BY ISSUER       VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
------------------------------  --------------                ------------
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC       $    4,177,798                         2.5%
FPL Group Inc.                  $    4,034,250                         2.4%
Entergy Corp.                   $    3,238,500                         2.0%
Exelon Corp.                    $    3,229,100                         2.0%
Edison International            $    3,164,130                         1.9%
Dominion Resources Inc.         $    3,016,000                         1.8%
HCA Inc.                        $    2,867,500                         1.7%
Charter Communications
 Holdings                       $    2,811,000                         1.7%
Wind Acquisition Fin SA         $    2,612,500                         1.6%
Sungard Data Systems Inc.       $    2,526,500                         1.5%
                                --------------                ------------
Total (2)                       $   31,677,278                        19.2%
==============================  ============== =============  ============
% OF GROSS ASSETS IN DEFAULT:       MARKET                     PERCENTAGE
 ISSUER(3)                          VALUE                      OF FUND (1)
------------------------------  --------------                ------------
Atherton Franchise              $        7,216                         0.0%
Canwest Media Inc.              $      530,000                         0.3%
CCH I LLC                       $       66,000                         0.0%
Charter Communications
 Holdings                       $    2,745,000                         1.7%
Idearc Inc.                     $       53,125                         0.0%
Nortel Networks                 $      540,000                         0.3%
Station Casinos Inc.            $      428,500                         0.3%
                                --------------                ------------
Total (2)                       $    4,369,841                         2.6%

Note: The value of these defaulted securities is reflected in the Fund's
      net asset value. Percentages are rounded.

==============================  ============== ============   ============
Number of positions                                     139
NAV per share                                  $       4.90(4)
Market price per share                         $       4.09(4)
Number of shares outstanding                     25,131,894
Asset coverage (Investment
 Company Act)                                         393.5%
Total net assets                               $123,258,922

(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.

Contact Information: Contact: Franklin Templeton Investments Shareholders/Financial Advisors: (800) 342-5236 Media: (650) 312-2245

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