UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-17F-2
CERTIFICATE OF ACCOUNTING OF SECURITIES
AND SIMILAR
INVESTMENTS
IN THE CUSTODY OF
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
PURSUANT TO RULE N-17F-2 [17 CFR 270.17f-2]
| | | | | | | | |
1. Investment Company Act File Number: | Date Examination completed: |
811-05569 | September 26, 2024 |
| | |
2. State Identification
Number: | |
| | | | | | |
AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO |
CT | DE | DC | FL | GA | HI |
ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY |
LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN |
MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH |
NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH |
OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD |
TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA |
WV | WI | WY | PUERTO RICO | | |
| |
3. Exact name of investment
company as specified in registration statement: |
| |
Franklin Universal Trust |
| | |
4. Address of principal executive office: (number, street,
city, state, zip code) |
| |
One
Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403
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Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Boards of Trustees and Management
of:
Franklin
Custodian Funds
Franklin ETF Trust
Franklin Floating Rate Master Trust
Franklin
Fund Allocator Series
Franklin Global Trust
Franklin Gold and Precious
Metals Fund
Franklin High Income Trust
Franklin Investors Securities Trust
Franklin
Limited Duration Income Trust
Franklin Managed Trust
Franklin Real Estate
Securities Trust
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio
Franklin Strategic Series
Franklin
Templeton ETF Trust
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust
Franklin U.S. Government
Money Fund
Franklin Universal Trust
Institutional Fiduciary Trust
Templeton
China World Fund
Templeton Developing Markets Trust
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund
Templeton
Emerging Markets Income Fund
Templeton Funds
Templeton Global Investment Trust
Templeton
Income Trust
Templeton Institutional Funds
And the Boards of Directors and Management
of:
Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc.
We have examined management's assertion,
included in the accompanying Management Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Provisions of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, that the Funds listed in Attachment A (the “Funds”) complied with
the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“the
Act”) as of February 29, 2024. The Funds’ management is responsible for its assertion and the Funds'
compliance with those requirements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assertion
about the Funds' compliance with the specified requirements based on our examination.
Our examination was conducted
in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and
in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the examination to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether management’s assertion about compliance with the specified requirements is fairly stated, in
all material respects, and, accordingly, included examining, on a test basis, evidence about the Funds'
compliance with those requirements and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in
the circumstances. Included among our
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 405 Howard Street,
Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105 T: (415) 498 5000, www.pwc.com/us
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procedures
were the following tests performed as of February 29, 2024, and with respect to agreement of security
purchases and sales, for the period from January 1, 2024 (the date of our last examination), through
February 29, 2024:
- Confirmation
of all securities held by Franklin Templeton Investors Services, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”),
as
they
pertain to the security
positions
owned
by
the
Funds
and
held
in
book
entry
form
- Reconciliation
of all such securities to the books and records of the Funds and the Transfer Agent
- Agreement of 304 security
purchases
and
386
security
sales
or
maturities
since
our
last
report
from the books and records of the Funds to the records of the Transfer Agent confirmations
We
believe that our examination provides, and that the evidence we obtained is sufficient and appropriate
to provide, a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our examination does not provide a legal determination
on the Funds’ compliance with the specified requirements.
We are required to be independent
and to meet our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with relevant ethical requirements related
to the engagement.
In our opinion, management's assertion that the Funds listed in Attachment A complied
with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940
as of February 29, 2024 with respect to securities reflected in the investment accounts of the Funds
is fairly stated, in all material respects.
This report is intended solely for the information and use
of management and the Boards of Trustees or Boards of Directors of the Funds and the Securities and Exchange
Commission and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than the specified parties.
/s/PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, LLP
September
26, 2024
2
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Attachment A
| | |
Franklin
Custodian Funds: | Examination Period |
Franklin DynaTech Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Growth Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Income Funda | January
1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Government Securities Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Utilities Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
| | |
Franklin
ETF Trust: | |
Franklin
Short Duration U.S. Government ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Floating Rate
Master Trust: | |
Franklin
Floating Rate Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Fund Allocator
Series: | |
Franklin
Conservative Allocation Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Corefolio Allocation
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Global Allocation
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Growth Allocation Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin International Core Equity (IU) Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart Retirement Income Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2020
Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2025 Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart 2030 Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2035
Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2040 Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart 2045 Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2050
Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2055 Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart 2060 Retirement Target Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Moderate Allocation
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Core Equity (IU) Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Global Trust: | |
Franklin
Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin International
Growth Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
High Income Trust: | |
Franklin
High Income Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Investors Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Convertible
Securities Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Equity Income Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Funda | January
1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Long Duration Credit Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Low Duration Total Return Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
| | |
Franklin Low Duration U.S. Government Securities
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Managed Income Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Total Return Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Limited Duration Income Trusta | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Managed Trust: | |
Franklin
Rising Dividends Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Real Estate
Securities Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolioa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Strategic Series: | |
Franklin
Biotechnology Discovery Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Growth Opportunities
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Natural Resources Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Small Cap Growth Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Small-Mid Cap Growth Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Strategic Income Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Templeton SMACS: Series Ea | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series Ia | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Templeton ETF Trust: | |
Franklin Exponential Data ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Focused Growth ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin FTSE Eurozone ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
FTSE Japan ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Core Bond ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Core Dividend Tilt Index ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Equity Index ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Large Cap Multifactor Index ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Mid Cap Multifactor Index ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Small
Cap Multifactor Index ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Treasury Bond ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Ultra Short Bond ETFa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: | |
Franklin
Allocation VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin DynaTech VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Income VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Rising Dividends VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Small Cap Value VIP Funda | January
1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Strategic Income
VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin VolSmart Allocation VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Developing Markets VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Templeton Foreign VIP
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Bond VIP Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
| | |
Franklin U.S. Government Money Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Universal Trusta | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Institutional Fiduciary Trust: | |
Money Market Portfolioa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
China World Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Developing Markets Trusta | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Emerging Markets Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Funds: | |
Templeton
International Climate Change Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Investment
Trust: | |
Franklin
Templeton SMACS: Series EMa | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Templeton Emerging Markets
Small Cap Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Balanced Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Income Trust: | |
Templeton
Global Bond Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Total Return Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
International Bond Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Sustainable Emerging Markets Bond Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Institutional Funds: | |
International Equity Seriesa | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Dragon Fund, Inc.a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Legend:
a: December 31, 2023 represents the date of our last examination.
Franklin Templeton Services, LLC
3355 Data Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
tel (800) 632.2350
franklintempleton.com
Management
Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain
Provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940
We, as members of management
of the funds indicated in Attachment A (the “Funds”), are responsible for complying with the requirements
of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2, Custody of Investments by Registered Management Investment
Companies, of the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are also responsible for establishing and maintaining
effective internal controls over compliance with those requirements. We have performed an evaluation
of the Funds' compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 as of February
29, 2024, and for the periods indicated in Attachment A.
Based on this evaluation, we assert that
the Funds were in compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 as of February 29, 2024, and for the periods indicated in Attachment A, with respect
to securities reflected in the investment account of the Funds.
By:
/s/CHRISTOPHER KINGS
Christopher
Kings
Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
Franklin Templeton Group
of Funds
Date September 26, 2024
/s/JEFFREY W. WHITE
Jeffrey
W. White
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Franklin & Templeton
Funds Boards
Date September 26, 2024
/s/VIVEK PAI
Vivek
Pai
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Franklin Templeton ETF
Trust
Franklin ETF Trust
Date
September
26, 2024
Attachment A
| | |
Franklin
Custodian Funds: | Examination Period |
Franklin DynaTech Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Growth Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Government Securities Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Utilities Fund
a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
ETF Trust: | |
Franklin
Short Duration U.S. Government ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Floating Rate
Master Trust: | |
Franklin
Floating Rate Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Fund Allocator
Series: | |
Franklin
Conservative Allocation Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Corefolio Allocation
Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Global Allocation
Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Growth Allocation Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin International Core Equity (IU) Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart Retirement Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2020
Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2025 Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart 2030 Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2035
Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2040 Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart 2045 Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2050
Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2055 Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
LifeSmart 2060 Retirement Target Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Moderate Allocation
Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Core Equity (IU) Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Global Trust: | |
Franklin
Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin International
Growth Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
High Income Trust: | |
Franklin
High Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Investors Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Convertible
Securities Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Equity Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Long Duration Credit Fund a | January
1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Low Duration Total Return Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
| | |
Franklin Low Duration U.S. Government Securities
Funda | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Managed Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Total Return Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Limited Duration Income Trust a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Managed Trust: | |
Franklin
Rising Dividends Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Real Estate
Securities Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Strategic Series: | |
Franklin
Biotechnology Discovery Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Growth Opportunities
Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Natural Resources Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Strategic Income
Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Templeton SMACS: Series E a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS:
Series I a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Templeton ETF Trust: | |
Franklin Exponential
Data ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Focused Growth ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
FTSE Eurozone ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
FTSE Japan Hedged ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Equity
Index ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Large Cap Multifactor Index ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
U.S. Mid Cap Multifactor Index ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Small
Cap Multifactor Index ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin U.S. Treasury
Bond ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Ultra Short Bond ETF a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: | |
Franklin Allocation VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
DynaTech VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Income VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Rising Dividends VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Franklin Small Cap Value
VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin Strategic Income VIP Fund a | January
1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
VolSmart Allocation VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Templeton Developing
Markets VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Foreign VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Bond VIP Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
| | |
Franklin U.S. Government Money Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Franklin
Universal Trust a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Institutional Fiduciary Trust: | |
Money Market Portfolio
a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
China World Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Developing Markets Trust a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Emerging Markets Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Funds: | |
Templeton
International Climate Change Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Investment
Trust: | |
Franklin
Templeton SMACS: Series EM a | January 1, 2024 – February
29, 2024 |
Templeton Emerging Markets
Small Cap Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Balanced Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Income Trust: | |
Templeton
Global Bond Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Global Total Return Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
International Bond Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton Sustainable Emerging Markets Bond Fund a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Institutional Funds: | |
International Equity Series a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Templeton
Dragon Fund, Inc. a | January 1, 2024 – February 29, 2024 |
Legend:
a: December 31, 2023 represents the date of our last examination.
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