FORM N-Q QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY Investment Company Act file number 811-05569 --------- FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST ------------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY, SAN MATEO, CA 94403-1906 ----------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) CRAIG S. TYLE, ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY, SAN MATEO, CA 94403-1906 ------------------------------------------------------------- (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 650 312-2000 ------------ Date of fiscal year end: 8/31 ---- Date of reporting period: 5/31/06 ------- ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. Franklin Universal Trust QUARTERLY STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS MAY 31, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS Statement of Investments ............................................. 3 Notes to Statement of Investments ................................... 9 [LOGO](R) FRANKLIN TEMPLETON INVESTMENTS FRANKLIN o Templeton o Mutual Series Quarterly Statement of Investments | 1 This page intentionally left blank. Franklin Universal Trust STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS, MAY 31, 2006 (UNAUDITED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTRY SHARES VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONG TERM INVESTMENTS 126.6% COMMON STOCKS 34.3% NON-ENERGY MINERALS 1.3% AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., ADR ...................................... South Africa 30,446 $ 1,407,519 Barrick Gold Corp. ............................................... Canada 35,800 1,095,838 --------------- 2,503,357 --------------- PRODUCER MANUFACTURING 0.0% a b Harvard Industries Inc. .......................................... United States 109,618 1,096 b,c VS Holdings Inc. ................................................. United States 181,875 -- --------------- 1,096 --------------- UTILITIES 33.0% Alliant Energy Corp. ............................................. United States 95,000 3,268,000 Ameren Corp. ..................................................... United States 40,000 1,979,600 American Electric Power Co. Inc. ................................. United States 30,000 1,028,100 Atmos Energy Corp. ............................................... United States 85,000 2,281,400 CenterPoint Energy Inc. .......................................... United States 139,200 1,669,008 Dominion Resources Inc. .......................................... United States 70,000 5,080,600 DTE Energy Co. ................................................... United States 45,000 1,818,900 Duke Energy Corp. ................................................ United States 85,800 2,421,276 Edison International ............................................. United States 65,000 2,550,600 Energy East Corp. ................................................ United States 42,000 1,001,280 Entergy Corp. .................................................... United States 50,500 3,540,555 Exelon Corp. ..................................................... United States 104,000 5,887,440 FirstEnergy Corp. ................................................ United States 75,000 3,931,500 FPL Group Inc. ................................................... United States 140,000 5,576,200 NiSource Inc. .................................................... United States 80,000 1,741,600 ONEOK Inc. ....................................................... United States 22,600 759,134 Pinnacle West Capital Corp. ...................................... United States 76,000 2,993,640 Progress Energy Inc. ............................................. United States 70,000 2,942,800 Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. ............................. United States 47,250 3,011,242 The Southern Co. ................................................. United States 170,000 5,434,900 TXU Corp. ........................................................ United States 79,200 4,538,160 --------------- 63,455,935 --------------- TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST $45,552,404) ........................... 65,960,388 --------------- PREFERRED STOCKS 1.0% PROCESS INDUSTRIES 0.0% a c,d,e Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., 12.00%, pfd., Perpetual .............. Indonesia 4,000,000 43,600 --------------- UTILITIES 1.0% Heco Capital Trust III, 6.50%, pfd. .............................. United States 75,000 1,897,500 --------------- TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (COST $5,875,000) ......................... 1,941,100 --------------- Quarterly Statement of Investments | 3 Franklin Universal Trust STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS, MAY 31, 2006 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTRY PRINCIPAL AMOUNT g VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) CORPORATE BONDS 89.2% COMMERCIAL SERVICES 5.7% Corrections Corp. of America, senior note, 7.50%, 5/01/11 ........ United States 2,300,000 $ 2,334,500 Dex Media West LLC, senior sub. note, 9.875%, 8/15/13 ............ United States 2,342,000 2,564,490 JohnsonDiversey Inc., senior sub. note, B, 9.625%, 5/15/12 ....... United States 3,000,000 3,045,000 f R.H. Donnelley Corp., senior note, 144A, 8.875%, 1/15/16 ......... United States 700,000 707,000 United Rentals North America Inc., senior sub. note, 7.75%, 11/15/13 ....................................................... United States 2,400,000 2,364,000 --------------- 11,014,990 --------------- COMMUNICATIONS 9.3% Dobson Cellular Systems Inc., senior secured note, 9.875%, 11/01/12 ....................................................... United States 1,900,000 2,061,500 Inmarsat Finance PLC, senior note, 7.625%, 6/30/12 ............... United Kingdom 645,000 661,125 Inmarsat Finance II PLC, senior note, zero cpn. to 11/15/08, 10.375% thereafter, 11/15/12 ................................... United Kingdom 2,700,000 2,315,250 Intelsat Bermuda Ltd., senior note, 8.25%, 1/15/13 ............... Bermuda 2,900,000 2,925,375 Millicom International Cellular SA, senior note, 10.00%, 12/01/13 ....................................................... Luxembourg 2,300,000 2,587,500 f Nordic Telephone Co. Holdings., senior note, 144A, 8.875%, 5/01/16 ........................................................ Denmark 700,000 726,250 Qwest Communications International Inc., senior note, 7.50%, 2/15/14 ........................................................ United States 2,000,000 2,000,000 Rogers Wireless Inc., senior secured note, 7.25%, 12/15/12 ....... Canada 1,600,000 1,620,000 f Wind Acquisition Finance SA, senior note, 144A, 10.75%, 12/01/15 ....................................................... Italy 2,700,000 2,922,750 --------------- 17,819,750 --------------- CONSUMER DURABLES 6.9% Ford Motor Credit Co., 5.625%, 10/01/08 .......................... United States 2,000,000 1,834,716 General Motors Acceptance Corp., 6.875%, 8/28/12 ................. United States 2,700,000 2,512,828 General Motors Corp., senior deb., 8.25%, 7/15/23 ................ United States 1,000,000 757,500 Jostens IH Corp., senior sub. note, 7.625%, 10/01/12 ............. United States 1,400,000 1,382,500 KB Home, senior note, 6.25%, 6/15/15 ................................................. United States 1,200,000 1,101,876 7.25%, 6/15/18 ................................................. United States 1,300,000 1,254,721 Simmons Bedding Co., senior sub. note, 7.875%, 1/15/14 ........... United States 700,000 684,250 f Visant Holding Corp., senior note, 144A, 8.75%, 12/01/13 ......... United States 1,100,000 1,089,000 William Lyon Homes Inc., senior note, 7.625%, 12/15/12 ........... United States 3,000,000 2,610,000 --------------- 13,227,391 --------------- CONSUMER NON-DURABLES 4.1% f Reynolds American Inc., 144A, 7.625%. 6/01/16 .................... United States 2,500,000 2,485,040 Smithfield Foods Inc., senior note, 7.00%, 8/01/11 ................................................. United States 2,000,000 1,970,000 7.75%, 5/15/13 ................................................. United States 1,000,000 1,010,000 Spectrum Brands Inc., senior sub. note, 7.375%, 2/01/15 .......... United States 3,000,000 2,452,500 --------------- 7,917,540 --------------- 4 | Quarterly Statement of Investments Franklin Universal Trust STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS, MAY 31, 2006 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTRY PRINCIPAL AMOUNT g VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) CORPORATE BONDS (CONTINUED) CONSUMER SERVICES 14.3% AMC Entertainment Inc., senior note, B, 8.625%, 8/15/12 .......... United States 1,900,000 $ 1,966,500 c,d Atherton Franchise Capital, 13.073%, 12/01/08 .................... United States 728,696 14,574 Cablevision Systems Corp., senior note, B, 8.00%, 4/15/12 ........ United States 2,900,000 2,885,500 CCH II LLC, senior note, 10.25%, 9/15/10 ......................... United States 2,500,000 2,506,250 DIRECTV Holdings LLC, senior note, 8.375%, 3/15/13 ............... United States 1,283,000 1,364,791 f EchoStar DBS Corp., senior note, 144A, 7.125%, 2/01/16 ........... United States 2,500,000 2,406,250 f Hertz Corp., senior note, 144A, 8.875%, 1/01/14 .................. United States 2,000,000 2,090,000 Liberty Media Corp., senior note, 5.70%, 5/15/13 ................. United States 3,000,000 2,771,973 LIN Television Corp., senior sub. note, 6.50%, 5/15/13 ........... United States 1,500,000 1,398,750 f MGM MIRAGE Inc., senior note, 144A, 6.875%, 4/01/16 .............. United States 2,500,000 2,412,500 f Quebecor Media Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.75%, 3/15/16 ........... Canada 1,000,000 1,020,000 Radio One Inc., senior sub. note, 6.375%, 2/15/13 ................ United States 1,700,000 1,598,000 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., senior note, 8.00%, 5/15/10 ................................................. United States 1,200,000 1,269,718 6.875%, 12/01/13 ............................................... United States 800,000 799,843 Station Casinos Inc., senior note, 6.00%, 4/01/12 .................................... United States 500,000 481,250 senior sub. note, 6.50%, 2/01/14 ............................... United States 300,000 288,000 senior sub. note, 6.875%, 3/01/16 .............................. United States 2,200,000 2,136,750 --------------- 27,410,649 --------------- ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY 4.6% DRS Technologies Inc., senior sub. note, 7.625%, 2/01/18 ......... United States 1,800,000 1,827,000 L-3 Communications Corp., senior sub. note, 6.375%, 10/15/15 ..... United States 2,800,000 2,660,000 Sanmina-SCI Corp., senior sub. note, 6.75%, 3/01/13 ................................................. United States 2,000,000 1,915,000 8.125%, 3/01/16 ................................................ United States 400,000 403,000 f Solectron Global Finance Ltd., senior sub. note, 144A, 8.00%, 3/15/16 ........................................................ United States 2,000,000 2,020,000 --------------- 8,825,000 --------------- ENERGY MINERALS 5.5% Chesapeake Energy Corp., senior note, 6.25%, 1/15/18 ............. United States 2,500,000 2,337,500 f Mariner Energy Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.50%, 4/15/13 ........... United States 2,300,000 2,236,750 f Massey Energy Co., senior note, 144A, 6.875%, 12/15/13 ........... United States 2,500,000 2,412,500 Plains Exploration & Production Co., senior note, 7.125%, 6/15/14 ........................................................ United States 1,700,000 1,687,250 Pogo Producing Co., senior sub. note, 6.875%, 10/01/17 ........... United States 2,000,000 1,900,000 --------------- 10,574,000 --------------- HEALTH SERVICES 5.7% DaVita Inc., senior sub. note, 7.25%, 3/15/15 .................... United States 3,000,000 2,940,000 HCA Inc., 6.50%, 2/15/16 ......................................... United States 2,300,000 2,187,196 Tenet Healthcare Corp., senior note, 7.375%, 2/01/13 ............. United States 3,000,000 2,790,000 Vanguard Health Holding Co. II LLC, senior sub. note, 9.00%, 10/01/14 ....................................................... United States 3,000,000 3,090,000 --------------- 11,007,196 --------------- Quarterly Statement of Investments | 5 Franklin Universal Trust STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS, MAY 31, 2006 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTRY PRINCIPAL AMOUNT g VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) CORPORATE BONDS (CONTINUED) INDUSTRIAL SERVICES 4.0% Allied Waste North America Inc., senior secured note, 6.50%, 11/15/10 ................................................ United States 1,100,000 $ 1,080,750 B, 5.75%, 2/15/11 .............................................. United States 900,000 855,000 f Copano Energy LLC, senior note, 144A, 8.125%, 3/01/16 ............ United States 1,200,000 1,224,000 Hanover Equipment Trust 01, senior secured note, B, 8.75%, 9/01/11 ........................................................ United States 2,500,000 2,612,500 Markwest Energy Partners LP, senior note, 6.875%, 11/01/14 ....... United States 2,000,000 1,865,000 --------------- 7,637,250 --------------- NON-ENERGY MINERALS 0.8% f Novelis Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.25%, 2/15/15 .................. Canada 1,700,000 1,632,000 --------------- PROCESS INDUSTRIES 10.2% Abitibi-Consolidated Co. of Canada, senior note, 8.375%, 4/01/15 ........................................................ Canada 3,000,000 2,880,000 f Basell AF SCA, senior note, 144A, 8.375%, 8/15/15 ................ Germany 1,200,000 1,191,000 BCP Crystal Holdings Corp., senior sub. note, 9.625%, 6/15/14 .... United States 1,785,000 1,967,963 Buckeye Technologies Inc., senior sub. note, 8.00%, 10/15/10 ..... United States 1,100,000 1,039,500 f Crown Americas Inc., senior note, 144A, 7.75%, 11/15/15 .......... United States 3,000,000 3,037,500 JSG Funding PLC, senior sub. note, 7.75%, 4/01/15 ................ Ireland 3,000,000 2,760,000 Nalco Co., senior sub. note, 8.875%, 11/15/13 .................... United States 2,000,000 2,067,500 Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc., senior note, 6.75%, 12/01/14 ....................................................... United States 2,000,000 1,905,000 b,c,e Pindo Deli Finance Mauritius Ltd., 144A, h FRN, 6.00%, 4/29/15 ............................................ Indonesia 339,219 76,731 h FRN, 5.664%, 4/29/18 ........................................... Indonesia 882,036 199,517 zero cpn., 4/29/25 ............................................. Indonesia 1,822,397 412,226 Rhodia SA, senior note, 10.25%, 6/01/10 .......................... France 1,931,000 2,131,341 --------------- 19,668,278 --------------- PRODUCER MANUFACTURING 4.3% Case New Holland Inc., senior note, 9.25%, 8/01/11 ............... United States 3,000,000 3,202,500 f Invensys PLC, senior note, 144A, 9.875%, 3/15/11 ................. United Kingdom 1,800,000 1,962,000 Milacron Escrow Corp., senior secured note, 11.50%, 5/15/11 ...... United States 400,000 379,000 Nortek Inc., senior sub. note, 8.50%, 9/01/14 .................... United States 800,000 808,000 TRW Automotive Inc., senior note, 9.375%, 2/15/13 ................ United States 1,701,000 1,841,333 --------------- 8,192,833 --------------- 6 | Quarterly Statement of Investments Franklin Universal Trust STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS, MAY 31, 2006 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTRY PRINCIPAL AMOUNT g VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) CORPORATE BONDS (CONTINUED) REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS 1.6% Host Marriott LP, senior note, M, 7.00%, 8/15/12 .............................................. United States 2,500,000 $ 2,518,750 O, 6.375%, 3/15/15 ............................................. United States 500,000 478,750 --------------- 2,997,500 --------------- RETAIL TRADE 2.9% f GSC Holdings Corp., senior note, 144A, 8.00%, 10/01/12 ........... United States 2,600,000 2,600,000 f Rite Aid Corp., senior note, 144A, 6.125%, 12/15/08 .............. United States 3,000,000 2,932,500 --------------- 5,532,500 --------------- TECHNOLOGY SERVICES 2.8% d PSINet Inc., 10.50%, 12/01/06 ............................................... United States 700,000 438 senior note, 11.00%, 8/01/09 ................................... United States 3,250,000 2,031 f SunGard Data Systems Inc., senior note, 144A, 9.125%, 8/15/13 ............................. United States 900,000 948,375 senior sub. note, 144A, 10.25%, 8/15/15 ........................ United States 1,900,000 1,995,000 UGS Corp., senior sub. note, 10.00%, 6/01/12 ..................... United States 2,300,000 2,507,000 --------------- 5,452,844 --------------- TRANSPORTATION 0.6% Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., senior sub. note, 7.75%, 12/15/13 ....................................................... United States 1,200,000 1,104,000 --------------- UTILITIES 5.9% Aquila Inc., senior note, 14.875%, 7/01/12 ....................... United States 2,000,000 2,695,000 d,e,f Calpine Corp., senior secured note, 144A, 8.75%, 7/15/13 ......... United States 1,000,000 967,500 Dynegy Holdings Inc., senior note, 8.75%, 2/15/12 ................ United States 2,600,000 2,704,000 Midwest Generation LLC, senior secured note, 8.75%, 5/01/34 ...... United States 3,000,000 3,225,000 NRG Energy Inc., senior note, 7.375%, 2/01/16 .................... United States 1,800,000 1,806,750 --------------- 11,398,250 --------------- TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS (COST $173,901,317) ........................ 171,411,971 --------------- FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY SECURITIES 2.1% GOVERNMENT BONDS 2.1% Eskom, E168, 11.00%, 6/01/08 ..................................... South Africa 2,350,000 ZAR 370,025 Government of Mexico, 11.375%, 9/15/16 ........................... Mexico 2,750,000 3,737,938 --------------- TOTAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AND AGENCY SECURITIES (COST $3,512,872) .............................................. 4,107,963 --------------- TOTAL LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (COST $228,841,593) .................. 243,421,422 --------------- Quarterly Statement of Investments | 7 Franklin Universal Trust STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS, MAY 31, 2006 (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COUNTRY SHARES VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (COST $1,479,390) 0.8% MONEY MARKET FUND 0.8% i Franklin Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio, 4.71% .......................................................... United States 1,479,390 $ 1,479,390 --------------- TOTAL INVESTMENTS (COST $230,320,983) 127.4% ..................... 244,900,812 NOTES PAYABLE (28.6)% ............................................ (55,000,000) OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES 1.2% .............................. 2,253,890 --------------- NET ASSETS 100.0% ................................................ $ 192,154,702 =============== CURRENCY ABBREVIATIONS ZAR - South African Rand SELECTED PORTFOLIO ABBREVIATIONS ADR - American Depository Receipt FRN - Floating Rate Note a Rounds to less than 0.1% of net assets. b Non-income producing. c See Note 2 regarding restricted securities. d Defaulted security. e See Note 3 regarding other considerations. f Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be sold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers or in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. At May 31, 2006, the aggregate value of these securities was $41,017,915, representing 21.35% of net assets. g The principal amount is stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. h The coupon rate shown represents the rate at period end. i The Franklin Institutional Fiduciary Trust Money Market Portfolio is managed by the Fund's investment manager. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end. 8 | See Notes to Statement of Investments. | Quarterly Statement of Investments Franklin Universal Trust NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED) Franklin Universal Trust (the Fund) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified, closed-end investment company. 1. INCOME TAXES At May 31, 2006, the cost of investments and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for income tax purposes were as follows: Cost of investments ........................................... $ 230,541,225 ============== Unrealized appreciation ....................................... $ 30,361,981 Unrealized depreciation ....................................... (16,002,394) -------------- Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) .................... $ 14,359,587 ============== 2. RESTRICTED SECURITIES At May 31, 2006, the Fund held investments in restricted securities, valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees as reflecting fair value, as follows: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES/ ACQUISITION PRINCIPAL AMOUNT ISSUER DATE COST VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,000,000 Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., 12.00%, pfd., Perpetual ..................................... 2/14/97 $ 4,000,000 $ 43,600 728,696 Atherton Franchise Capital, 13.073%, 12/01/08 ...................................... 4/28/94 728,696 14,574 339,219 Pindo Deli Finance Mauritius Ltd., 144A, FRN, 6.00% 4/29/15 ............................ 4/29/05 78,821 76,731 882,036 Pindo Deli Finance Mauritius Ltd., 144A, FRN, 5.664% 4/29/18 ........................... 4/29/05 204,950 199,517 1,822,397 Pindo Deli Finance Mauritius Ltd., 144A, zero cpn., 4/29/25 ............................ 4/29/05 423,452 412,226 181,875 VS Holdings Inc. ................................ 12/06/01 181,875 -- ----------- TOTAL RESTRICTED SECURITIES (0.39% of Net Assets) ........................... $ 746,648 =========== Quarterly Statement of Investments | 9 Franklin Universal Trust NOTES TO STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED) 3. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Subject to certain terms and conditions, the Fund has agreed to sell its holdings in Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. and Pindo Deli Finance Mauritius Ltd. in November 2006. Until the completion of the sale, the transaction is being accounted for as a secured borrowing with a pledge of collateral and any preliminary sales proceeds or other interest and cash distributions received are deferred until the completion of the transaction and are recorded as part of the net sales proceeds. Directors or employees of Advisers, as the Fund's Investment Manager, may serve as members of various bondholders' steering committees, on credit committees, or may represent the Fund in certain corporate restructuring negotiations. At May 31, 2006, such individuals serve in one or more of these capacities for Calpine Corp. As a result of this involvement, such individuals may be in possession of certain material non-public information. If the Fund's Investment Manager, while in possession of such information, seeks to buy or sell any of this security, it will comply with all applicable federal securities laws. For information on the Fund's policy regarding valuation of investments and other significant accounting policies, please refer to the Fund's most recent semiannual or annual shareholder report. 10 | Quarterly Statement of Investments ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant's filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant's management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Within 90 days prior to the filing date of this Quarterly Schedule of Portfolio Holdings on Form N-Q, the Registrant had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Registrant's management, including the Registrant's principal executive officer and the Registrant's principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on such evaluation, the Registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures are effective. (b) CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS. There have been no significant changes in the Registrant's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation in connection with the preparation of this Quarterly Schedule of Portfolio Holdings on Form N-Q. ITEM 3. EXHIBITS. (A) Certification pursuant to Section 30a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 of Jimmy D. Gambill, Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration, and Galen G. Vetter, Chief Financial Officer. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. FRANKILN UNIVERSAL TRUST By /S/JIMMY D. GAMBILL ------------------- Jimmy D. Gambill Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration Date July 27, 2006 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By /S/JIMMY D. GAMBILL ------------------- Jimmy D. Gambill Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration Date July 27, 2006 By /S/GALEN G. VETTER ------------------ Galen G. Vetter Chief Financial Officer Date July 27, 2006 Exhibit A I, Jimmy D. Gambill, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed; 4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. July 27, 2006 /S/JIMMY D. GAMBILL Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration I, Galen G. Vetter, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed; 4. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. July 27, 2006 /S/GALEN G. VETTER Chief Financial Officer