SEC Form 40-17F2 filed by Franklin Universal Trust
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 | November 27, 2023 | ||||||
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 Universal Trust
Franklin
U.S. Government Money Fund Institutional Fiduciary Trust
Templeton China World Fund
Templeton
Developing Markets Trust
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund
Templeton Emerging Markets
Income Fund
Templeton Funds
Templeton Growth Fund, Inc.
Templeton Global Income
Fund
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 (collectively, 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 August 31, 2022. The Funds’ management is responsible for its assertion and the Funds' compliance with those requirements. Our
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 405 Howard Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105 T: (415) 498 5000, www.pwc.com/us
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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 procedures were the following tests performed as of August 31, 2022, and with respect to agreement of security purchases and sales, for the period from March 1, 2022 (see Attachment A for details) through August 31, 2022:
- 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 369 security purchases and 462 security sales across the Funds since our last report from the books and records of the Funds to the records of the Transfer Agent
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 August 31, 2022 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
November 27, 2023
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Attachment A
Templeton Global Investment Trust: | Examination Period |
Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Balanced Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series EM a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Real Estate Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Series: | |
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Natural Resources Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series E a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series I a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin High Income Trust: | |
Franklin High Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Institutional Fiduciary Trust: | |
Money Market Portfolio a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Global Trust: | |
Franklin Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin International Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Government Money Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Universal Trust a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton China World Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Funds: | |
Templeton International Climate Change Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
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Templeton Global Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Growth Fund, Inc. a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Income Trust: | |
Templeton Sustainable Emerging Markets Bond Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Bond Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Total Return Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton International Bond Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Custodian Funds: | |
Franklin DynaTech Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Government Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Utilities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Focused Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Investors Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Adjustable U.S. Government Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Convertible Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Equity Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Low Duration Total Return Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Managed Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Total Return Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Developing Markets Trust a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Fund Allocator Series: | |
Franklin Conservative Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Corefolio Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Global Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Growth Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin International Core Equity (IU) Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart Retirement Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2020 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2025 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2030 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2035 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2040 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
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Franklin LifeSmart 2045 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2055 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2060 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Moderate Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Core Equity (IU) Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: | |
Franklin Allocation VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin DynaTech VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Income VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Rising Dividends VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small Cap Value VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Income VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin VolSmart Allocation VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Developing Markets VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Foreign VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Bond VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Institutional Funds: | |
International Equity Series a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin ETF Trust: | |
Franklin Liberty Short Duration U.S. Government ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Floating Rate Master Trust: | |
Franklin Floating Rate Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Floating Rate Master Series a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Managed Trust: | |
Franklin Rising Dividends Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton ETF Trust: | |
Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LibertyQ Global Equity ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Liberty Ultra Short Bond ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Liberty U.S. Treasury Bond ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF b | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Exponential Data ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Legend:
a: February 28, 2022 represents the date of our last examination.
b: Fund was not in scope for the February 28, 2022 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 Franklin Templeton 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 August 31, 2022, 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 August 31, 2022, and for the periods indicated in Attachment A, with respect to securities reflected in the investment accounts of the Funds.
By:
/s/MATTHEW T. HINKLE
Matthew T. Hinkle
Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
Franklin Templeton Group of Funds
Date November 27, 2023
/s/CHRISTOPHER KINGS
Christopher Kings
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Franklin Funds
Templeton Funds
Date November 27, 2023
/s/VIVEK PAI
Vivek Pai
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Franklin Templeton ETF Trust
Franklin ETF Trust
Date November 27, 2023
Attachment A
Templeton Global Investment Trust: | Examination Period |
Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Balanced Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series EM a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Real Estate Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Series: | |
Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Natural Resources Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series E a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton SMACS: Series I a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin High Income Trust: | |
Franklin High Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Institutional Fiduciary Trust: | |
Money Market Portfolio a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Global Trust: | |
Franklin Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin International Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Government Money Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Universal Trust a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton China World Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Funds: | |
Templeton International Climate Change Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Growth Fund, Inc. a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Income Trust: | |
Templeton Sustainable Emerging Markets Bond Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Bond Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Total Return Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton International Bond Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Custodian Funds: | |
Franklin DynaTech Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Government Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Utilities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Focused Growth Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Investors Securities Trust: | |
Franklin Adjustable U.S. Government Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Convertible Securities Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Equity Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Low Duration Total Return Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Managed Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Total Return Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Developing Markets Trust a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Fund Allocator Series: | |
Franklin Conservative Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Corefolio Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Emerging Market Core Equity (IU) Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Global Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Growth Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin International Core Equity (IU) Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart Retirement Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2020 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2025 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2030 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2035 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2040 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2045 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2050 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2055 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LifeSmart 2060 Retirement Target Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Moderate Allocation Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Core Equity (IU) Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: | |
Franklin Allocation VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin DynaTech VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Income VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Rising Dividends VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small Cap Value VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Strategic Income VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin VolSmart Allocation VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Developing Markets VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Foreign VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Global Bond VIP Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Templeton Institutional Funds: | |
International Equity Series a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin ETF Trust: | |
Franklin Liberty Short Duration U.S. Government ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Floating Rate Master Trust: | |
Franklin Floating Rate Income Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Floating Rate Master Series a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Limited Duration Income Trust a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Managed Trust: | |
Franklin Rising Dividends Fund a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Templeton ETF Trust: | |
Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin LibertyQ Global Equity ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Liberty Ultra Short Bond ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Liberty U.S. Treasury Bond ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE Japan ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin FTSE United Kingdom ETF b | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin U.S. Core Bond ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Franklin Exponential Data ETF a | March 1, 2022 – August 31, 2022 |
Legend:
a: February 28, 2022 represents the date
of our last examination.
b: Fund was not in scope for the February 28, 2022 examination.