U.S. 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
1. Investment Company Act File Number: 811- 05569
Date Examination completed: January 23, 2009
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
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of
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Franklin Templeton Limited Duration Income Trust |
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Templeton Global Investment Trust |
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Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust |
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Franklin Strategic Series |
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Franklin High Income Trust |
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Franklin Capital Growth Fund |
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Franklin Money Fund |
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Franklin Templeton Money Fund Trust |
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Institutional Fiduciary Trust |
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Franklin Global Trust |
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Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund |
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Franklin Universal Trust |
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Templeton China World Fund |
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Templeton Emerging Markets Fund |
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Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund |
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Templeton Global Income Fund |
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Templeton Income Trust |
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Franklin Custodian Funds, Inc. |
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Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio |
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Franklin Investors Securities Trust |
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Franklin Templeton Global Trust |
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Franklin Templeton International Trust |
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Franklin Value Investors Trust |
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Templeton Developing Markets Trust |
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Franklin Templeton Fund Allocator Series |
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Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust |
and the Board of Directors of
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Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. |
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Templeton Institutional Funds, Inc. |
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Templeton Russia and East European 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 (see Attachment I), (hereafter referred to
as 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 October 31, 2008. Management is responsible for the Funds' compliance with those requirements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assertion about the Funds' compliance based on our examination.
Our examination was conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 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 October 31, 2008, and with respect to agreement
of security purchases and sales, for the periods indicated in Attachment I:
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· |
Confirmation of all securities held by Franklin Templeton Investors Services, Inc. as they pertain to the security positions owned by the Funds and held in book entry form. |
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Reconciliation of such security positions to the books and records of the Funds and Franklin Templeton Investor Services, Inc. |
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Agreement of 107 security purchases and 107 security sales or maturities, since our last report, from the books and records of the Funds to the records of the transfer agent, Franklin Templeton Investor Services, Inc. |
We believe that our examination provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our examination does not provide a legal determination on the Funds' compliance with specified requirements.
In our opinion, management's assertion 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 October 31, 2008 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, the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors and the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
San Francisco, California
January 23, 2009
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 I (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 subsection (b) of Rule 17f-2, as interpreted in Franklin Investors Securities Trust SEC No-Action Letter (publicly available September 24, 1992), and subsection (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as of
October 31, 2008, and for the periods indicated in Attachment I.
Based on this evaluation, we assert that the Funds were in compliance with the requirements of subsection (b) of Rule 17f-2, as interpreted in Franklin Investors Securities Trust SEC No-Action Letter (publicly available September 24, 1992), and subsection (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as of October 31, 2008, and for the periods indicated in Attachment I, with respect to
securities reflected in the investment accounts of the Funds.
By:
/s/ Jennifer J. Bolt
___________________________________________
Jennifer J. Bolt
Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration
1/23/09
Date
/s/ Laura F. Fergerson
___________________________________________
Laura F. Fergerson
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
1/20/09
Date
Attachment I
Fund Period
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Franklin Templeton Limited Duration Income Trust |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Global Investment Trust: |
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Templeton BRIC Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Frontier Markets Fund |
* October 14, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Russia and East European Fund, Inc. |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Real Estate Securities Trust: |
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Franklin Real Estate Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Strategic Series: |
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Franklin Biotechnology Discovery Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Flex Cap Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Focused Core Equity Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Global Communications Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Global Health Care Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Growth Opportunities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Natural Resources Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Strategic Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Technology Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin High Income Trust: |
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Franklin High Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Capital Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Money Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Money Fund Trust: |
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Franklin Templeton Money Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Institutional Fiduciary Trust: |
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Franklin Cash Reserves Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Money Market Portfolio |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Global Trust: |
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Fiduciary Large Capitalization Growth and Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Fiduciary Small Capitalization Equity Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin International Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Core Fixed Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Core Plus Fixed Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Emerging Market Debt Opportunities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton High Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Gold and Precious Metals Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Universal Trust |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton China World Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Emerging Markets Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Emerging Markets Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Global Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Income Trust: |
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Templeton Global Bond Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Global Total Return Fund |
* September 30 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton International Bond Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Custodian Funds, Inc.: |
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Franklin DynaTech Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin U.S. Government Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Utilities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Strategic Mortgage Portfolio |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Investors Securities Trust: |
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Franklin Adjustable U.S. Government Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Balanced Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Convertible Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Equity Income Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Floating Rate Daily Access Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Limited Maturity U.S. Government Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Low Duration Total Return Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Total Return Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Global Trust: |
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Franklin Templeton Hard Currency |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton International Trust: |
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Franklin India Growth Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Value Investors Trust: |
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Franklin All Cap Value Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Balance Sheet Investment Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Large Cap Value Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin MicroCap Value Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin MidCap Value Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Small Cap Value Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Developing Markets Trust |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Fund Allocator Series: |
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Franklin Templeton 2015 Retirement Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton 2025 Retirement Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton 2035 Retirement Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton 2045 Retirement Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Conservative Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Corefolio Allocation Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Founding Funds Allocation Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Growth Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Moderate Target Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Perspectives Allocation Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: |
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Franklin Flex Cap Growth Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Founding Funds Allocation Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Large Cap Value Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Rising Dividends Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Franklin Strategic Income Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Foreign Securities Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Global Asset Allocation Fund |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Templeton Institutional Funds, Inc.: |
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Foreign Equity Series |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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Emerging Markets Series |
July 1, 2008 - October 31, 2008 |
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* Commencement of Operations