-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, RljJTcqcoYcIUuoZpn4nOI0uuJRDUZcawS+PC2nXJDVPc1aDIWDbBKUYGBM0oA16 PNT67JiZXL7rXa8Etfrv6w== 0001364773-07-000022.txt : 20071129 0001364773-07-000022.hdr.sgml : 20071129 20071129152725 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001364773-07-000022 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20071129 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20071129 GROUP MEMBERS: ANDREW DAKOS GROUP MEMBERS: BULLDOG INVESTORS GENERAL PARTNERSHIP SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRANKLIN UNIVERSAL TRUST CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000833040 IRS NUMBER: 943077602 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-79684 FILM NUMBER: 071274703 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY CITY: SAN MATEO STATE: CA ZIP: 94403-1906 BUSINESS PHONE: 650-312-2000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY CITY: SAN MATEO STATE: CA ZIP: 94403-1906 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Bulldog Investors General Partnership CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001364773 IRS NUMBER: 562585535 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 60 HERITAGE DRIVE CITY: PLEASANTVILLE STATE: NY ZIP: 10570 BUSINESS PHONE: 9147475262 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 60 HERITAGE DRIVE CITY: PLEASANTVILLE STATE: NY ZIP: 10570 SC 13D/A 1 ftschedulethirteen.txt DATE OF EVENT WHICH REQUIRES FILING OF THIS STATEMENT 11/16/07 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Bulldog Investors General Partnership and Phillip Goldstein 2. CHECK THE BOX IF MEMBER OF A GROUP a[ ] b[ ] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) AND 2(e) [] 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION USA 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 2,724,437 8. SHARED VOTING POWER 0 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,724,437 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,724,437 12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [] 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY ROW 11 10.09% 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA This statement constitutes amendment No.3 to the Schedule 13D filed by Bulldog Investors, Phillip Goldstein and Andrew Dakos on March 16, 2006. Except as specifically set forth herein, the Schedule 13D remains unmodified. Item 4 is amended as follows: ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION On 11/16/07 the reporting persons notified the Board of Trustees of the Issuer that the reporting persons intend to nominate 5 persons to the Board of Trustees at the next annual shareholder meeting (see exhibit 1). Item 5 is amended as follows: ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER As per the proxy statement filed on 01/29/2007 there were 26,977,894 shares of FT outstanding as of 1/2/07. The percentage set forth in item 5 was derived using such number. a) BIGP and other accounts managed by Phillip Goldstein beneficially own an aggregate of 2,724,437 shares of FT or 10.09% of the outstanding shares. b) Power to vote and dispose of securities resides either with Mr. Goldstein or clients. c) During the past 60 days the following shares of FT were purchased (there were no sales): 11/14/2007 806 $6.72 11/12/2007 2200 $6.70 11/9/2007 2000 $6.70 11/8/2007 1500 $6.75 11/5/2007 1800 $6.81 11/2/2007 3000 $6.88 10/23/2007 2400 $6.83 10/18/2007 3000 $6.95 10/15/2007 1500 $6.99 10/12/2007 2500 $7.00 10/11/2007 5000 $6.99 11/9/2007 1500 $6.70 11/8/2007 1500 $6.75 11/2/2007 1500 $6.88 10/26/2007 100 $6.93 10/17/2007 2000 $6.95 10/15/2007 1500 $6.99 10/12/2007 2500 $7.00 10/11/2007 5000 $6.99 10/5/2007 2300 $6.90 10/4/2007 3400 $6.87 10/3/2007 5000 $6.86 11/20/2007 5000 $6.70 11/13/2007 5600 $6.72 11/9/2007 11500 $6.70 11/8/2007 11800 $6.75 11/7/2007 9880 $6.80 11/6/2007 5000 $6.83 11/2/2007 15600 $6.88 10/30/2007 4700 $6.95 10/24/2007 5000 $6.85 10/22/2007 4700 $6.85 10/17/2007 1800 $6.95 10/15/2007 7000 $6.99 10/11/2007 5000 $6.99 10/12/2007 12800 $7.00 10/10/2007 9300 $6.99 d) Beneficiaries of managed accounts are entitled to receive any dividends or sales proceeds. e) NA ITEM 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS Exhibit 1. Advance Notification. After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: 11/29/07 By: /s/ Phillip Goldstein Name: Phillip Goldstein President, Kimball and Winthrop, Inc. Managing General Partner, BIGP Exhibit 1. Bulldog Investors General Partnership Park 80 West - Plaza Two, Suite 750, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 Phone: 201-556-0092 / Fax: 201-556-0097 / info@bulldoginvestors.com November 16, 2007 The Board of Trustees Franklin Universal Trust One Franklin Parkway San Mateo, CA 94403 Dear Trustees: Bulldog Investors General Partnership (BIGP) holds of record 100 common shares of Franklin Universal Trust (the Trust) and beneficially owns approximately 2.4 million common shares. We believe that the time has come to permanently eliminate the Trusts persistent double-digit discount to net asset value (NAV) through open-ending, liquidation or conducting a self-tender offer for 100% of the Trusts shares at NAV. Please be advised that at the next annual shareholder meeting we intend to nominate the five persons named below for election as Trustees. The Nominees are: Phillip Goldstein (born 1945); 60 Heritage Drive, Pleasantville, NY 10570 Since 1992, Mr. Goldstein has been an investment advisor and a principal of the Gerald Hellerman ( born 1937 ); 5431 NW 21st Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33496 -- Mr. Hellerman owns and has served as Managing Director of Hellerman Associates, a financial and corporate consulting firm, since the firm's inception in 1993. Mr. Hellerman currently serves as a director, chief financial officer and chief compliance officer for The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc.; a director of MVC Capital, Inc.; a director of the Old Mutual 2100 fund complex (consisting of six funds); a director of Brantley Capital Corporation; and a director of AirNet Systems, Inc. since 2005. Rajeev Das (born 1968); 68 Lafayette Ave., Dumont, NJ 07628 -- Principal of Bulldog Investors, a group of investment funds and Managing Member of the general partner of Opportunity Income Plus L.P.; Currently director of Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001) In 2006 served as director of Brantley Capital. Andrew Dakos (born 1966); Park 80 West, Plaza Two, Suite 750, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663. Mr. Dakos is a self-employed investment advisor and a principal of the general partner of five investment partnerships in the Bulldog Investors group of funds: Opportunity Partners L.P., Opportunity Income Plus Fund L.P.,Full Value Partners L.P., Full Value Special Situations Fund L.P., and Full Value Offshore L.P. He has been a director of the Mexico Equity and Income Fund since 2001 and Brantley Capital Corporation since 2007. Glenn Goodstein (born 1963); 2308 Camino Robledo, Carlsbad, CA 92009 Mr. Goodstein is a registered investment advisor and managing member of the general partner of Mercury Partners LP, an investment partnership. He is a director of Mexico Equity and Income Fund. None of our nominees is an interested person of the Trust nor does any nominee personally own any shares of the Trust except that my wife and I jointly beneficially own 72,897 shares. Mr. Dakos, Mr. Das, Mr. Goodstein and I are each a principal of one or more of the entities that are general partners of BIGP.Each of our nominees has consented to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected. There are no arrangements or understandings between BIGP and any of the above nominees or any other person(s) in connection with the nominations. Please advise us immediately if this notice is deficient in any way or any additional information is required so that we can promptly provide it in order to cure any deficiency. Very truly yours, Phillip Goldstein President Kimball & Winthrop, Inc. General Partner -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----