----------------------------------------- OMB APPROVAL ----------------------------------------- OMB NUMBER: 3235-0360 EXPIRES: JUNE 30, 1997 ESTIMATED AVERAGE BURDEN HOURS PER RESPONSE 0.05 ----------------------------------------- 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 17f-2 [17 CFR 270.17F-2] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Investment Company Act File Number: Date examination completed: 811-5103 May 17, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other (specify): -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Exact name of investment company as specified in registration statement: Franklin Capital Corporation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Address of principal executive office (number, street, city, state, zip code): 450 Park Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, New York 10022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUCTIONS This Form must be completed by investment companies that have custody of securities or similar investments. INVESTMENT COMPANY 1. All items must be completed by the investment company. 2. Give this Form to the independent public accountant who, in compliance with Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law, examines securities and similar investments in the custody of the investment company. ACCOUNTANT 3. Submit this Form to the Securities and Exchange Commission and appropriate state securities administrators when filing the certificate of accounting required by Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law. File the original and one copy with the Securities and Exchange Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C., one copy with the regional office for the region in which the investment company's principal business operations are conducted, and one copy with the appropriate state administrator(s), if applicable. THIS FORM MUST BE GIVEN TO YOUR INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT SEC 2198 (8-95) [Ernst & Young Logo] Ernst & Young LLP Phone (212) 773-3000 787 Seventh Avenue www.ey.com New York, New York 10019 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT To the Board of Directors of Franklin Capital Corporation We have examined management's assertion about Franklin Capital Corporation's (the "Company's") compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("the Act") as of May 17, 2001 included in the accompanying Management Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Management is responsible for the Company's compliance with those requirements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assertion about the Company's compliance based on our examination. Our examination was made in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and, accordingly, included examining, on a test basis, evidence about the Company's 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 May 17, 2001, and with respect to agreement of security purchases and sales, for the period from December 29, 2000 (the date of our last examination) through May 17, 2001. * Count and inspection of all securities located in the vault of The Bank of New York, 575 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 without prior notice to management; * Confirmation of all securities out for transfer with brokers; * Reconciliation of all such securities to the books and records of the Company; * Agreement of 25 security sales and 15 security purchases since our last report from the books and records of the Company or the broker confirmations. We believe that our examination provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our examination does not provide a legal determination on the Company's compliance with specified requirements. In our opinion, management's assertion that Franklin Capital Corporation was in compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as of May 17, 2001 with respect to securities reflected in the investment account of the Company is fairly stated, in all material respects. This report is intended solely for the information and use of management of Franklin Capital Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission and should not be used for any other purpose. /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP ---------------------- New York, New York ERNST & YOUNG LLP May 17, 2001 Ernst & Young LLP is a member of Ernst & Young International, Ltd.