As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2014 |
UNITED STATES |
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
SCHEDULE 14A |
(Rule 14a-101) |
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT |
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION |
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of |
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) |
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box: | ||
[ ] | Preliminary Proxy Statement | |
[ ] | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
[X] | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
[ ] | Definitive Additional Materials | |
[ ] | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
N/A |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): | ||||
[X] | No fee required. | |||
[ ] | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. | |||
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: | |||
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |||
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): | |||
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |||
(5) | Total fee paid: | |||
[ ] | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |||
[ ] | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. | |||
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: | |||
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: | |||
(3) | Filing Party: | |||
(4) | Date Filed: | |||
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
745 Fifth Avenue |
New York, New York 10151 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 |
To the Stockholders of:
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. (the Fund) will be held at the offices of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151 on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), for the following purposes:
1. | To elect two Directors to the Funds Board of Directors. | ||
2. | To transact
such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any postponement
or adjournment thereof. |
The Board of Directors of the Fund has set the close of business on July 18, 2014 as the record date for determining those stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, and only holders of record at the close of business on that day will be entitled to vote.
IMPORTANT
To save the Fund the expense of additional proxy solicitation, please mark your instructions on the enclosed Proxy, date and sign it and return it in the enclosed envelope (which requires no postage if mailed in the United States), even if you expect to be present at the Meeting. You may also authorize a proxy to vote your shares via telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. Please take advantage of these prompt and efficient proxy authorization options. The accompanying Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund, is revocable and will not affect your right to vote in person in the event that you attend the Meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
John E. Denneen | |
Secretary |
August 4, 2014
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING
THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS TO BE
HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
THE NOTICE, PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY
CARD FOR
THE FUND ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM
PROXY STATEMENT |
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
745 Fifth Avenue |
New York, New York 10151 |
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
September 24, 2014 |
INTRODUCTION |
The enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund (the Board) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. (the Fund), to be held at the offices of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151, on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. The approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement is August 8, 2014.
All properly executed Proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as provided therein. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, Proxies will be voted FOR the election of the Director nominees of the Fund.
You may revoke your Proxy at any time before it is exercised by sending written instructions to the Secretary of the Fund at the Funds address indicated above or by filing a new Proxy with a later date, and any stockholder attending the Meeting may vote in person, whether or not he or she has previously filed a Proxy.
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Fund, which will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxy material to the beneficial owners of the Funds shares of common stock (Common Stock). Some officers and employees of the Fund and/or Royce & Associates, LLC (R&A or Royce), the Funds investment adviser, may solicit proxies personally and by telephone, if deemed desirable. Stockholders vote at the Meeting by casting ballots (in person or by proxy) which are tabulated by one or two persons, appointed by the Board before the Meeting, who serve as Inspectors and Judges of Voting at the Meeting and who have executed an Inspectors and Judges Oath.
The Board has set the close of business on July 18, 2014 as the record date (the Record Date) for determining those stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, and only holders of record at the close of business on that day will be entitled to vote. Stockholders on the Record Date will be entitled to one vote for each
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outstanding share of Common Stock held (proportional voting rights for fractional shares held), with no shares having cumulative voting rights.
As of the Record Date, there were 22,357,228 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The following persons were known to the Fund to be beneficial owners or owners of record of 5% or more of its outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date:
Amount and | ||||||
Name and Address of Owner | Nature of Ownership | Percent | ||||
Charles M. Royce | 1,454,472 shares | 6.51 | % | |||
c/o Royce & Associates, LLC | Beneficial (sole | |||||
745 Fifth Avenue | voting and | |||||
New York, NY 10151 | investment power) | |||||
W. Whitney George | 4,824,265 shares | 21.58 | % | |||
c/o Royce & Associates, LLC | Beneficial* (sole | |||||
745 Fifth Avenue | voting and | |||||
New York, NY 10151 | investment power) | |||||
Cede & Co.** | 21,688,768 shares | 97.01 | % | |||
Depository Trust Company | Record** | |||||
P.O. Box #20 | ||||||
Bowling Green Station | ||||||
New York, NY 10028 |
* | Includes 1,096,446
shares of Common Stock held by W. Whitney George Family Foundation, a charitable
foundation established by Mr. George and members of his family. Also includes 143,991
shares of Common Stock held in The Mallory Descendants Trust U/T/A DTD 12/13/2013
(the Mallory Trust). Mr. George serves as trustee of the Mallory Trust
and, in such capacity, has investment and voting discretion over shares held by
the Mallory Trust. Mr. Georges spouse has a pecuniary interest in the Mallory
Trust. Also includes 75,707 shares of Common Stock held in The TDM & BBM Trust
U/T/A DTD 3/25/2013 (the TDM & BBM Trust). Mr. George serves as
trustee of the TDM & BBM Trust and, in such capacity, has investment and voting
discretion over shares held by the TDM & BBM Trust. |
|
** | Shares held
by brokerage firms, banks and other financial intermediaries on behalf of beneficial
owners are registered in the name of Cede & Co. |
The Board knows of no business other than that stated in Proposal 1 of the Notice of Meeting that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented at the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named on the enclosed proxy card to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting, two members of the Board will be elected. The Board has eight Directors. The eight Directors are currently divided into three classes, each class having a term of office of three years. The term of office of one class expires each year. Each of Patricia W. Chadwick and Richard M. Galkin currently serves as a Class III director and has been nominated by the Board to serve as a Class III director for a three-year term to expire at the Funds 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
The classes of Directors and their respective terms are indicated below.
CLASS III DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
Patricia W. Chadwick |
Richard M. Galkin |
CLASS II DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
W. Whitney George |
Arthur S. Mehlman |
Stephen L. Isaacs |
CLASS I DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2015 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
Charles M. Royce |
G. Peter OBrien |
David L. Meister |
Each of the two Director nominees has agreed to serve if elected, and the Funds management has no reason to believe that either of them will be unavailable for service as a Director. However, if either of them become unwilling or unable to serve, the persons named in the accompanying Proxy will vote for the election of such other persons, if any, as the Board may nominate.
Certain biographical and other information concerning Charles M. Royce and W. Whitney George, each of whom is an interested person as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act), of the Fund, including their current designated classes, is set forth below.
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Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
Charles
M. Royce** |
74 | Class I Director and President | 1986 | 2015 | 34 | TICC Capital Corp. | ||||||
W.
Whitney George** |
56 | Class II Director and Vice President | 2013 | 2016 | 34 | None |
* | The address
of Messrs. Royce and George is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10151. |
|
** | Interested
person, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Fund. |
|
| Each of Mr.
Royce and Mr. George was elected by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Board in
his capacity as an officer of the Fund. |
Interested Persons
Messrs. Royce and George are interested persons of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act due to the positions they hold with R&A and their stock ownership in Legg Mason, Inc. (Legg Mason). There are no family relationships between any of the Funds Directors and officers.
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Certain biographical and other information concerning the existing Directors, including the two Director nominees, who are not interested persons, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Fund, including their current designated classes, if any, is set forth below.
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
Patricia
W. Chadwick |
65 | Class III Director | 2010 | 2014 | 34 | Wisconsin Energy Corp. and ING Mutual Funds | ||||||
Richard
M. Galkin |
76 | Class III Director | 1986 | 2014 | 34 | None |
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Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
Stephen
L. Isaacs |
74 | Class II Director | 1986 | 2016 | 34 | None | ||||||
Arthur
S. Mehlman |
72 | Class II Director | 2004 | 2016 | 52 (Director/ Trustee of all Royce Funds consisting of 34 portfolios; Director/ Trustee of the Legg Mason Family of Funds consisting of 18 portfolios) | None |
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Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
David L. Meister
|
74 | Class I Director | 1986 | 2015 | 34 | None | ||||||
G. Peter OBrien |
69 | Class I Director | 2001 | 2015 | 52 (Director/ Trustee of all Royce Funds consisting of 34 portfolios; Director/ Trustee of the Legg Mason Family of Funds consisting of 18 portfolios) | TICC Capital Corp. |
* | The address
of each of Ms. Chadwick and Messrs. Galkin, Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister, and OBriens is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
10151. |
|
** | Each of the
Directors, including the two Director nominees, is a director/trustee of certain
other investment companies for which R&A acts as an investment adviser. Each
of Ms. Chadwick and Messrs. Galkin, Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister and OBrien is
a member of the Audit Committee of the Board and the Nominating Committee of the
Board. |
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Additional information about each Director follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Director possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Directors.
| Charles
M. Royce - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Mr. Royce currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
of Managers of R&A, having an executive officer at R&A since 1972. Mr.
Royce has over 40 years of investment and business experience. |
||
| W. Whitney
George - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Mr. George currently serves as Managing Director and Vice President of Royce, having
been employed by Royce since 1991. Mr. George has over 30 years of investment business
experience. |
||
| Patricia
W. Chadwick - In addition to her tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Ms. Chadwick is designated as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. Ms. Chadwick
has over 30 years of investment and business experience, including extensive experience
in the financial sector and as a consultant to business and non-profit entities.
In addition, Ms. Chadwick has served on the boards of a variety of public and private
companies and non-profit entities, including currently serving on the boards of
two public companies. |
||
| Richard
M. Galkin - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds, Mr. Galkin serves as co-Chairman of the Boards Nominating Committee.
Mr. Galkin also served as Chairman of the Boards Audit Committee for more
than 15 years, acting as liaison between the Board and the Funds independent
registered public accountants. Mr. Galkin has over 40 years of business experience,
including extensive experience in the telecommunications industry. |
||
| Stephen
L. Isaacs - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds, Mr. Isaacs serves as Attorney and President of a private consulting firm.
Mr. Isaacs has over 40 years of business and academic experience, including extensive
experience related to public health and philanthropy. |
||
| Arthur
S. Mehlman - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds and of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, Mr. Mehlman serves as the Chairman
of the Boards Audit Committee, acting as liaison between the Board and the
Funds independent registered public accountants, and is designated as an Audit |
9
Committee
Financial Expert. Mr. Mehlman has over 35 years of business experience, including
as Partner of an international accounting firm and a Director for various private
companies and non-profit entities. |
|||
| David L.
Meister - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Mr. Meister has over 40 years of business experience, including extensive experience
as an executive officer in and consultant to the communications industry. |
||
| G. Peter
OBrien - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds and of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, Mr. OBrien serves as co-Chairman
of the Boards Nominating Committee. Mr. OBrien has over 35 years of
business experience, including extensive experience in the financial sector. In
addition, Mr. OBrien has served on the boards of public companies and non-profit entities. |
The Board believes that each Directors experience, qualifications, attributes and skills should be evaluated on an individual basis and in consideration of the perspective such Director brings to the entire Board, with no single Director, or particular factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. However, the Board believes that Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties; the Board believes that their members satisfy this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through a Directors educational background; business, professional training or practice, public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member (including the Board) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or significant private or non-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other life experiences. The charter for the Boards Nominating Committee contains certain other specific factors considered by the Nominating Committee in identifying and selecting Director candidates (as described below).
To assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Directors are counseled by their own independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts with R&A, and also may benefit from information provided by R&As internal counsel; both Board and R&As internal counsel have significant experience advising funds and fund board members. The Board and its committees have the ability to engage
10
other experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.
11
Weller & Baker (TW&B), independent auditors for the Fund, and (ii) discussed certain matters required to be discussed under the requirements of The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board with TW&B. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the Funds independent auditors is compatible with maintaining their independence.
At its meetings held on February 14, 2014 and February 26-27, 2014, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audit of the Funds financial statements as of December 31, 2013 and for the fiscal year then ended with Fund management and TW&B. Had any material concerns arisen during the course of the audit and the preparation of the audited financial statements mailed to stockholders and included in the Funds 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders, the Audit Committee would have been notified by Fund management or TW&B. The Audit Committee received no such notifications. At the same meeting, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Funds audited financial statements be included in the Funds 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders.
The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending to the Board individuals believed to be qualified to become Board members in the event that a position is vacated or created. The Nominating Committee will consider Director candidates recommended by stockholders. In considering potential nominees, the Nominating Committee will take into consideration (i) the contribution which the person can make to the Board, with consideration given to the persons business and professional experience, education and such other factors as the Committee may consider relevant, including but not limited to whether a potential nominees personal and professional qualities and attributes would provide a beneficial diversity of skills, experience and/or perspective to the Board; (ii) the character and integrity of the person; (iii) whether or not the person is an interested person as defined in the Investment Company Act and whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations to serve as a Director or Independent Director of the Fund; (iv) whether or not the person has any relationships that might impair his or her independence, such as any
12
business, financial or family relationships with Fund management, the investment adviser of the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; (v) whether or not the person is financially literate pursuant to the New York Stock Exchanges audit committee membership standards; (vi) whether or not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial service organizations or their related investment company complexes; (vii) whether or not the person is willing to serve as, and willing and able to commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties of, a Director of the Fund; and (viii) whether or not the selection and nomination of the person would be in the best interest of the Fund in light of the requirements of the Funds retirement policies. While the Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy regarding diversity, as noted above, it may consider the diversity of skills, experience and/or perspective a potential nominee will bring to the Board as part of its evaluation of the contribution such potential nominee will make to the Board. Such factors will be considered in light of the other factors described above and in the context of the Boards existing membership at the time such potential candidate is considered.
To have a candidate considered by the Nominating Committee, a stockholder must submit the recommendation in writing and must include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee. The stockholder recommendation and information described above must be sent to the Funds Secretary, John E. Denneen, c/o Royce Focus Trust, Inc., 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151.
Although the Board does not have a standing compensation committee, the Independent Directors review their compensation annually.
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and Treasurer. The Board also receives periodic presentations from senior personnel of R&A or its affiliates regarding risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas such as business continuity, anti-money laundering, personal trading, valuation, investment research and securities lending. The Board also receives reports from counsel to R&A and the Boards own independent legal counsel regarding regulatory, compliance and governance matters. The Boards oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Funds investments or activities.
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Set forth below is the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund and the total compensation paid by The Royce Funds and the Fund Complex to each Independent Director of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Pension or | Total | |||||||||
Retirement | Total | Compensation | ||||||||
Benefits | Estimated | Compensation | From the | |||||||
Aggregate | Accrued | Annual | From The | Fund and | ||||||
Compensation | as Part | Benefits | Royce Funds | Fund Complex | ||||||
From the | of Fund | upon | Paid to | Paid to | ||||||
Name | Fund | Expenses | Retirement | Directors | Directors* | |||||
Patricia W. Chadwick, | ||||||||||
Director |
$8,000 | None | None | $250,710 | $250,710 | |||||
Richard M. Galkin, | ||||||||||
Director |
$8,000 | None | None | $250,710 | $250,710 | |||||
Stephen L. Isaacs, | ||||||||||
Director |
$8,000 | None | None | $250,710 | $250,710 | |||||
Arthur S. Mehlman, | ||||||||||
Director |
$8,000 | None | None | $250,710 | $391,960 | |||||
David L. Meister, | ||||||||||
Director |
$8,000 | None | None | $250,710 | $250,710 | |||||
G. Peter OBrien, | ||||||||||
Director |
$8,000 | None | None | $250,710 | $381,960 |
* | Represents
aggregate compensation paid to each Director during the calendar year ended December
31, 2013 from the Fund Complex. The Fund Complex currently includes the 34 portfolios
of The Royce Funds and the 18 portfolios of the Legg Mason Family of Funds. |
Name, Address* and Principal | Officer of | |||||
Occupations During Past Five Years | Age | Office** | Fund Since | |||
Charles M. Royce | 74 | President | 1986 | |||
Chief Executive Officer and |
||||||
Chairman of Board of Managers of R&A. |
||||||
John D. Diederich | 63 | Vice | 1997 | |||
Chief Operating Officer, Managing |
President | |||||
Director and Member of the Board of |
and | |||||
Managers of R&A; Chief Financial |
Treasurer | |||||
Officer of R&A; Director of |
||||||
Administration of The Royce Funds; |
||||||
and President of Royce Fund |
||||||
Services, Inc. (RFS), having been |
||||||
employed by R&A since April 1993. |
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Name, Address* and Principal | Officer of | |||||
Occupations During Past Five Years | Age | Office** | Fund Since | |||
Jack E. Fockler, Jr. | 55 | Vice | 1995 | |||
Managing Director and Vice |
President | |||||
President of R&A; Vice President of |
||||||
RFS, having been employed by R&A |
||||||
since October 1989. |
||||||
W. Whitney George | 56 | Vice | 1995 | |||
Managing Director and Vice |
President | |||||
President of R&A, having been |
||||||
employed by R&A since October 1991. |
||||||
Daniel A. OByrne | 52 | Vice | 1994 | |||
Principal and Vice President of R&A, |
President | |||||
having been employed by R&A since |
||||||
October 1986. |
||||||
John E. Denneen | 47 | Secretary and | 1996 to 2001 | |||
General Counsel, Principal, Chief |
Chief Legal | and | ||||
Legal and Compliance Officer and |
Officer | since 2002 | ||||
Secretary of R&A; Secretary and |
||||||
Chief Legal Officer of The Royce |
||||||
Funds. |
||||||
Lisa Curcio | 54 | Chief Compliance | 2004 | |||
Chief Compliance Officer of The |
Officer | |||||
Royce Funds (since October 2004); |
||||||
and Compliance Officer of R&A |
||||||
(since June 2004). |
* | The address of each officer of the Fund is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151. | |
** | Each officer of the Fund is elected by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Board. |
16
Based solely on the Funds review of the copies of such forms and amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect to its most recent fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting persons that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent fiscal year, the Fund believes that all of its officers, Directors, greater than ten percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act due to the requirements of Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act (i.e., any investment adviser or affiliated person of the Funds investment adviser), have complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions in the Funds shares during the Funds most recent fiscal year.
17
Aggregate Dollar Range of | ||||
Securities in all Royce Funds | ||||
Aggregate Dollar Range | overseen by each Director | |||
Name | of Equity in the Fund | in the Royce Family of Funds | ||
Interested Director: | ||||
Charles M. Royce |
Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
W. Whitney George |
Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
Non-Interested Directors: | ||||
Patricia W. Chadwick |
None | Over $100,000 | ||
Richard M. Galkin |
None | Over $100,000 | ||
Stephen L. Isaacs |
None | Over $100,000 | ||
Arthur S. Mehlman |
$10,001 - $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||
David L. Meister |
None | Over $100,000 | ||
G. Peter OBrien |
$10,001 - $50,000 | Over $100,000 |
Information regarding ownership of shares of Common Stock by the Funds Directors and officers as of the Record Date is set forth below:
Amount of Beneficial | ||||
Name and Address* | Ownership of | Percent of Shares | ||
of Owner | Shares of Common Stock | Outstanding | ||
Interested Directors: | ||||
Charles M. Royce |
1,454,472 | 6.51% | ||
W. Whitney George |
4,824,265 | 21.58% | ||
Non-Interested Directors: | ||||
Patricia W. Chadwick |
None | 0.00% | ||
Richard M. Galkin |
None | 0.00% | ||
Stephen L. Isaacs |
None | 0.00% | ||
Arthur S. Mehlman |
5,142 | 0.02% | ||
David L. Meister |
None | 0.00% | ||
G. Peter OBrien |
5,468 | 0.02% | ||
Interested Officers**: | ||||
John D. Diederich |
None | 0.00% | ||
Jack E. Fockler, Jr. |
280,396 | 1.25% | ||
Daniel A. OByrne |
5,808 | 0.03% | ||
John E. Denneen |
22,030 | 0.10% | ||
Lisa Curcio |
None | 0.00% |
* | The address
of each Director and each officer is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10151. |
|
** | Does not include
beneficial ownership information with respect to Messrs. Royce and George, which
information is set forth immediately above under Interested Directors. |
18
Mr. Royce has sole voting power and sole investment power as to the shares beneficially owned by him. Mr. George has voting power and investment power as to the shares beneficially owned by him. As of the Record Date, the Funds Directors and officers as a group (13 persons) beneficially owned 6,597,581 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 29.51% of its outstanding shares.
As of July 18, 2014, no Independent Director or any of his immediate family members directly or indirectly owned any securities issued by Legg Mason or any of its affiliates (other than registered investment companies).
The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that all stockholders vote FOR all Director nominees.
FEES PAID TO INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
19
TW&B did not provide any other professional services to the Fund or R&A for the year ended December 31, 2013. No representatives of TW&B are expected to be present at the Meeting.
20
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
While the Meeting has been called to transact any business that may properly come before it, the Directors know of no business other than the matter stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However, if any additional matter properly comes before the Meeting and on all matters incidental to the conduct of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed Proxy to vote the Proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
The Fund expects that broker-dealer firms holding shares of the Fund in street name for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the Proposal before the Meeting. The Fund understands that, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, such broker-dealers may, without instructions from such customers and clients, grant authority to the proxies designated by the Fund to vote on the election of Directors if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firms request for voting instructions. Certain broker-dealer firms may exercise discretion over shares held in their name for which no instructions are received by voting such shares in the same proportion as they have voted shares for which they have received instructions.
The shares as to which the Proxies so designated are granted authority by broker-dealer firms to vote on the matters to be considered at the Meeting, the shares as to which broker-dealer firms have declined to vote (broker non-votes) and the shares as to which Proxies are returned by record stockholders but which are marked abstain on any matter will be included in the Funds tabulation of the total number of votes present for purposes of determining whether the necessary quorum of stockholders exists. However, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will not have an effect on the election of Directors.
21
22
PLEASE FILL IN, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
By order of the Board of Directors, | |
John E. Denneen | |
Secretary |
Dated: August 4, 2014
23
EXHIBIT A |
CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE |
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES |
FOR THE ROYCE FUNDS LISTED IN APPENDIX A HERETO |
I. | Composition of the Audit Committee |
The Audit Committee shall be composed of at least three Directors/Trustees, each of whom:
(a) | shall not
be an interested person of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act); |
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(b) | shall not
accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee
from the Fund (other than fees for serving on the Board of Directors/Trustees or
any committee thereof); and |
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(c) | shall be financially
literate at the time of his or her appointment to the Audit Committee, as such qualification
is interpreted by the Board of Directors/Trustees in its business judgment, or shall
become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment
to the Audit Committee. |
In the event Fund shares are or become listed on a national securities exchange or are or become quoted on a national market quotation system, the additional qualification requirements set forth below also shall apply:
(d) | each Director/Trustee who is a member of the Audit Committee shall satisfy the applicable |
A-1
independence
requirements for any such national securities exchange or national market quotation
system; and |
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(e) | at least one
Director/Trustee who is a member of the Audit Committee shall have accounting or
related financial management expertise as the Board of Directors/Trustees interprets
such qualification in its business judgment. |
The Board of Directors/Trustees shall determine annually: (i) whether at least one of the members of the Audit Committee is an audit committee financial expert, as defined in rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) whether simultaneous service on more than three public company audit committees by a member of the Audit Committee would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the Audit Committee, and, with respect to the closed-end funds only, the Board must disclose any determination made under clause (ii) either on or through the applicable Funds website or in its annual proxy statement. If the disclosure is made on the Funds website, the Fund must disclose that fact in its annual proxy statement and provide the website address. Multiple boards in the same fund complex are considered one board for this determination.
II. | Purposes of the Audit Committee | |||||
The Audit Committee shall be responsible for: | ||||||
(1) | assisting Board oversight of the | |||||
(a) | integrity of the Funds financial statements; | |||||
(b) | independent accountants qualifications and independence; and |
A-2
(c) | performance of the Funds independent accountants; and | |||||
(2) | preparation,
or overseeing the preparation of, any audit committee report required by rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Funds proxy statement
for its annual meeting of stockholders. |
III. | Responsibilities and Duties of the Audit Committee |
The Funds independent accountants shall report directly to the Audit Committee.
As may be necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes, or to comply with applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange or market quotation system on which Fund shares are or may become listed or quoted, the Audit Committee shall have the following responsibilities and duties:
(a) | the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Funds independent
accountants, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the
independent accountants regarding financial reporting; |
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(b) | to (i) select
an accounting firm to (1) serve as the Funds independent accountants, (2)
audit the Funds financial statements on an annual basis, and (3) provide an
opinion on an annual basis with respect to the Funds financial statements,
and (ii) recommend that the members of the Board of Directors/Trustees who are not
interested persons of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act,
ratify such selection; |
A-3
(c) | to pre-approve
(i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Fund by
the Funds independent accountants and (ii) all permissible non-audit services
to be provided by the Funds independent accountants to the Funds Investment
Adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
Investment Adviser (Adviser Affiliate) that provides ongoing services
to the Fund, if the engagement by the Adviser Affiliate relates directly to the
operations and financial reporting of the Fund; |
||
(d) | if determined
to be advisable, to develop policies and procedures for pre-approval of the engagement
of the Funds independent accountants to provide any of the audit or non-audit
services described in Section III(c) above; |
||
(e) | to consider
whether each non-audit service provided by the Funds independent accountants
to the Fund and to the Funds Investment Adviser or any Adviser Affiliate that
provides ongoing services to the Fund is compatible with maintaining the independence
of such independent accountants; |
||
(f) | to ensure
that the Funds independent accountants submit on a periodic basis to the Audit
Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between such
independent accountants and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, and to actively engage in a dialogue with, and receive and consider
specific representations from, the Funds independent accountants with respect
to any disclosed relationships or services |
A-4
that may affect
the objectivity and independence of such independent accountants; |
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(g) | to review
the arrangements for annual and special audits and the scope of such audits with
the Funds independent accountants; |
||
(h) | to meet to
review and discuss the Funds audited financial statements and, to the extent
required by applicable law or regulations, the Funds semi-annual financial
statements with Fund management and the Funds independent accountants, including
the Funds disclosure of managements discussion of Fund performance; |
||
(i) | to review
with the Funds independent accountants any audit problems or difficulties
the accountants may have encountered during or relating to the conduct of the audit,
including any matters required to be discussed pursuant to rules of The Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board and other relevant regulatory and professional organizations,
and managements response; |
||
(j) | to establish
and administer policies and procedures relating to the hiring by the Fund, its Investment
Adviser, or any administrator that is an Adviser Affiliate of employees or former
employees of the Funds independent accountants; |
||
(k) | to consider
information and comments from the Funds independent accountants with respect
to the Funds accounting and financial reporting policies, procedures and internal
control over financial reporting (including the Funds critical accounting
policies and practices) and managements responses to any such comments; |
A-5
(l) | to request,
receive and/or review from the Funds independent accountants such other materials
as may be deemed necessary or advisable in the discretion of the Committee in the
exercise of its duties under this Charter; such materials may (but are not required
to) include, without limitation, any other material written communications relating
to the Funds financial statements, or internal or disclosure controls, between
the independent accountants and the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Funds
sub-adviser(s), if any, or other Fund service providers, such as any management
letter or schedule of unadjusted differences; |
||
(m) | at least annually,
to obtain and review a report by the Funds independent accountants describing:
(i) such independent accountants internal quality-control procedures; (ii)
any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or
peer review, of such independent accountants, or by any inquiry or investigation
by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting
one or more independent audits carried out by such firm, and any steps taken to
deal with any such issues; and (iii) all relationships between the Funds independent
accountants and the Fund, the Investment Adviser, Adviser Affiliates and members
of management of such entities (to assess the independence of the Funds independent
accountants); |
||
(n) | to establish
procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received
by the Fund regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters;
and (ii) |
A-6
the confidential,
anonymous submission of concerns by employees of the Funds Investment Adviser,
manager, administrator, principal underwriter, or any other provider of accounting
related services for the Fund regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; |
|||
(o) | to address
reports received from attorneys in accordance with procedures adopted by the Funds Investment Adviser relating to the possible violation of federal or state
law or fiduciary duty; |
||
(p) | to discuss
with Fund management and the Funds independent accountants policies with respect
to risk assessment and risk management; |
||
(q) | with respect
to closed-end funds only, to discuss with Fund management the Funds press
releases that discuss earnings (if any), as well as financial information or earnings
guidance provided to analysts and ratings agencies (this may be done generally,
e.g., the type of information to be disclosed and the type of presentation
to be made); and |
||
(r) | to perform
such other functions and to have such other powers consistent with this Charter,
the Funds Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as amended and
supplemented, the Funds By-laws, as amended, and applicable law, as the Audit
Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
The Audit Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including the authority to grant preapprovals of audit related services and permitted non-audit services, to a subcommittee of one or more members of the Audit Committee pursuant to preapproval policies and procedures established by
A-7
the Audit Committee; provided, however, that the Audit Committee may not delegate preapproval of the audit required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any decision of such subcommittee of the Audit Committee to grant preapprovals shall be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
The function of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is the responsibility of Fund management to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control over financial reporting, and the responsibility of the Funds independent accountants to plan and carry out a proper audit. Specifically, Fund management is responsible for: (1) the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Funds financial statements; (2) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies; and (3) the maintenance of internal control over financial reporting and other procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and related laws and regulations. The Funds independent accountants are responsible for planning and carrying out an audit consistent with applicable legal and professional standards and the terms of their engagement letter. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed to reduce the responsibilities or liabilities of the Funds service providers, including the Funds independent accountants.
Although the Audit Committee is expected to review appropriately the matters that come before it, such review of a Funds financial statements by the Audit Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committees review substitute for the responsibilities of the Funds management for preparing, or the Funds independent accountants for auditing, the financial statements. Members of the Audit Committee are not employees of the Fund and, in serving on the Audit Committee, are not, and do not hold themselves out to be, acting as accountants or auditors. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Audit
A-8
Committee or its members to conduct field work or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures.
In discharging their duties, the members of the Audit Committee are entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by: (1) one or more officers of the Fund whom the Board reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (2) legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the Board reasonably believes are within the persons professional or expert competence; or (3) a committee of the Board.
IV. | Meetings |
The Audit Committee shall meet on a regular basis but no less frequently than annually. The Audit Committee periodically shall meet separately with the Funds independent accountants, Fund management, and representatives of Fund management responsible for the financial and accounting operations of the Fund. The Audit Committee may hold special meetings at such times as the Audit Committee believes necessary or appropriate. Members of the Audit Committee may participate in a meeting of the Audit Committee by means of conference call or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear each other.
V. | Assistance from Fund Management; Authority to Engage Advisers; Funding |
The appropriate officers of the Fund shall provide or arrange to provide such information, data and services as the Audit Committee may request. The Audit Committee shall have the power and authority to take all action it believes necessary or appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the power and authority to retain independent counsel and other advisers. The Fund shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee as a committee of the Board, for payment
A-9
of: (i) compensation to the Funds independent accountants or any other accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Fund, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee under this Section V, and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities.
VI. | Annual Performance Evaluation |
The Audit Committee shall perform a review and evaluation, at least annually, of the performance of the Audit Committee.
VII. | Reporting |
The Audit Committee shall report regularly to the Board. The Chairman of the Audit Committee shall report to the Board on the results of its deliberations, and make such recommendations as deemed necessary or appropriate.
VIII. | Amendments |
This Charter may be amended or modified from time to time by vote of the Board.
Dated: | April 11, 2000, as amended through December 12, 2013 |
A-10
APPENDIX A
Royce Capital Fund |
Royce Focus Trust, Inc. |
Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. |
Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. |
Royce Value Trust, Inc. |
The Royce Fund |
A-11
EXHIBIT B |
CHARTER OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE |
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES FOR |
THE ROYCE FUNDS LISTED IN APPENDIX A HERETO |
ORGANIZATION
The Nominating Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors/Trustees for the registered investment companies (each, a Fund) listed on Exhibit A attached hereto shall be composed solely of Directors/Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), and who are independent as defined in the applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange or national market quotation system (each, an Exchange) on which a Fund is listed or quoted (the Independent Directors). The Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund (the Board) shall appoint the members of the Committee (which may or may not be all of the Independent Directors) and shall designate the Chairman of the Committee. The Committee shall have authority to retain its own counsel and other advisers the Committee deems appropriate and shall have the sole authority to approve the compensation and other terms of their retention.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee shall identify individuals qualified to serve as Independent Directors of the Fund and shall recommend its nominees for consideration by the full Board.
IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL NOMINEES
In identifying and evaluating a person as a potential nominee to serve as an Independent Director of the Fund, the Committee should consider among other factors it may deem relevant:
| the contribution
which the person can make to the Board, with consideration being given to the persons business and professional experience, education and such other factors as
the Committee may consider relevant, including but not limited to whether a potential
nominees personal and professional qualities and attributes would provide
a beneficial diversity of skills, experience and/or perspective to the Board; |
||
| the character and integrity of the person; |
B-1
| whether or
not the person is an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act and
whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations
to serve as a Director or Independent Director of the Fund; |
||
| whether or
not the person has any relationships that might impair his independence, such as
any business, financial or family relationships with Fund management, the investment
adviser of the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; |
||
| whether or
not the person is financially literate pursuant to the applicable Exchanges
audit committee membership standards; |
||
| whether or
not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial
service organizations or their related investment company complexes; |
||
| whether or
not the person is willing to serve as, and willing and able to commit the time necessary
for the performance of the duties of a Director of the Fund; |
||
| whether or
not the selection and nomination of the person would be in the best interest of
the Fund in light of the requirements of the Funds retirement policies. |
While the Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Funds Independent Directors, the Committee shall review and consider nominations for the office of Director made by management and by Fund stockholders as it deems appropriate. Stockholders who wish to recommend a nominee should send nominations to the Secretary of the Fund which include biographical information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee.
QUORUM
A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the members of the Committee present at any meeting at which there is quorum shall be the act of the Committee.
NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
After a determination by the Committee that a person should be selected and nominated as an Independent Director of the Fund, the Committee shall
B-2
present its recommendation to the full Board for its consideration and, if necessary, to the Independent Directors.
MEETINGS
The Committee may meet either on its own or in conjunction with meetings of the Board. Meetings of the Committee may be held in person, by video conference or by conference telephone. The Committee may take action by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Adopted: February 10, 2004 |
Revised through February 16, 2011 |
APPENDIX A |
Royce Capital Fund |
Royce Focus Trust, Inc. |
Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. |
Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. |
Royce Value Trust, Inc. |
The Royce Fund |
B-3
PROXY TABULATOR | ||
P.O. BOX 9112 | To vote by Internet | |
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735 | ||
1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. | ||
2) Go to website www.proxyvote.com | ||
3) Follow the instructions provided on the website. | ||
To vote by Telephone | ||
1) Read the Proxy Statement and have the proxy card below at hand. | ||
2) Call 1-800-690-6903 | ||
3) Follow the instructions. | ||
To vote by Mail | ||
1) Read the Proxy Statement. | ||
2) Check the appropriate boxes on the proxy card below. | ||
3) Sign and date the proxy card. | ||
4) Return the proxy card in the envelope provided. | ||
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | ||||
M77616-P55294 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | |||
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
For | Withhold | For All | To withhold authority to vote for a specific Director nominee, mark For All Except and write the nominees number on the line below. |
|||||||||||
All | All | Except | ||||||||||||
1. | PROPOSAL TO ELECT THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES
OF ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
|||||||||||||
01) Richard M. Galkin | o | o | o | |||||||||||
02) Patricia W. Chadwick | ||||||||||||||
2. | THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. | |||||||||||||
Please Sign, Date and Return the Proxy Card Promptly Using the Enclosed Envelope | ||||||||||||||
Mark box at right if an address change or comment has been
noted on the reverse side of this card. |
o | |||||||||||||
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on reverse. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president
or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
||||||||||||||
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | Signature [Joint Owners] | Date | |||
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Proxy Statement is available at www.proxyvote.com.
M77617-P55294 |
PROXY CARD |
||||||||
PROXY | PROXY | |||||||
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. | ||||||||
745 Fifth Avenue | ||||||||
New York, New York 10151 | ||||||||
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. | ||||||||
The undersigned hereby appoints Charles M. Royce and John E. Denneen or either of them, acting in absence
of the other, as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent
and to vote, as designated on the reverse, all shares of common stock of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. held of record
by the undersigned on July 18, 2014 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. to be
held on September 24, 2014, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
||||||||
This Proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned stockholder. If no
direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR Proposal 1. |
||||||||
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. | ||||||||
Address Changes/Comments: | ||||||||
(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.) |