ROYCE VALUE TRUST | DECEMBER 31, 2004 |
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Notes to Financial Statements (continued) |
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price of $25.00 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends through the redemption date of $0.14486 per share. On October 17, 2003, the Fund received net proceeds of $24,212,500 (after underwriting discounts of $787,500 and before estimated offering expenses of $196,500) from the public offering of 1,000,000 shares of 6.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock. Commencing October 17, 2008 and thereafter, the Fund, at its option, may redeem the 6.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, in whole or in part, at the redemption price. At December 31, 2004, 1,000,000 shares of 6.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock were outstanding. The Fund’s Cumulative Preferred Stock is classified outside of permanent equity (net assets applicable to Common Stockholders) in the accompanying financial statements in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Topic D-98, Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities, that requires preferred securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets to be classified outside of permanent equity to the extent that the redemption is at a fixed or determinable price and at the option of the holder or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. The Fund is required to meet certain asset coverage tests with respect to the Cumulative Preferred Stock as required by the 1940 Act. In addition, pursuant to the Rating Agency Guidelines established by Moody’s, the Fund is required to maintain a certain discounted asset | | coverage. If the Fund fails to meet these requirements and does not correct such failure, the Fund may be required to redeem, in part or in full, the Cumulative Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not declared on such shares, in order to meet these requirements. Additionally, failure to meet the foregoing asset coverage requirements could restrict the Fund’s ability to pay dividends to Common Shareholders and could lead to sales of portfolio securities at inopportune times. The Fund has met these requirements since issuing the Preferred Stock.
Investment Advisory Agreement: The Investment Advisory Agreement between Royce and the Fund provides for fees to be paid at an annual rate of 1.0% of the Fund’s average daily net assets applicable to Common Stockholders plus the liquidation value of Preferred Stock. Royce has voluntarily committed to waive the portion of its investment advisory fee attributable to an issue of the Fund’s Preferred Stock for any month in which the Fund’s average annual NAV total return since issuance of the Preferred Stock fails to exceed the applicable Preferred Stock’s dividend rate. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund accrued and paid Royce advisory fees totaling $1,197,732.
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Distributions to Stockholders:
The tax character of distributions paid to stockholders during 2004 and 2003 was as follows:
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Distributions paid from: | | | 2004 | | | | 2003 |
Ordinary income | | $ | 263,335 | | | $ | 1,622,760 |
Long-term capital gain | | | 18,427,261 | | | | 5,615,063 |
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| | $ | 18,690,596 | | | $ | 7,237,823 |
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As of December 31, 2004, the tax basis components of distributable earnings included in stockholder’s equity were as follows:
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Undistributed long-term capital gain | | $ | 1,664,129 | |
Unrealized appreciation | | | 44,902,673 | |
Accrued preferred distributions | | | (33,333 | ) |
| |
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| | $ | 46,533,469 | |
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For financial reporting purposes, capital accounts and distributions to shareholders are adjusted to reflect the tax character of permanent book / tax differences. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Fund recorded the following permanent reclassifications, which relate primarily to the current net operating losses. Results of operations and net assets were not affected by these reclassifications.
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| Undistributed | | | Accumulated | | |
| Net Investment | | | Net Realized | |
| Income | | | Gain (Loss) | |
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| | |
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| $22,760 | | | $(22,760) | |
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Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities:
For the year ended December 31, 2004, the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities, other than short-term securities and collateral received for securities loaned, amounted to $61,719,366 and $56,634,211, respectively.
44 | THE ROYCE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 2004 |
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ROYCE FOCUS TRUST |
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
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To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Royce Focus Trust, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Royce Focus Trust, Inc., including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2004, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, and the statement of changes in net assets for the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (U.S.). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2004, by correspondence with the custodian. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above and audited by us present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. at December 31, 2004, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
TAIT, WELLER, & BAKER
Philadelphia, PA
January 21, 2005
THE ROYCE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 2004 | 45 |
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DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT AND CASH PURCHASE OPTIONS FOR COMMON STOCKHOLDERS |
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Why should I reinvest my distributions?
By reinvesting distributions, a stockholder can maintain an undiluted investment in the Fund. The regular reinvestment of distributions has a significant impact on stockholder returns. In contrast, the stockholder who takes distributions in cash is penalized when shares are issued below net asset value to other stockholders.
How does the reinvestment of distributions from the Royce closed-end funds work?
The Funds automatically issue shares in payment of distributions unless you indicate otherwise. The shares are generally issued at the lower of the market price or net asset value on the valuation date.
How does this apply to registered stockholders?
If your shares are registered directly with a Fund, your distributions are automatically reinvested unless you have otherwise instructed the Funds’ transfer agent, EquiServe, in writing. A registered stockholder also has the option to receive the distribution in the form of a stock certificate or in cash if EquiServe is properly notified.
What if my shares are held by a brokerage firm or a bank?
If your shares are held by a brokerage firm, bank, or other intermediary as the stockholder of record, you should contact your brokerage firm or bank to be certain that it is automatically reinvesting distributions on your behalf. If they are unable to reinvest distributions on your behalf, you should have your shares registered in your name in order to participate.
What other features are available for registered stockholders?
The Distribution Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plans also allow registered stockholders to make optional cash purchases of shares of a Fund’s common stock directly through EquiServe on a monthly basis, and to deposit certificates representing your Fund shares with EquiServe for safekeeping. The Funds’ investment adviser is absorbing all commissions on optional cash purchases under the Plans through December 31, 2005.
How do the Plans work for registered stockholders?
EquiServe maintains the accounts for registered stockholders in the Plans and sends written confirmation of all transactions in the account. Shares in the account of each participant will be held by EquiServe in non-certificated form in the name of the participant, and each participant will be able to vote those shares at a stockholder meeting or by proxy. A participant may also send other stock certificates held by them to EquiServe to be held in non-certificated form. There is no service fee charged to participants for reinvesting distributions. If a participant elects to sell shares from a Plan account, EquiServe will deduct a $2.50 fee plus brokerage commissions from the sale transaction. If a nominee is the registered owner of your shares, the nominee will maintain the accounts on your behalf.
How can I get more information on the Plans?
You can call an Investor Services Representative at (800) 221-4268 or you can request a copy of the Plan for your Fund from EquiServe. All correspondence (including notifications) should be directed to: [Name of Fund] Distribution Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan, c/o EquiServe, PO Box 43011, Providence, RI 02940-3011, telephone (800) 426-5523.
46 | THE ROYCE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 2004 |
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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
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All Directors and Officers may be reached c/o The Royce Funds, 1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
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NAME AND POSITION: Charles M. Royce (65), Director* and President | | NAME AND POSITION: Arthur S. Mehlman (63), Director |
Term Expires: 2006: | | Tenure: Since 1986 (RVT), 1993 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) | | Term Expires: 2004 | | Tenure: Since 2004 |
Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: Director of Technology Investment Capital Corp. | | Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: Director/ Trustee of registered investment companies constituting the 23 Legg Mason Funds and Director of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC. |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: President, Chief Investment Officer and Member of Board of Managers of Royce & Associates, LLC (“Royce”) (since October 2001), the Trust’s investment adviser.
| | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Director of The League for People with Disabilities, Inc.; Director of University of Maryland Foundation and University of Maryland College Park Foundation (nonprofits) and Partner, KPMG LLP (international accounting firm) (1972-2002).
NAME AND POSITION: David L. Meister (65), Director
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NAME AND POSITION: Mark R. Fetting (50), Director* | |
Term Expires: 2004 | | Tenure: Since 2001 | |
Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: Director/Trustee of the registered investment companies constituting the 23 Legg Mason Funds. | | Term Expires: 2004 | | Tenure: Since 1986 (RVT), 1993 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) |
| Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: None |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Executive Vice President of Legg Mason, Inc.; Member of Board of Managers of Royce (since October 2001); Division President and Senior Officer, Prudential Financial Group, Inc. and related companies, including Fund Boards and consulting services to subsidiary companies (from 1991 to 2000). Mr. Fetting’s prior business experience includes having served as Partner, Greenwich Associates and Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
NAME AND POSITION: Donald R. Dwight (73), Director | | Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Tennis Channel (since June 2000). Chief Executive Officer of Seniorlife.com (from December 1999 to May 2000). Mr. Meister’s prior business experience includes having served as a consultant to the communications industry, President of Financial News Network, Senior Vice President of HBO, President of Time-Life Films and Head of Broadcasting for Major League Baseball.
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| NAME AND POSITION: G. Peter O’Brien (59), Director |
Term Expires: 2005 | | Tenure: Since 1998 | | Term Expires: 2006 | | Tenure: Since 2001 |
Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: None | | Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: Director/ Trustee of registered investment companies constituting the 23 Legg-Mason Funds; Director of Renaissance Capital Greenwich Fund and Director of Technology Investment Capital Corp. |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: President of Dwight Partners, Inc., corporate communications consultant; Chairman (from 1982 to March 1998) and Chairman Emeritus (since March 1998) of Newspapers of New England, Inc. Mr. Dwight’s prior experience includes having served as Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as President and Publisher of Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company, and as Trustee of the registered investment companies constituting the Eaton Vance Funds.
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| Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Trustee of Colgate University; President of Hill House, Inc.; Director/Trustee of certain Legg Mason retail funds; Managing Director/Equity Capital Markets Group of Merrill Lynch & Co. (from 1971 to 1999).
NAME AND POSITION: John D. Diederich (53), Vice President and Treasurer Tenure: Since 1997 Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Member of Board of Managers of Royce (since October 2001); Director of Administration of the Funds since April 1993.
NAME AND POSITION: Jack E. Fockler, Jr. (46), Vice President Tenure: Since 1995 (RVT), 1995 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Managing Director and Vice President of Royce, having been employed by Royce since October 1989.
NAME AND POSITION: W. Whitney George (46), Vice President Tenure: Since 1995 (RVT), 1995 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Managing Director and Vice President of Royce, having been employed by Royce since October 1991.
NAME AND POSITION: Daniel A. O’Byrne (42), Vice President and Assistant Secretary Tenure: Since 1994 (RVT), 1994 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Vice President of Royce, having been employed by Royce since October 1986.
NAME AND POSITION: John E. Denneen (37), Secretary Tenure: 1996-2001 and Since April 2002 Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: General Counsel(Deputy General Counsel prior to 2003), Principal, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and Secretary of Royce (1996-2001 and since April 2002); Principal of Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity (2001-2002). |
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NAME AND POSITION: Richard M. Galkin (66), Director | |
Term Expires: 2004 | | Tenure: Since 1986 (RVT), 1993 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) | |
Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: None | |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Private investor. Mr. Galkin’s prior business experience includes having served as President of Richard M. Galkin Associates, Inc., telecommunications consultants, President of Manhattan Cable Television (a subsidiary of Time, Inc.), President of Haverhills Inc. (another Time, Inc. subsidiary), President of Rhode Island Cable Television and Senior Vice President of Satellite Television Corp. (a subsidiary of Comsat).
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NAME AND POSITION: Stephen L. Isaacs (65), Director | |
Term Expires: 2005 (RVT), 2005 (RMT), 2004 (FUND) | | Tenure: Since 1986 (RVT), 1993 (RMT), 1996 (FUND) | |
Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: None | |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: President of The Center for Health and Social Policy (since September 1996); Attorney and President of Health Policy Associates, Inc., consultants. Mr. Isaacs’s prior business experience includes having served as Director of Columbia University Development Law and Policy Program and Professor at Columbia University (until August 1996).
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NAME AND POSITION: William L. Koke (70), Director | |
Term Expires: 2004 (RVT), 2004 (RMT), 2005 (FUND) | | Tenure: Since 2001 (RVT), 2001 (RMT), 1997 (FUND) | |
Number of Funds Overseen: 21 | | Non-Royce Directorships: None | |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past Five Years: Financial planner with Shoreline Financial Consultants. Mr. Koke’s prior business experience includes having served as Director of Financial Relations of SONAT, Inc., Treasurer of Ward Foods, Inc. and President of CFC, Inc.
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THE ROYCE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 2004 | 47 |
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION |
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Forward-Looking Statements |
This material contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve risks and uncertainties, including, among others, statements as to: |
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• | | the Funds’ future operating results |
• | | the prospects of the Funds’ portfolio companies |
• | | the impact of investments that the Funds have made or may make |
• | | the dependence of the Funds’ future success on the general economy and its impact on the companies and industries in which the Funds invest, and |
• | | the ability of the Funds’ portfolio companies to achieve their objectives. |
This Report uses words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements for any reason.
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The Royce Funds have based the forward-looking statements included in this Report on information available to us on the date of the Report, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although The Royce Funds undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make through future stockholder communications or Reports. |
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Authorized Share Transactions |
Royce Value Trust, Royce Micro-Cap Trust and Royce Focus Trust may each repurchase up to 300,000 shares of its respective common stock and up to 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of its respective preferred stock during the year ending December 31, 2005. Any such repurchases would take place at then prevailing prices in the open market or in other transactions. Common stock repurchases would be effected at a price per share that is less than the share’s then current net asset value, and preferred stock repurchases would be effected at a price per share that is less than the share’s liquidation value. Royce Value Trust, Royce Micro-Cap Trust and Royce Focus Trust are also authorized to offer their common stockholders an opportunity to subscribe for additional shares of their common stock through rights offerings at a price per share that may be less than the share’s then current net asset value. The timing and terms of any such offerings are within each Board’s discretion. |
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Proxy Voting |
A copy of the policies and procedures that The Royce Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, by calling 1-800-221-4268 (toll-free) and on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how each of The Royce Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge, by calling 1-800-221-4268 (toll-free), on the website of the SEC, at www.sec.gov., and on The Royce Funds’ website at www.roycefunds.com. |
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Form N-Q Filing |
The Funds file their complete schedules of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-Q are available on The Royce Funds’ website at www.roycefunds.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Funds’ Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about this public service, call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. The Funds’ complete schedules of investments are updated quarterly, and are available at www.roycefunds.com. |
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Annual Certifications |
As required, the Funds have submitted to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) for Royce Value Trust, Royce Micro-Cap Trust and Royce Focus Trust, and to Nasdaq for Royce Focus Trust, respectively, the annual certification of the Funds’ Chief Executive Officer that he is not aware of any violation of the NYSE’s or Nasdaq’s Corporate Governance listing standards. The Funds also have included the certification of the Funds’ Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as exhibits to the Funds’ Form N-CSR for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
48 | THE ROYCE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 2004 |
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STOCKHOLDER MEETING RESULTS
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ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
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| At the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on September 28, 2004, the Fund’s stockholders elected five Directors, consisting of: | |
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| | | | Votes For | | Votes Abstained | | |
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| | Mark R. Fetting* | | | 54,308,032 | | | | 432,961 | | | |
| | Richard M. Galkin* | | | 54,325,149 | | | | 415,844 | | | |
| | William L. Koke** | | | 7,659,862 | | | | 67,338 | | | |
| | Arthur S. Mehlman* | | | 54,331,600 | | | | 409,393 | | | |
| | David L. Meister** | | | 7,650,962 | | | | 76,238 | | | |
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| * Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together as a single class. | | | | | | | | | | |
| ** Preferred Stock voting as a separate class. | | | | | | | | | | |
ROYCE MICRO-CAP TRUST, INC.
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| At the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on September 28, 2004, the Fund’s stockholders elected five Directors, consisting of: | |
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| | | | Votes For | | Votes Abstained | | |
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| | Mark R. Fetting* | | | 20,558,869 | | | | 142,202 | | | |
| | Richard M. Galkin* | | | 20,542,698 | | | | 158,193 | | | |
| | William L. Koke** | | | 1,961,756 | | | | 19,834 | | | |
| | Arthur S. Mehlman* | | | 20,567,831 | | | | 133,510 | | | |
| | David L. Meister** | | | 1,963,956 | | | | 17,634 | | | |
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| * Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together as a single class. | | | | | | | | | | |
| ** Preferred Stock voting as a separate class. | | | | | | | | | | |
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC.
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| At the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on September 28, 2004, the Fund’s stockholders elected five Directors, consisting of: | |
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| | | | Votes For | | Votes Abstained | | |
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| | Mark R. Fetting* | | | 9,105,495 | | | | 107,025 | | | |
| | Richard M. Galkin* | | | 9,105,926 | | | | 107,224 | | | |
| | Stephen L. Isaacs** | | | 987,606 | | | | 6,693 | | | |
| | Arthur S. Mehlman* | | | 9,106,894 | | | | 105,626 | | | |
| | David L. Meister** | | | 986,706 | | | | 7,593 | | | |
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| * Common Stock and Preferred Stock voting together as a single class. | | | | | | | | | | |
| ** Preferred Stock voting as a separate class. | | | | | | | | | | |
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| | TheRoyceFunds
Wealth Of Experience With approximately $20.9 billion in open- and closed-end fund assets under management, Royce & Associates is committed to the same small-company investing principles that have served us well for more than 30 years. Charles M. Royce, our Chief Investment Officer, enjoys one of the longest tenures of any active mutual fund manager. Royce’s investment staff includes six other Portfolio Managers, as well as eight assistant portfolio managers and analysts, and six traders..
Multiple Funds, Common Focus Our goal is to offer both individual and institutional investors the best available small-cap value portfolios. Unlike a lot of mutual fund groups with broad product offerings, we have chosen to concentrate on small-company value investing by providing investors with a range of funds that take full advantage of this large and diverse sector.
Consistent Discipline Our approach emphasizes paying close attention to risk and maintaining the same discipline, regardless of market movements and trends. The price we pay for a security must be significantly below our appraisal of its current worth. This requires a thorough analysis of the financial and business dynamics of an enterprise, as though we were purchasing the entire company.
Co-Ownership Of Funds It is important that our employees and shareholders share a common financial goal; our officers, employees and their families currently have approximately $74 million invested in The Royce Funds. | | |
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| | General Information Additional Report Copies and Fund Inquiries (800) 221-4268
EquiServe Transfer Agent and Registrar (800) 426-5523
| Broker/Dealer Services For Fund Materials and Performance Updates, (800) 59-ROYCE (597-6923)
Advisor Services For Fund Materials, Performance Updates, Transactions or Account Inquiries (800) 33-ROYCE (337-6923) | | |
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| | www.roycefunds.com | | |
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CE-REP-1204
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Item 2: Code(s) of Ethics – As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Registrant had adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of this code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to this code of ethics during the period covered by this report. |
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Item 3: Audit Committee Financial Expert – |
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(a)(1) | | The Board of Directors of the Registrant has determined that it has an audit committee financial expert. |
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(a)(2) | | Arthur S. Mehlman was designated by the Board of Trustees as the Registrant’s Audit Committee Financial Expert, effective April 15, 2004. Mr. Mehlman is “independent” as defined under Item 3 of Form N-CSR. |
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Item 4: Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
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(a) | | Audit Fees: |
| | Year ended December 31, 2004 - $31,000 |
| | Year ended December 31, 2003 - $29,500 |
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(b) | | Audit-Related Fees: |
| | Year ended December 31, 2004 - $1,500 – Preparation of reports to rating agency for Preferred Stock |
| | Year ended December 31, 2003 - $6,000 – Preparation of reports to rating agency for Preferred Stock |
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(c) | | Tax Fees: |
| | Year ended December 31, 2004 - $2,500 – Preparation of tax returns |
| | Year ended December 31, 2003 - $2,500 – Preparation of tax returns |
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(d) | | All Other Fees: |
| | Year ended December 31, 2004 - $0 |
| | Year ended December 31, 2003 - $7,500 – Services in connection with Registration Statement on Form N-2 for newly issued Preferred Stock |
| | $3,000 – Services in connection with Registration Statement on Form N-2 relating to the Fund's Rights Offering |
(e)(1) Annual Pre-Approval: On an annual basis, the Registrant’s independent auditor submits to the Audit Committee a schedule of proposed audit, audit-related, tax and other non-audit services to be rendered to the Registrant and/or investment adviser(s) for the following year that require pre-approval by the Audit Committee. This schedule provides a description of each type of service that is expected to require pre-approval and the maximum fees that can be paid for each such service without further Audit Committee approval. The Audit Committee then reviews and determines whether to approve the types of scheduled services and the projected fees for them. Any subsequent revision to already pre-approved services or fees (including fee increases) are presented for consideration at the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting, as needed.
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If subsequent to the annual pre-approval of services and fees by the Audit Committee, the Registrant or one of its affiliates determines that it would like to engage the Registrant’s independent auditor to perform a service not already pre-approved, the request is to be submitted to the Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer, and if he or she determines that the service fits within the independence guidelines (e.g., it is not a prohibited service), he or she will then arrange for a discussion of the proposed service and fee to be included on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting so that pre-approval can be considered. |
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Interim Pre-Approval: If, in the judgment of the Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer, a proposed engagement needs to commence before the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting, he or she shall submit a written summary of the proposed engagement to all members of the Audit Committee, outlining the services, the estimated maximum cost, the category of the services (e.g., audit, audit-related, tax or other) and the rationale for engaging the Registrant’s independent auditor to perform the services. To the extent the proposed engagement involves audit, audit-related or tax services, any individual member of the Audit Committee who is an independent Board member is authorized to pre-approve the engagement. To the extent the proposed engagement involves non-audit services other than audit-related or tax, the Chairman of the Audit Committee is authorized to |
pre-approve the engagement. The Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer will arrange for this interim review and coordinate with the appropriate member(s) of the Committee. The independent auditor may not commence the engagement under consideration until the Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer has informed the auditor in writing that pre-approval has been obtained from the Audit Committee or an individual member who is an independent Board member. The member of the Audit Committee who pre-approves any engagements in between regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings is to report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. |
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(e)(2) | | Not Applicable |
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(f) | | Not Applicable |
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(g) | | Year ended December 31, 2004 - $4,000 |
| | Year ended December 31, 2003 - $19,000 |
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(h) | | No such services were rendered during 2004 or 2003. |
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Item 5: Not Applicable. |
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Item 6: Not Applicable. |
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Item 7: | |
| | | June 5, 2003 |
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Royce & Associates Proxy Voting Guidelines and Procedures |
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These procedures apply to Royce & Associates, LLC (“Royce”) and all funds and other client accounts for which it is responsible for voting proxies, including all open and closed-end registered investment companies (“The Royce Funds”), limited partnerships, limited liability companies, separate accounts, other accounts for which it acts as investment adviser and any accounts for which it acts as sub-adviser that have directly or indirectly delegated proxy voting authority to Royce. The Boards of Trustees/Directors of The Royce Funds have delegated all proxy voting decisions to Royce. |
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Receipt of Proxy Material. Under the continuous oversight of the Head of Administration, an Administrative Assistant designated by him is responsible for monitoring receipt of all proxies and ensuring that proxies are received for all securities for which Royce has proxy voting responsibility. All proxy materials are logged in upon receipt by Royce’s Librarian. |
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Voting of Proxies. Once proxy material has been logged in by Royce’s Librarian, it is then promptly reviewed by the designated Administrative Assistant to evaluate the issues presented. Regularly recurring matters are usually voted as recommended by the issuer’s board of directors or “management.” The Head of Administration, in consultation with the Chief Investment Officer, develops and updates a list of matters Royce treats as “regularly recurring” and is responsible for ensuring that the designated Administrative Assistant has an up-to-date list of these matters at all times, including instructions from Royce’s Chief Investment Officer on how to vote on those matters on behalf of Royce clients. Examples of “regularly recurring” matters include non-contested elections of directors and non-contested approval of independent auditors. Non-“regularly recurring” matters are brought to the attention of the portfolio manager(s) for the account(s) involved by the designated Administrative Assistant, and, after giving some consideration to advisories from “Proxy Master” (a service provided by Institutional Shareholder Services), the portfolio manager directs that such matters be voted in a way that he or she believes should better protect or enhance the value of the investment. If the portfolio manager determines that information concerning any proxy requires analysis, is missing or incomplete, he or she then gives the proxy to an analyst or another portfolio manager for review and analysis. |
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| a. | | From time to time, it is possible that one Royce portfolio manager will decide (i) to vote shares held in client accounts he or she manages differently from the vote of another Royce portfolio manager whose client accounts hold the same security or (ii) to abstain from voting on behalf of client accounts he or she manages when another Royce portfolio manager is casting votes on behalf of other Royce client accounts. |
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| | | The designated Administrative Assistant reviews all proxy votes collected from Royce’s portfolio managers prior to such votes being cast. If any difference exists among the voting instructions given by Royce’s portfolio managers, as described above, the designated Administrative Assistant then presents these proposed votes to the Head of Administration and the Chief Investment Officer. The Chief Investment Officer, after consulting with the relevant portfolio managers, either reconciles the votes or authorizes the casting of differing votes by different Royce portfolio managers. The Head of Administration maintains a log of all votes for which different portfolio managers have cast differing votes, that describes the rationale for allowing such differing votes and contains the initials of both the Chief Investment Officer and Head of Administration allowing such differing votes. The Head of Administration performs a weekly review of all votes cast by Royce to confirm that any conflicting votes were properly handled in accordance with the above-described procedures. |
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| b. | | There are many circumstances that might cause Royce to vote against an issuer’s board of directors or “management” proposal. These would include, among others, excessive compensation, unusual management stock options, preferential voting, poison pills, etc. Royce’s portfolio managers decide these issues on a case-by-case basis as described above. |
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| c. | | A Royce portfolio manager may, on occasion, determine to abstain from voting a proxy or a specific proxy item when he or she concludes that the potential benefit of voting is outweighed by the cost, when it is not in the client account’s best interest to vote. |
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| d. | | When a client has authorized Royce to vote proxies on its behalf, Royce will generally not accept instructions from the clients regarding how to vote proxies. |
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Custodian banks are authorized to release all shares held for Royce client account portfolios to Automated Data Processing Corporation (“ADP”) for voting, utilizing ADP’s “Proxy Edge” software system. Substantially all portfolio companies utilize ADP to collect their proxy votes. However, for the limited number of portfolio companies that do not utilize ADP, Royce attempts to register at least a portion of its clients holdings as a physical shareholder in order to ensure its receipt of a physical proxy. |
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Under the continuous oversight of the Head of Administration, the designated Administrative Assistant is responsible for voting all proxies in a timely manner. Votes are returned to ADP using Proxy Edge as ballots are received, generally two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. The issuer can thus see that the shares were voted, but the actual vote cast is not released to the company until 4pm on the day before the meeting. If proxies must be mailed, they go out at least ten business days before the meeting date. |
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Conflicts of Interest. The designated Administrative Assistant reviews reports generated by Royce’s portfolio management system (“Quest PMS”) that set forth by record date, any security held in a Royce client account which is issued by a (i) public company that is, or a known affiliate of which is, a separate account client of Royce (including sub-advisory relationships), (ii) public company, or a known affiliate of a public company, that has invested in a privately-offered pooled vehicle managed by Royce or (iii) public company, or a known affiliate of a public company, by which the spouse of a Royce employee or an immediate family member of a Royce employee living in the household of such employee is employed, for the purpose of identifying any potential proxy votes that could present a conflict of interest for Royce. The Head of Administration develops and updates the list of such public companies or their known affiliates which is used by Quest PMS to generate these daily reports. This list also contains information regarding the source of any potential conflict relating to such companies. Potential conflicts identified on the “conflicts reports” are brought to the attention of the Head of Administration by the designated Administrative Assistant, who then reviews them to determine if business or personal relationships exist between Royce, its officers, managers or employees and the company that could present a material conflict of interest. Any such identified material conflicts are voted by Royce in accordance with the recommendation given by an independent third party research firm (Institutional Shareholder Services). The Head of Administration maintains a |
log of all such conflicts identified, the analysis of the conflict and the vote ultimately cast. Each entry in this log is signed by the Chief Investment Officer before the relevant votes are cast.
Recordkeeping. A record of the issues and how they are voted is stored in the Proxy Edge system. Copies of all physically executed proxy cards, all proxy statements and any other documents created or reviewed that are material to making a decision on how to vote proxies are retained in the Company File maintained by Royce’s Librarian.
Item 8: Not Applicable.
Item 9: Not Applicable.
Item 10: Controls and Procedures.
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Principal Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on their evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
(b) Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no significant changes in Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
Item 11: Exhibits attached hereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
BY: /s/ Charles M. Royce
Charles M. Royce
President
Date: February 28, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
BY: /s/ Charles M. Royce
Charles M. Royce
President
Date: February 28, 2005
ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
BY: /s/ John D. Diederich
John D. Diederich
Chief Financial Officer
Date: February 28, 2005