As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2015
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. )
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[ ] | 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 VALUE TRUST, INC. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
745 Fifth Avenue New
York, New York 10151
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
To the Stockholders of:
ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Meeting”) of ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC. (the “Fund”) will be held at the offices of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151 on Thursday, September 24, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), for the following purposes:
1. | To elect three Directors to the Fund’s 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 17, 2015 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 3, 2015
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
THE NOTICE, PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY CARD FOR THE FUND ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM
PROXY STATEMENT
ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC.
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10151
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
September 24, 2015
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 Value Trust, Inc. (the “Fund”), to be held at the offices of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151, on Thursday, September 24, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. The approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement is August 10, 2015.
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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s shares of common stock (“Common Stock”). Some officers and employees of the Fund and/or Royce & Associates, LLC (“R&A” or “Royce”), the Fund’s 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.
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The Board has set the close of business on July 17, 2015 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 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 77,251,037 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:
Name and Address of Owner | Amount and Nature of Ownership | Percent |
Cede & Co.* Depository Trust Company P.O. Box #20 Bowling Green Station New York, NY 10028 | 75,790,112 shares— Record* | 98.11% |
* | 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 to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting, three members of the Board will be elected. The Board has nine Directors. The nine 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 Charles M. Royce, G. Peter O’Brien, and David L. Meister currently serves as a Class I director and has been nominated by the Board to serve as a Class I director for a three-year term to expire at the Fund’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
The classes of Directors and their respective terms are indicated below.
CLASS I DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Charles M. Royce
G. Peter O’Brien
David L. Meister
CLASS III DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Richard M. Galkin
Stephen L. Isaacs
Christopher D. Clark
CLASS II DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Arthur S. Mehlman
Patricia W. Chadwick
Michael K. Shields
Each of the three Director nominees has agreed to serve if elected, and the Fund’s management has no reason to believe that any of them will be unavailable for service as a Director. However, if any 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.
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Name, Address* and Principal Occupations During Past Five Years | Age | Positions With the Fund | Length of Time Served | Current Term Expires | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen | Other Public Company Directorships |
Charles M. Royce** Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Managers of Royce & Associates, LLC (“R&A”), investment adviser to the Fund. Member of Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund, Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. (“RMT”), Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. (“RGT”), The Royce Fund (“TRF”), and Royce Capital Fund (“RCF”) (the Fund, RMT, RGT, TRF, and RCF collectively, “The Royce Funds”). | 75 | Class I Director | 1986 | 2015 | 27 | TICC Capital Corp. |
Christopher D. Clark** President (since July 2014), Co-Chief Investment Officer (since January 2014), Member of the Board of Managers (since June 2015), and Managing Director of R&A, having been employed by R&A since May 2007. President and Member of Board of Directors/Trustees of The Royce Funds. | 50 | Class III Director and President† | 2014 | 2017 | 27 | None |
* | The address of Messrs. Royce and Clark 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. | ||
† | Mr. Clark was elected by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Board in his capacity as an officer of the Fund. |
Messrs. Royce and Clark 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 Fund’s Directors and officers.
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Name, Address* and Principal Occupations During Past Five Years** | Age | Positions With the Fund | Length of Time Served | Current Term Expires | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen | Other Public Company Directorships |
Patricia W. Chadwick Consultant and President of Ravengate Partners LLC (since 2000). | 66 | Class II Director | 2010 | 2016 | 27 | Wisconsin Energy Corp. and Voya Funds |
Richard M. Galkin 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). | 77 | Class III Director | 1986 | 2017 | 27 | None |
Stephen L. Isaacs Attorney and President of Health Policy Associates, Inc., consultants. Mr. Isaacs’s prior business experience includes having served as President of The Center for Health and Social Policy (1996 to 2012); and Director of Columbia University Development Law and Policy Program and Professor at Columbia University (until August 1996). | 75 | Class III Director | 1986 | 2017 | 27 | None |
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Name, Address* and Principal Occupations During Past Five Years** | Age | Positions With the Fund | Length of Time Served | Current Term Expires | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen | Other Public Company Directorships |
Arthur S. Mehlman Director of The League for People with Disabilities, Inc.; Director of University of Maryland Foundation (non-profits). Formerly: Director of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC (from October 2004 to April 2011); Director of University of Maryland College Park Foundation (non-profit)(from 1998 to 2005); Partner, KPMG LLP (international accounting firm) (from 1972 to 2002); Director of Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (from July 1984 to June 2002). | 73 | Class II Director | 2004 | 2016 | 45 (Director/Trustee of all Royce Funds, consisting of 27 portfolios; Director/Trustee of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, consisting of 18 portfolios) | None |
David L. Meister Consultant. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Tennis Channel (from June 2000 to March 2005). Mr. Meister’s prior business experience includes having served as Chief Executive Officer of Seniorlife.com, 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. | 75 | Class I Director | 1986 | 2015 | 27 | None |
G. Peter O’Brien Director, Bridges School (since 2006); Trustee Emeritus of Colgate University (since 2005); Board Member of Hill House, Inc. (since 1999). Formerly: Trustee of Colgate University (from 1996 to 2005); President of Hill House, Inc. (from 2001 to 2005); and Managing Director/Equity Capital Markets Group of Merrill Lynch & Co. (from 1971 to 1999). | 70 | Class I Director | 2001 | 2015 | 45 (Director/Trustee of all Royce Funds, consisting of 27 portfolios; Director/Trustee of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, consisting of 18 portfolios) | TICC Capital Corp. |
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Name, Address* and Principal Occupations During Past Five Years** | Age | Positions With the Fund | Length of Time Served | Current Term Expires | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen | Other Public Company Directorships |
Michael K. Shields President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Trust Company, a private North Carolina trust company (since May 2012). Mr. Shields’s prior business experience includes owning Shields Advisors, an investment consulting firm (from April 2010 to June 2012). | 56 | Class II Director | April 2015 | 2016 | 27 | None |
* | The address of each of Ms. Chadwick and Messrs. Galkin, Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister, O’Brien, and Shields is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151. | ||
** | Each of the Independent Directors, including two of the 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, O’Brien, and Shields is a member of the Audit Committee of the Board and the Nominating Committee of the Board. |
Additional information about each Director follows (supplementing the information provided in the tables 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 serves as the Chief Executive Officer and a Member of the Board of Managers of R&A. Mr. Royce served as the President of R&A from 1972 to June 2014. Mr. Royce has over 40 years of investment and business experience. | |
• | Christopher D. Clark – In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds, Mr. Clark serves as President, Co-Chief Investment Officer, and a Member of the Board of Managers of R&A, having been employed by R&A since 2007. Mr. Clark has over 25 years of investment and business experience, including extensive experience in the financial sector. | |
• | 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 board of two public companies. |
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• | Richard M. Galkin – In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds, Mr. Galkin serves as co-Chairman of the Board’s Nominating Committee. Mr. Galkin also served as Chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee for more than 15 years, acting as liaison between the Boards and the Fund’s 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 Board’s Audit Committee, acting as liaison between the Boards and the Fund’s independent registered public accountants, and is designated as an Audit 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 O’Brien – In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds and of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, Mr. O’Brien serves as co-Chairman of the Boards’ Nominating Committee. Mr. O’Brien has over 35 years of business experience, including extensive experience in the financial sector. In addition, Mr. O’Brien has served on the boards of public companies and non-profit entities. | |
• | Michael K. Shields – In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds, Mr. Shields serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Trust Company, a private North Carolina trust company. Mr. Shields has over 30 years of investment and business experience, including extensive experience in the financial sector. |
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The Board believes that each Director’s 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 Director’s 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 Board’s 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&A’s internal counsel; both Board and R&A’s internal counsel have significant experience advising funds and fund board members. The Board and its committees have the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance on an annual basis.
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The principal purposes of the Audit Committee are to (i) assist Board oversight of the (a) integrity of the Fund’s financial statements; (b) independent accountants’ qualifications and independence; and (c) performance of the Fund’s independent accountants and (ii) prepare, or oversee the preparation of any audit committee report required by rules of the SEC to be included in the Fund’s proxy statement for its annual meeting of stockholders. The Board has adopted an Audit Committee charter for the Fund which is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
The Audit Committee also has (i) received written disclosures and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 from Tait, Weller & Baker (“TW&B”), the Fund’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, 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 Fund’s independent accountants is compatible with maintaining their independence.
At its meetings held on February 17, 2015 and February 24-25, 2015, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audit of the Fund’s financial statements as of December 31, 2014 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 Fund’s 2014 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 those meetings, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s 2014 Annual Report to Stockholders.
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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 person’s business and professional experience, education and such other factors as the Committee may consider relevant, including but not limited to whether a potential nominee’s 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 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 Exchange’s 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 Fund’s 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 Board’s existing membership at the time such potential candidate is considered.
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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 Fund’s Secretary, John E. Denneen, c/o Royce Value 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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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, 2014.
Name | Aggregate Compensation From the Fund | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Estimated Annual Benefits upon Retirement | Total Compensation From The Royce Funds Paid to Directors | Total Compensation From The Fund and Fund Complex Paid to Directors* |
Patricia W. Chadwick, Director | $25,500 | None | None | $279,000 | $279,000 |
Richard M. Galkin, Director | $25,500 | None | None | $279,000 | $279,000 |
Stephen L. Isaacs, Director | $25,500 | None | None | $279,000 | $279,000 |
Arthur S. Mehlman, Director | $25,500 | None | None | $279,000 | $440,250 |
David L. Meister, Director | $25,500 | None | None | $279,000 | $279,000 |
G. Peter O’Brien, Director | $25,500 | None | None | $279,000 | $429,000 |
Michael K. Shields, Director** | None | None | None | None | None |
* | Represents aggregate compensation paid to each director during the calendar year ended December 31, 2014 from the Fund Complex. As of the date hereof, the Fund Complex includes the 27 portfolios of The Royce Funds and the 18 portfolios of the Legg Mason Funds. | ||
** | Mr. Shields became a Director of the Fund in April 2015 and did not receive any compensation from the Fund and/or the other funds in the group of registered investment companies comprising The Royce Funds for the year ended December 31, 2014. |
Name, Address* and Principal Occupations During Past Five Years | Age | Office** | Officer of Fund Since |
Christopher D. Clark, President (since July 2014), Co-Chief Investment Officer (since January 2014), Member of the Board of Managers (since June 2015), and Managing Director of R&A, having been employed by R&A since May 2007. | 50 | President | 2014 |
Francis D. Gannon, Co-Chief Investment Officer (since January 2014) and Managing Director of R&A, having been employed by Royce since September 2006. | 47 | Vice President | 2014 |
Peter K. Hoglund, Principal, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer of R&A, having been employed by R&A since December 2014. Prior to joining R&A, Mr. Hoglund spent more than 20 years with Munder Capital Management in Birmingham, MI, serving as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer and overseeing all financial aspects of the firm. | 49 | Treasurer | 2015 |
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Name, Address* and Principal Occupations During Past Five Years | Age | Office** | Officer of Fund Since |
Daniel A. O'Byrne, Principal and Vice President of R&A, having been employed by R&A since October 1986. | 53 | Vice President | 1994 |
John E. Denneen, General Counsel, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Secretary, and Member of the Board of Managers (since June 2015) of R&A; Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of The Royce Funds. | 48 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | 1996 to 2001 and since 2002 |
Lisa Curcio, Chief Compliance Officer of The Royce Funds (since October 2004); and Compliance Officer of R&A (since June 2004). | 55 | Chief Compliance Officer | 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. |
Based solely on the Fund’s 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 Fund’s investment adviser), have complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions in the Fund’s shares during the Fund’s most recent fiscal year.
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Name | Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity in the Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities in all Royce Funds overseen by each Director in the Royce Family of Funds |
Interested Directors: | ||
Charles M. Royce | Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 |
Christopher D. Clark | None | Over $100,000 |
Non-Interested Directors | ||
Patricia W. Chadwick | None | Over $100,000 |
Richard M. Galkin | $10,001–$50,000 | Over $100,000 |
Stephen L. Isaacs | $1–$10,000 | Over $100,000 |
Arthur S. Mehlman | $10,001–$50,000 | Over $100,000 |
David L. Meister | None | Over $100,000 |
G. Peter O’Brien | $10,001–$50,000 | Over $100,000 |
Michael K. Shields* | None | None |
* Mr. Shields became a Director of the Fund in April 2015. |
Information regarding ownership of shares of Common Stock by the Fund’s Directors and officers as of the Record Date is set forth below:
Name and Address* of Owner | Amount of Beneficial Ownership of Shares of Common Stock |
Interested Directors: | |
Charles M. Royce | 286,863 |
Christopher D. Clark | None |
Non-Interested Directors | |
Patricia W. Chadwick | None |
Richard M. Galkin | 1,418 |
Stephen L. Isaacs | 583 |
Arthur S. Mehlman | 1,616 |
David L. Meister | None |
G. Peter O’Brien | 2,670 |
Michael K. Shields** | None |
Interested Officers***: | |
Francis D. Gannon | None |
Peter K. Hoglund | None |
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Name and Address* of Owner | Amount of Beneficial Ownership of Shares of Common Stock |
Daniel A. O’Byrne | None |
John E. Denneen | None |
Lisa Curcio | None |
* | The address of each Director and each officer is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151. | |
** | Mr. Shields became a Director of the Fund in April 2015. | |
*** | Does not include shares of Common Stock benefically Owned by Mr. Clark, if any, which information is set forth immediately above under “Interested Directors.” |
As of the Record Date, all Directors and officers of the Fund as a group (14 persons) beneficially owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding shares of Common Stock.
As of July 17, 2015, 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.
Audit Fees
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TW&B did not provide any other professional services to the Fund or R&A for the year ended December 31, 2014. No representatives of TW&B are expected to be present at the Meeting.
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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 firm’s 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 Fund’s 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.
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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 3, 2015
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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”); | ||
(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 | ||
(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 independence requirements for any such national securities exchange or national market quotation system; and | ||
(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. |
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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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s financial statements; | |||||
(b) | independent accountants’ qualifications and independence; and | |||||
(c) | performance of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s proxy statement for its annual meeting of stockholders. | |||||
III. | Responsibilities and Duties of the Audit Committee |
The Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s independent accountants, (2) audit the Fund’s financial statements on an annual basis, and (3) provide an opinion on an annual basis with respect to the Fund’s 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; | ||
(c) | to pre-approve (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Fund by the Fund’s independent accountants and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Fund’s independent accountants to the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s independent accountants to the Fund and to the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s independent accountants with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may affect the objectivity and independence of such independent accountants; to review the arrangements for annual and special audits and the scope of such audits with the Fund’s independent accountants; | ||
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(g) | to meet to review and discuss the Fund’s audited financial statements and, to the extent required by applicable law or regulations, the Fund’s semi-annual financial statements with Fund management and the Fund’s independent accountants, including the Fund’s disclosure of management’s discussion of Fund performance; | ||
(h) | to review with the Fund’s 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 management’s response; | ||
(i) | 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 Fund’s independent accountants; | ||
(j) | to consider information and comments from the Fund’s independent accountants with respect to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, procedures and internal control over financial reporting (including the Fund’s critical accounting policies and practices) and management’s responses to any such comments; | ||
(k) | to request, receive and/or review from the Fund’s 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 Fund’s financial statements, or internal or disclosure controls, between the independent accountants and the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Fund’s sub-adviser(s), if any, or other Fund service providers, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences; at least annually, to obtain and review a report by the Fund’s 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 |
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Fund’s independent accountants and the Fund, the Investment Adviser, Adviser Affiliates and members of management of such entities (to assess the independence of the Fund’s independent accountants); | |||
(l) | 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) the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns by employees of the Fund’s Investment Adviser, manager, administrator, principal underwriter, or any other provider of accounting related services for the Fund regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; | ||
(m) | to address reports received from attorneys in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Investment Adviser relating to the possible violation of federal or state law or fiduciary duty; | ||
(n) | to discuss with Fund management and the Fund’s independent accountants policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management; | ||
(o) | with respect to closed-end funds only, to discuss with Fund management the Fund’s 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 | ||
(p) | to perform such other functions and to have such other powers consistent with this Charter, the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as amended and supplemented, the Fund’s 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 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.
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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 Fund’s independent accountants to plan and carry out a proper audit. Specifically, Fund management is responsible for: (1) the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s service providers, including the Fund’s independent accountants.
Although the Audit Committee is expected to review appropriately the matters that come before it, such review of a Fund’s financial statements by the Audit Committee is not an audit, nor does the Committee’s review substitute for the responsibilities of the Fund’s management for preparing, or the Fund’s 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 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 person’s 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 Fund’s 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.
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V. | Assistance from Fund Management; Authority to Engage Advisers; Funding |
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
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APPENDIX A
Royce Capital Fund
Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.
Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc.
Royce Value Trust, Inc.
The Royce Fund
A-8
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 person’s business and professional experience, education and such other factors as the Committee may consider relevant, including but not limited to whether a potential nominee’s personal and professional qualities and attributes would provide a beneficial diversity of skills, experience and/or perspective to the Board; | ||
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• | the character and integrity of the person; 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 Exchange’s 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 Fund’s retirement policies. |
While the Committee is solely responsible for the selection and nomination of the Fund’s 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 present its recommendation to the full Board for its consideration and, if necessary, to the Independent Directors.
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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
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APPENDIX A
Royce Capital Fund
Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.
Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc.
Royce Value Trust, Inc.
The Royce Fund
B-4
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: | ||
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | ||
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
For All | Withhold All | For All Except | To withhold authority to vote for a specific Director nominee, mark “For All Except” and write the nominee’s number on the line below. | |||||||
1. | PROPOSAL TO ELECT THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES OF ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC. | |||||||||
01) Charles M. Royce | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | |||||||
02) G. Peter O’Brien | ||||||||||
03) David L. Meister |
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
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. 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.
M77639-P55296 |
PROXY CARD | ||||||||||
PROXY | PROXY | |||||||||
ROYCE VALUE TRUST, INC. 745 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10151 | ||||||||||
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Royce Value 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 Value Trust, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on July 17, 2015 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Royce Value Trust, Inc. to be held on September 24, 2015, 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.) | ||||||||||