As filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on August 2, 2013
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. )
o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
x | Definitive Proxy Statement |
o | Definitive Additional Materials |
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
N/A |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
x | No fee required. |
o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: | |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: | |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): | |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: | |
(5) | Total fee paid: | |
o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: | |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: | |
(3) | Filing Party: | |
(4) | Date Filed: | |
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
745 Fifth Avenue |
New York, New York 10151 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS |
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 |
To the Stockholders of:
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST,
INC.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. (the Fund) will be held at the offices of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151 on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), for the following purposes:
1. | To elect four Directors to the Funds Board of Directors. | |
2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
The Board of Directors of the Fund has set the close of business on July 19, 2013 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 6, 2013 |
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY
OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER
25, 2013
THE NOTICE, PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY
CARD FOR
THE FUND ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM
PROXY STATEMENT
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC.
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10151
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
September 25, 2013
INTRODUCTION
The enclosed
Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund (the Board) for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of
Royce Focus Trust, Inc. (the Fund), to be held at the offices of the
Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151, on Wednesday, September 25, 2013,
at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and at any postponements or adjournments thereof. The
approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement is August 6, 2013.
All properly
executed Proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted at the Meeting in accordance
with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as provided therein. Unless instructions
to the contrary are marked, Proxies will be voted FOR the election of
the Director nominees of the Fund.
You may revoke
your Proxy at any time before it is exercised by sending written instructions to
the Secretary of the Fund at the Funds address indicated above or by filing
a new Proxy with a later date, and any stockholder attending the Meeting may vote
in person, whether or not he or she has previously filed a Proxy.
The cost of
soliciting proxies will be borne by the Fund, which will reimburse brokerage firms,
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding proxy material
to the beneficial owners of the Funds shares of common stock (Common
Stock). Some officers and employees of the Fund and/or Royce & Associates,
LLC (R&A), the Funds investment adviser, may solicit proxies
personally and by telephone, if deemed desirable. Stockholders vote at the Meeting
by casting ballots (in person or by proxy) which are tabulated by one or two persons,
appointed by the Board before the Meeting, who serve as Inspectors and Judges of
Voting at the Meeting and who have executed an Inspectors and Judges
Oath.
The Board
has set the close of business on July 19, 2013 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
2
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 21,697,329 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The following persons were known to the Fund to be beneficial owners or owners of record of 5% or more of its outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date:
Amount and | |||||
Name and Address of Owner | Nature of Ownership | Percent | |||
Charles M. Royce | 1,454,472 shares | 6.70 | % | ||
c/o Royce & Associates, LLC | Beneficial (sole | ||||
745 Fifth Avenue | voting and | ||||
New York, NY 10151 | investment power) | ||||
W. Whitney George | 3,834,526 shares | 17.67 | % | ||
c/o Royce & Associates, LLC | Beneficial* (sole | ||||
745 Fifth Avenue | voting and | ||||
New York, NY 10151 | investment power) | ||||
Cede & Co.** | 21,017,797 shares | 96.87 | % | ||
Depository Trust Company | Record** | ||||
P.O. Box #20 | |||||
Bowling Green Station | |||||
New York, NY 10028 |
* |
Includes 1,040,417 shares of Common Stock held by W. Whitney George Family Foundation,
a charitable foundation established by Mr. George and members of his family. Also
includes 136,634 shares of Common Stock held in The Mallory Descendants Trust
U/T/A DTD 12/13/2013 (the Mallory Trust). Mr. George serves as trustee
of the Mallory Trust and, in such capacity, has investment and voting discretion
over shares held by the Mallory Trust. Mr. Georges spouse has a pecuniary
interest in the Mallory Trust. Also includes 25,290 shares of Common Stock held
in The TDM & BBM Trust U/T/A DTD 3/25/2013 (the TDM & BBM Trust). Mr. George serves as trustee of the TDM & BBM Trust and, in such capacity,
has investment and voting discretion over shares held by the TDM & BBM Trust. |
|
** | Shares held by brokerage firms, banks and other financial intermediaries on behalf of beneficial owners are registered in the name of Cede & Co. |
The Board knows of no business other than that stated in Proposal 1 of the Notice of Meeting that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented at the Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof, it is the intention of the persons named on the enclosed proxy card to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting,
four members of the Board will be elected. The Board has eight Directors. Six Directors
are currently divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years.
The term of office of one class will expire each year. Each of W. Whitney George
and Arthur S. Mehlman has been nominated by the Board as a Class II director for
a three-year term to expire at the Funds 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Two Directors,
Stephen L. Isaacs and David L. Meister, currently are not members of a class because
they were last elected by the holders of the Funds then-outstanding preferred
stock. Such preferred stock was redeemed in full on November 15, 2012. Mr. Isaacs
has been nominated by the Board as a Class II director for a three-year term to
expire at the Funds 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until his successor
is duly elected and qualified. Mr. Meister has been nominated by the Board as a
Class I director for a two-year term to expire at the Funds 2015 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
The classes
of Directors and their respective terms are indicated below.
Each of the
four Director nominees has agreed to serve if elected, and the Funds 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
4
will vote for the election of such other persons, if any, as the Board may nominate.
Certain biographical and other information concerning Charles M. Royce and W. Whitney George, each of whom is an interested person as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act), of the Fund, including their current designated classes, is set forth below.
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
Charles M. Royce*** President, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Member of Board of Managers of Royce & Associates, LLC (R&A), investment adviser to the Fund, Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. (RMT), Royce Value Trust, Inc. (RVT), The Royce Fund (TRF) and Royce Capital Fund (RCF) (the Fund, RMT, RVT, TRF and RCF collectively, The Royce Funds). |
73 | Class I Director and President | 1986 | 2015 | 35 | TICC Capital Corp. | ||||||
W. Whitney George*** Managing Director, Vice President and Co-Chief Investment Officer of R&A, having been employed by R&A since October 1991. |
55 | Class II Director and Vice President | 2013 | 2013 | 4 | None | ||||||
* | The address of Messrs. Royce and George is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151. | |
** | Mr. Royce is also a director/trustee of certain other investment companies for which R&A acts as an investment adviser. | |
*** | Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Fund. | |
| Each of Mr. Royce and Mr. George was elected by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Board in his capacity as an officer of the Fund. |
5
(Legg Mason). There are no family relationships between any of the Funds Directors and officers.
Certain biographical and other information concerning the existing Directors and nominees who are not interested persons, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Fund, including their current designated classes, if any, is set forth below.
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
Patricia W. Chadwick Consultant and President of Ravengate Partners LLC (since 2000). |
64 | Class III Director | 2010 | 2014 | 35 | Wisconsin Energy Corp. and ING Mutual Funds | ||||||
Richard M. Galkin Private investor. Mr. Galkins 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). |
75 | Class III Director | 1986 | 2014 | 35 | None |
6
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
Stephen L. Isaacs President of The Center for Health and Social Policy (since September 1996); Attorney and President of Health Policy Associates, Inc., consultants. Mr. Isaacss prior business experience includes having served as Director of Columbia University Development Law and Policy Program and Professor at Columbia University (until August 1996). |
73 | Director | 1986 | 2013 | 35 | None | ||||||
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). |
71 | Class II Director | 2004 | 2013 | 49 (Director/ Trustee of all Royce Funds consisting of 35 portfolios; Director/ Trustee of the Legg Mason Family of Funds consisting of 14 portfolios) | None |
7
Number of | ||||||||||||
Portfolios | Other | |||||||||||
Name, Address* and | Positions | Length | Current | in Fund | Public | |||||||
Principal Occupations | With | of Time | Term | Complex | Company | |||||||
During Past Five Years** | Age | the Fund | Served | Expires | Overseen | Directorships | ||||||
David L. Meister Consultant. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Tennis Channel (from June 2000 to March 2005). Mr. Meisters 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. |
73 | Director | 1986 | 2013 | 35 | None | ||||||
G. Peter OBrien 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). |
67 | Class I Director | 2001 | 2015 | 49 (Director/ Trustee of all Royce Funds consisting of 35 portfolios; Director/ Trustee of the Legg Mason Family of Funds consisting of 14 portfolios) | TICC Capital Corp. | ||||||
* | The address
of each of Ms. Chadwick and Messrs. Galkin, Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister, and OBriens is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
10151. |
|
** | Each of the
Directors or nominees is a director/trustee of certain other investment companies
for which R&A acts as an investment adviser. Each of Ms. Chadwick and Messrs.
Galkin, Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister and OBrien is a member of the Audit Committee
of the Board and the Nominating Committee of the Board. |
8
Additional information about each Director follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above) that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that each Director possesses which the Board believes has prepared them to be effective Directors.
| Charles
M. Royce - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Mr. Royce serves as the President, Co-Chief Investment Officer and as a member of
the Board of Managers of R&A, having been President of R&A since 1972.
Mr. Royce has over 40 years of investment and business experience. |
|
| W. Whitney
George - In addition to his tenure as a director of the closed-end registered
investment companies advised by Royce, Mr. George serves as Managing Director, Vice
President and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Royce, having been employed by Royce
since 1991. Mr. George has over 30 years of investment business experience. |
|
| Patricia
W. Chadwick - In addition to her tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Ms. Chadwick is designated as an Audit Committee Financial Expert. Ms. Chadwick
has over 30 years of investment and business experience, including extensive experience
in the financial sector and as a consultant to business and non-profit entities.
In addition, Ms. Chadwick has served on the boards of a variety of public and private
companies and non-profit entities, including currently serving on the boards of
two public companies. |
|
| Richard
M.Galkin - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds, Mr. Galkin has served as the Chairman of the Boards Audit Committee
for more than 15 years, acting as liaison between the Board and the Funds
independent registered public accountants and as co-Chairman of the Boards
Nominating Committee. 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 is designated as an Audit
Committee Financial Expert. Mr. Mehlman has over 35 years of business experience,
including as |
9
Partner of
an international accounting firm and a Director for various private companies and
non-profit entities. |
||
| David L.
Meister - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce Funds,
Mr. Meister has over 40 years of business experience, including extensive experience
as an executive officer in and consultant to the communications industry. |
|
| G. Peter
OBrien - In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds and of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, Mr. OBrien serves as co-Chairman
of the Boards Nominating Committee. Mr. OBrien has over 35 years of
business experience, including extensive experience in the financial sector. In
addition, Mr. OBrien has served on the boards of public companies and non-profit entities. |
The Board
believes that each Directors experience, qualifications, attributes and skills
should be evaluated on an individual basis and in consideration of the perspective
such Director brings to the entire Board, with no single Director, or particular
factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. However, the Board believes that
Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and
discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management,
service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment
in the performance of their duties; the Board believes that their members satisfy
this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through
a Directors educational background; business, professional training or practice,
public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member
(including the Board of the Fund) or as an executive of investment funds, public
companies or significant private or non-profit entities or other organizations;
and/or other life experiences. The charter for the Boards Nominating Committee
contains certain other specific factors considered by the Nominating Committee in
identifying and selecting Director candidates (as described below).
To assist
them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Directors are counseled
by their own independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts
with R&A, and also may benefit from information provided by R&As
internal counsel; both Board and R&As internal counsel have significant
experience advising funds and fund board members. The Board and its committees have
the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance
on an annual basis.
10
Board Composition and Leadership Structure
The Investment Company Act requires that at least 40% of the Funds Directors not be interested persons (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund and as such are not affiliated with R&A (Independent Directors). To rely on certain exemptive rules under the Investment Company Act, a majority of the Funds Directors must be Independent Directors, and for certain important matters, such as the approval of investment advisory agreements or transactions with affiliates, the Investment Company Act or the rules thereunder require the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. Currently, 75% of the Funds Directors are Independent Directors. The Board does not have a chairman, but the President, Mr. Royce, an interested person of the Fund, acts as chairman at the Board meetings. The Independent Directors have not designated a lead Independent Director, but the Chairman of the Boards Audit Committee, Mr. Galkin, generally acts as chairman of meetings or executive sessions of the Independent Directors and, when appropriate, represents the views of the Independent Directors to management. The Board has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of the services that Royce and its affiliates provide to the Fund and potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these relationships.
Audit Committee Report
The Board
has a standing Audit Committee (the Audit Committee), which consists
of the Independent Directors who also are independent as defined in
the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The current members of the
Audit Committee are Patricia W. Chadwick, Richard M. Galkin, Stephen L. Isaacs,
Arthur S. Mehlman, David L. Meister and G. Peter OBrien. Mr. Galkin serves
as Chairman of the Audit Committee and Ms. Chadwick and Mr. Mehlman have been designated
as Audit Committee Financial Experts, as defined under Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) regulations.
The principal purposes of the Audit Committee
are to (i) assist Board oversight of the (a) integrity of the Funds financial
statements; (b) independent accountants qualifications and independence; and
(c) performance of the Funds 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 Funds 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),
independent auditors for the Fund, and (ii) discussed certain matters required to
be discussed under the requirements of The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
with TW&B. The Audit
11
Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services by the Funds independent auditors is compatible with maintaining their independence.
At its meeting held on February 12, 2013, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audit of the Funds financial statements as of December 31, 2012 and for the fiscal year then ended with Fund management and TW&B. Had any material concerns arisen during the course of the audit and the preparation of the audited financial statements mailed to stockholders and included in the Funds 2012 Annual Report to Stockholders, the Audit Committee would have been notified by Fund management or TW&B. The Audit Committee received no such notifications. At the same meeting, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Funds audited financial statements be included in the Funds 2012 Annual Report to Stockholders.
Nominating Committee
The Board
has a Nominating Committee (the Nominating Committee) composed of the
six Independent Directors, namely Ms. Chadwick and Messrs. Galkin, Isaacs, Mehlman,
Meister and OBrien. Messrs. Galkin and OBrien serve as co-Chairmen of
the Nominating Committee. The Board has adopted a Nominating Committee Charter which
is attached to this Proxy Statement as Exhibit B.
The Nominating Committee is
responsible for identifying and recommending to the Board individuals believed to
be qualified to become Board members in the event that a position is vacated or
created. The Nominating Committee will consider Director candidates recommended
by stockholders. In considering potential nominees, the Nominating Committee will
take into consideration (i) the contribution which the person can make to the Board,
with consideration given to the persons business and professional experience,
education and such other factors as the Committee may consider relevant, including
but not limited to whether a potential nominees personal and professional
qualities and attributes would provide a beneficial diversity of skills, experience
and/or perspective to the Board; (ii) the character and integrity of the person;
(iii) whether or not the person is an interested person as defined in
the Investment Company Act and whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable
laws and regulations to serve as a Director or Independent Director of the Fund;
(iv) whether or not the person has any relationships that might impair his or her
independence, such as any business, financial or family relationships with Fund
management, the investment adviser of the Fund, Fund service providers or their
affiliates; (v) whether or not the person is financially literate pursuant to the
New York Stock Exchanges audit committee membership standards; (vi) whether
or not
12
the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial service organizations or their related investment company complexes; (vii) whether or not the person is willing to serve as, and willing and able to commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties of, a Director of the Fund; and (viii) whether or not the selection and nomination of the person would be in the best interest of the Fund in light of the requirements of the Funds retirement policies. While the Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy regarding diversity, as noted above, it may consider the diversity of skills, experience and/or perspective a potential nominee will bring to the Board as part of its evaluation of the contribution such potential nominee will make to the Board. Such factors will be considered in light of the other factors described above and in the context of the Boards existing membership at the time such potential candidate is considered.
To have a
candidate considered by the Nominating Committee, a stockholder must submit the
recommendation in writing and must include biographical information and set forth
the qualifications of the proposed nominee. The stockholder recommendation and information
described above must be sent to the Funds Secretary, John E. Denneen, c/o
Royce Focus Trust, Inc., 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151.
Although the Board does not have a standing compensation committee, the Independent Directors review their compensation annually.
Boards Oversight Role in Management
The Boards role in management of the Fund is oversight. As is the case with virtually
all investment companies (as distinguished from operating companies), service providers
to the Fund, primarily R&A and its affiliates, have responsibility for the
day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility for risk management
(including management of investment performance and investment risk, valuation risk,
issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance risk and operational risk). As part
of its oversight, the Board, acting at its scheduled meetings, or the Chairman of
the Audit Committee, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts with and
receives reports from senior personnel of service providers, including the Funds and R&As Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management personnel.
The Audit Committee (which consists of the six Independent Directors) meets during
its scheduled meetings, and between meetings the Chairman of the Audit Committee
maintains contact with the Funds independent registered public accounting
firm and the Funds Vice President and Treasurer. The Board also receives periodic
presentations from senior personnel of R&A or its affiliates regarding risk
management generally, as well as periodic presentations regarding specific operational,
compliance or investment areas such as business continuity, anti-money laundering,
personal
13
trading, valuation, investment research
and securities lending. The Board also receives reports from counsel to R&A
and the Boards own independent legal counsel regarding regulatory, compliance
and governance matters. The Boards oversight role does not make the Board
a guarantor of the Funds investments or activities.
Committee and Board of Directors Meetings
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Board held six meetings, the Audit Committee held three meetings, and the Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings. Each Director then in office attended 75% or more of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and the total number of meetings of the Audit Committee held during that year.
Compensation of Directors and Affiliated Persons
Each Independent
Director receives a base fee of $6,500 per year plus $300 for each meeting of the
Board attended. No Director received remuneration for services as a Director for
the year ended December 31, 2012 in addition to or in lieu of this standard arrangement.
Set forth below is the aggregate compensation paid by the Fund and the total compensation paid by The Royce Funds to each Independent Director of the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2012. The Interested Directors received no compensation from the Fund or The Royce Funds during the year ended December 31, 2012.
Pension or | Total | |||||||||||||||
Retirement | Total | Compensation | ||||||||||||||
Benefits | Estimated | Compensation | From the | |||||||||||||
Aggregate | Accrued | Annual | From The | Fund and | ||||||||||||
Compensation | as Part | Benefits | Royce Funds | Fund Complex | ||||||||||||
From the | of Fund | upon | Paid to | Paid to | ||||||||||||
Name | Fund | Expenses | Retirement | Directors | Directors* | |||||||||||
Patricia W. Chadwick, | ||||||||||||||||
Director |
$ | 6,500 | None | None | $ | 210,000 | $ | 210,000 | ||||||||
Richard M. Galkin, | ||||||||||||||||
Director |
$ | 6,500 | None | None | $ | 210,000 | $ | 210,000 | ||||||||
Stephen L. Isaacs, | ||||||||||||||||
Director |
$ | 6,500 | None | None | $ | 210,000 | $ | 210,000 | ||||||||
Arthur S. Mehlman, | ||||||||||||||||
Director |
$ | 6,500 | None | None | $ | 210,000 | $ | 350,000 | ||||||||
David L. Meister, | ||||||||||||||||
Director |
$ | 6,500 | None | None | $ | 210,000 | $ | 210,000 | ||||||||
G. Peter OBrien, | ||||||||||||||||
Director |
$ | 6,500 | None | None | $ | 210,000 | $ | 340,000 | ||||||||
* | Represents
aggregate compensation paid to each Director during the calendar year ended December
31, 2012 from the Fund Complex. The Fund Complex includes the 35 portfolios of The
Royce Funds and the 14 portfolios of the Legg Mason Family of Funds. |
14
Officers of the Fund
Officers of the Fund are elected each year by the Board. The following sets forth information concerning the Funds officers:
Name, Address* and Principal | Officer of | |||||
Occupations During Past Five Years | Age | Office ** | Fund Since | |||
Charles
M. Royce |
73 | President | 1986 | |||
John
D. Diederich |
62 | Vice President and Treasurer | 1997 | |||
Jack
E. Fockler, Jr. |
54 | Vice President | 1995 | |||
W.
Whitney George |
55 | Vice President | 1995 | |||
Daniel
A. OByrne |
51 | Vice President | 1994 | |||
John
E. Denneen |
46 | Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | 1996 to 2001 and since 2002 | |||
Lisa
Curcio |
53 | 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. |
15
Stockholder Communications
Stockholders may send written communications to the Board or to an individual Director by mailing such correspondence to the Secretary of the Fund (addressed to 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151). Such communications must be signed by the stockholder and identify the number of shares of Common Stock held by the stockholder. Properly submitted stockholder communications will, as appropriate, be forwarded to the entire Board or to the individual Director. Any stockholder proposal submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), must continue to meet all the requirements of Rule 14a-8. See Additional Information Stockholder Proposals herein.
Director Attendance at Stockholder Meetings
The Fund has no formal policy regarding Director attendance at stockholder meetings. None of the Funds Independent Directors attended the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Section 16(a)
of the Exchange Act requires the officers and Directors of the Fund and persons
who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Funds equity securities,
to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the
SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Officers, Directors and greater than ten percent
stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of
all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on the Funds review of the
copies of such forms and amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect
to its most recent fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting
persons that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent
fiscal year, the Fund believes that all of its officers, Directors, greater than
ten percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act due to the requirements of Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act (i.e.,
any investment adviser or affiliated person of the Funds investment adviser),
have complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions
in the Funds shares during the Funds most recent fiscal year.
16
Stock Ownership
Information relating to each Directors ownership of shares of Common Stock as of July 19, 2013 and of shares of all registered Royce Funds overseen or to be overseen by each Director is set forth below:
Aggregate Dollar Range of | ||||||
Securities in all Royce Funds | ||||||
Aggregate Dollar Range | overseen by each Director | |||||
Name | of Equity in the Fund | in the Royce Family of Funds | ||||
Interested Director: | ||||||
Charles M. Royce |
Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 | ||||
W. Whitney George |
Over $100,000 | Over $100,000 | ||||
Non-Interested Directors: | ||||||
Patricia W. Chadwick |
None | Over $100,000 | ||||
Richard M. Galkin |
$10,001 $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||||
Stephen L. Isaacs |
None | Over $100,000 | ||||
Arthur S. Mehlman |
$10,001 $50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||||
David L. Meister |
None | Over $100,000 | ||||
G. Peter OBrien |
$10,001 $50,000 | Over $100,000 |
Information regarding ownership of shares of Common Stock by the Funds Directors and officers as of the Record Date is set forth below:
Amount of Beneficial | |||||
Name and Address* | Ownership of | Percent of Shares | |||
of Owner | Shares of Common Stock | Outstanding | |||
Interested Directors: | |||||
Charles M. Royce |
1,454,472 | 6.70% | |||
W. Whitney George |
3,834,526 | 17.67 | |||
Non-Interested Directors: | |||||
Patricia W. Chadwick |
None | None | |||
Richard M. Galkin |
3,019 | 0.01 | |||
Stephen L. Isaacs |
None | None | |||
Arthur S. Mehlman |
4,881 | 0.02 | |||
David L. Meister |
None | None | |||
G. Peter OBrien |
5,468 | 0.03 | |||
Interested Officers**: | |||||
John D. Diederich |
32,822 | 0.15 | |||
Jack E. Fockler, Jr. |
266,068 | 1.23 | |||
Daniel A. OByrne |
5,808 | 0.03 | |||
John E. Denneen |
21,217 | 0.10 | |||
Lisa Curcio |
None | None | |||
* | The address of each Director and each officer is c/o Royce & Associates, LLC, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151. | |
** | Does not include beneficial ownership information with respect to Messrs. Royce and George, which information is set forth immediately above under Interested Directors. |
17
Mr. Royce
has sole voting power and sole investment power as to the shares beneficially owned
by him. Mr. George has voting power and investment power as to the shares beneficially
owned by him. As of the Record Date, the Funds Directors and officers as a
group (13 persons) beneficially owned 5,602,991 shares of Common Stock, constituting
approximately 25.82% of its outstanding shares.
As of July 19, 2013, 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).
Vote Required
A quorum consists
of stockholders representing a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote, who are present in person or by proxy, and a plurality of all
of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect
a Director.
The Board of Directors of the Fund recommends that all stockholders
vote FOR all Director nominees.
FEES PAID TO INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees paid to TW&B in connection with the annual audit of the Funds financial statements and for services normally provided by TW&B in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings of the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 were $27,500 and $29,000, respectively, including out of pocket expenses.
Audit Related Fees
The aggregate fees paid to TW&B in connection with assurance and related services related to the annual audit of the Fund and for review of the Funds financial statements, other than the Audit Fees described above, for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 was $1,500. The audit-related services rendered by TW&B to the Fund consisted of the preparation of reports to a rating agency for the Funds then outstanding preferred stock. All shares of such preferred stock were redeemed in full on November 15, 2012.
18
Tax Fees
The aggregate fees paid for tax-related services, including preparation of tax returns, tax compliance and tax advice, rendered by TW&B to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 were $6,900 and $7,100, respectively.
All Other Fees
There were
no other fees billed for non-audit services rendered by TW&B to the Fund for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012. The aggregate non-audit
fees billed by TW&B for services rendered to R&A and any entity controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with R&A that provides ongoing services
to the Fund for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 were
$8,400 and $7,000, respectively. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision
of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of TW&B.
The Audit Committee has determined that the preparation of the rating agency
reports is compatible with maintaining TW&Bs independence. TW&B
did not provide any other professional services to the Fund or R&A for the
year ended December 31, 2012. No representatives of TW&B are expected to be
present at the Meeting.
Audit Committees Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures with regard to the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services. On an annual basis, at the December meeting of the Audit Committee, the independent auditors of the Fund will submit a schedule of proposed audit, audit-related, tax and other non-audit services to be rendered to the Fund and/or R&A and its affiliates for the following year that require pre-approval by the Audit Committee. Such schedule will include the maximum fees that can be paid for such services without further Audit Committee approval. Any subsequent revision to pre-approved services or fees will be considered at the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. Services not presented for pre-approval at the December meeting of the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Chief Financial Officer of the Fund for a determination that the proposed services fit within the independence guidelines and then considered for pre-approval at the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. A proposal to commence an engagement involving audit, audit-related or tax services prior to the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting shall be made in writing by the Chief Financial Officer to all Audit Committee members and include a summary of the engagement, estimated maximum cost, the category of services and the rationale for engaging the Funds independent auditor. Such proposed engagement can be pre-approved by any Audit Committee member who is an Independent Director. Pre-approval by the Chairman of the Audit Committee is required for a proposed engagement involving non-audit services other than audit-related or tax.
19
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Postponement or Adjournment of Meeting; Other Matters
In the event
that sufficient votes in favor of Proposal 1 in the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders are not received by the time scheduled for the Meeting, the persons
named as proxies may propose one or more postponements or adjournments of the Meeting
to permit further solicitation of proxies for such Proposal. Any such postponement
or adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present
in person or by proxy at the session of the Meeting to be postponed or adjourned,
as applicable. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such postponement
or adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the Proposal.
They will vote against any such postponement or adjournment those proxies required
to be voted against the Proposal.
While the Meeting has been called to transact
any business that may properly come before it, the Directors know of no business
other than the matter stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. However,
if any additional matter properly comes before the Meeting and on all matters incidental
to the conduct of the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed
Proxy to vote the Proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
The
Fund expects that broker-dealer firms holding shares of the Fund in street
name for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions
of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the Proposal before
the Meeting. The Fund understands that, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange,
such broker-dealers may, without instructions from such customers and clients, grant
authority to the proxies designated by the Fund to vote on the election of Directors
if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer
firms request for voting instructions. Certain broker-dealer firms may exercise
discretion over shares held in their name for which no instructions are received
by voting such shares in the same proportion as they have voted shares for which
they have received instructions.
The shares as to which the Proxies so designated
are granted authority by broker-dealer firms to vote on the matters to be considered
at the Meeting, the shares as to which broker-dealer firms have declined to vote
(broker non-votes) and the shares as to which Proxies are returned by
record stockholders but which are marked abstain on any matter will
be included in the Funds tabulation of the total number of votes present for
purposes of determining whether the necessary quorum of stockholders exists. However,
abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast. Therefore, abstentions
and broker non-votes will not have an effect on the election of Directors.
20
Address of Investment Adviser
R&As principal office is located at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151.
Annual Report Delivery
The Funds Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2012 was previously mailed to its stockholders and the Semiannual Report to Stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2013 will be mailed to stockholders in late August 2013. Copies of the Annual Report are available, and copies of the Semiannual Report will be available in late August, upon request, without charge, by writing to the Fund at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151 or calling toll free at 1-800-221-4268. All publicly released material information is always disclosed by the Fund on its website at www.roycefunds.com.
Stockholder Proposals
Proposals of stockholders intended to be presented at the Funds 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by the Fund by April 8, 2014 for inclusion in the Funds Proxy Statement and form of Proxy for that meeting. The Funds By-laws generally require advance notice be given to the Fund in the event a stockholder desires to nominate a person for election to the Board or to transact any other business from the floor at an annual meeting of stockholders. Notice of any such nomination or other business intended to be presented at the Funds 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be in writing and received at the Funds principal executive office between April 8, 2014 and May 8, 2014. Written proposals should be sent to the Secretary of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151.
Proxy Delivery
If you and another stockholder share the same address, the Fund may only send one proxy statement unless you or the other stockholder(s) request otherwise. Call or write the Fund if you wish to receive a separate copy of the proxy statement and the Fund will promptly mail a copy to you. You may also call or write to the Fund if you wish to receive a separate proxy in the future, or if you receive multiple copies now, and wish to receive a single copy in the future. For such requests, please call 1-800-221-4268, or write the Fund at 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151.
21
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 6, 2013 |
22
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. |
The Board
of Directors/Trustees shall determine annually: (i) whether at least one of the
members of the Audit Committee is an audit
A-1
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 serve on the Audit Committee.
II. | Purposes of the Audit Committee |
The Audit Committee shall be responsible for: | |
(1) | assisting Board oversight of the | |
(a) | integrity of the Funds financial statements; | ||
(b) | independent accountants qualifications and independence; and | ||
(c) | performance of the Funds independent accountants; and | ||
(2) | preparation,
or overseeing the preparation of, any audit committee report required by rules of
the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Funds proxy statement
for its annual meeting of stockholders. |
III. | Responsibilities and Duties of the Audit Committee |
The Funds independent accountants shall report directly to the Audit Committee. |
As may be necessary or appropriate to carry out its purposes, or to comply with applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange or market quotation system on which Fund shares are or may become listed or quoted, the Audit Committee shall have the following responsibilities and duties:
(a) | the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Funds independent
accountants, including the resolution of disagreements between management and the
independent accountants regarding financial reporting; |
|
(b) | to (i) select
an accounting firm to (1) serve as the Funds independent accountants, (2)
audit the Funds financial statements on an annual basis, and (3) provide an
opinion on an annual basis with respect to the Funds financial statements,
and (ii) recommend that the members of the |
A-2
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
Funds independent accountants and (ii) all permissible non-audit services
to be provided by the Funds independent accountants to the Funds Investment
Adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
Investment Adviser (Adviser Affiliate) that provides ongoing services
to the Fund, if the engagement by the Adviser Affiliate relates directly to the
operations and financial reporting of the Fund; |
|
(d) | if determined
to be advisable, to develop policies and procedures for pre-approval of the engagement
of the Funds independent accountants to provide any of the audit or non-audit
services described in Section III(c) above; |
|
(e) | to consider
whether each non-audit service provided by the Funds independent accountants
to the Fund and to the Funds Investment Adviser or any Adviser Affiliate that
provides ongoing services to the Fund is compatible with maintaining the independence
of such independent accountants; |
|
(f) | to ensure
that the Funds independent accountants submit on a periodic basis to the Audit
Committee a formal written statement delineating all relationships between such
independent accountants and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, and to actively engage in a dialogue with, and receive and consider
specific representations from, the Funds independent accountants with respect
to any disclosed relationships or services that may affect the objectivity and independence
of such independent accountants; |
|
(g) | to review
the arrangements for annual and special audits and the scope of such audits with
the Funds independent accountants; |
|
(h) | to meet to
review and discuss the Funds audited financial statements and, to the extent
required by applicable law or regulations, the Funds semi-annual financial
statements |
A-3
with Fund
management and the Funds independent accountants, including the Funds
disclosure of managements discussion of Fund performance; |
||
(i) | to review
with the Funds independent accountants any audit problems or difficulties
the accountants may have encountered during or relating to the conduct of the audit,
including any matters required to be discussed pursuant to rules of The Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board and other relevant regulatory and professional organizations,
and managements response; |
|
(j) | to establish
and administer policies and procedures relating to the hiring by the Fund, its Investment
Adviser, or any administrator that is an Adviser Affiliate of employees or former
employees of the Funds independent accountants; |
|
(k) | to consider
information and comments from the Funds independent accountants with respect
to the Funds accounting and financial reporting policies, procedures and internal
control over financial reporting (including the Funds critical accounting
policies and practices) and managements responses to any such comments; |
|
(l) | to request,
receive and/or review from the Funds independent accountants such other materials
as may be deemed necessary or advisable in the discretion of the Committee in the
exercise of its duties under this Charter; such materials may (but are not required
to) include, without limitation, any other material written communications relating
to the Funds financial statements, or internal or disclosure controls, between
the independent accountants and the Fund, the Investment Adviser, the Funds
sub-adviser(s), if any, or other Fund service providers, such as any management
letter or schedule of unadjusted differences; |
|
(m) | at least annually,
to obtain and review a report by the Funds independent accountants describing:
(i) such independent accountants internal quality-control procedures; (ii)
any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review,
or peer review, of such independent accountants, or by any inquiry or investigation
by governmental or professional authorities, within the |
A-4
preceding
five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by such firm,
and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (iii) all relationships between
the Funds independent accountants and the Fund, the Investment Adviser, Adviser
Affiliates and members of the management of such entities (to assess the independence
of the Funds independent accountants); |
||
(n) | to establish procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by the Fund regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns by employees of the Funds Investment Adviser, manager, administrator, principal underwriter, or any other provider of accounting related services for the Fund regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; | |
(o) | to address
reports received from attorneys in accordance with procedures adopted by the Funds Investment Adviser relating to the possible violation of federal or state
law or fiduciary duty; |
|
(p) | to discuss
with Fund management and the Funds independent accountants policies with respect
to risk assessment and risk management; and |
|
(q) | to perform
such other functions and to have such other powers consistent with this Charter,
the Funds Articles of Incorporation or Declaration of Trust, as amended and
supplemented, the Funds By-laws, as amended, and applicable law, as the Audit
Committee or the Board deems necessary or appropriate. |
The Audit Committee may delegate any portion of its authority, including the authority to grant preapprovals of audit related services and permitted non-audit services, to a subcommittee of one or more members of the Audit Committee pursuant to preapproval policies and procedures established by 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.
A-5
The function
of the Audit Committee is oversight; it is the responsibility of Fund management
to maintain appropriate systems for accounting and internal control over financial
reporting, and the responsibility of the Funds independent accountants to
plan and carry out a proper audit. Specifically, Fund management is responsible
for: (1) the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Funds financial
statements; (2) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting
principles and policies; and (3) the maintenance of internal control over financial
reporting and other procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards
and related laws and regulations. The Funds independent accountants are responsible
for planning and carrying out an audit consistent with applicable legal and professional
standards and the terms of their engagement letter. Nothing in this Charter shall
be construed to reduce the responsibilities or liabilities of the Funds service
providers, including the Funds independent accountants.
Although the Audit
Committee is expected to review appropriately the matters that come before it, such
review of a Funds financial statements by the Audit Committee is not an audit,
nor does the Committees review substitute for the responsibilities of the
Funds management for preparing, or the Funds independent accountants
for auditing, the financial statements. Members of the Audit Committee are not employees
of the Fund and, in serving on the Audit Committee, are not, and do not hold themselves
out to be, acting as accountants or auditors. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility
of the Audit Committee or its members to conduct field work or other
types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures.
In discharging their duties,
the members of the Audit Committee are entitled to rely on information, opinions,
reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data,
if prepared or presented by: (1) one or more officers of the Fund whom the Board
reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; (2) legal
counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the Board reasonably
believes are within the persons professional or expert competence; or (3)
a committee of the Board.
IV. Meetings
The Audit Committee shall meet on a regular basis but no less frequently than annually. The Audit Committee periodically shall meet separately with the Funds independent accountants, Fund management, and representatives of Fund management responsible for the financial and accounting operations of the Fund. The Audit Committee may hold special meetings at such times as the Audit Committee believes necessary or appropriate. Members of the Audit Committee may participate in a meeting
A-6
of the Audit Committee by means of conference
call or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating
in such meeting can hear each other.
V. Assistance from Fund Management;
Authority to Engage Advisers; Funding
The appropriate officers of the Fund shall provide or arrange to provide such information, data and services as the Audit Committee may request. The Audit Committee shall have the power and authority to take all action it believes necessary or appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the power and authority to retain independent counsel and other advisers. The Fund shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee as a committee of the Board, for payment of: (i) compensation to the Funds independent accountants or any other accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attest services for the Fund, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee under this Section V, and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities.
VI. Reporting
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.
VII. Amendments
This Charter may be amended or modified from time to time by vote of the Board.
Dated: April 11, 2000, as revised through
February 16, 2011
Appendix A
Royce Capital
Fund
Royce Focus
Trust, Inc.
Royce Global
Value Trust, Inc.
Royce Micro-Cap
Trust, Inc.
Royce Value
Trust, Inc.
The Royce
Fund
A-7
EXHIBIT B
CHARTER
OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/TRUSTEES FOR
THE ROYCE FUNDS LISTED IN APPENDIX A
HERETO
ORGANIZATION
The Nominating Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors/Trustees for the registered investment companies
(each, a Fund) listed on Exhibit A attached hereto shall be composed
solely of Directors/Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund
as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the 1940 Act), and who are independent as defined in the
applicable listing standards of the national securities exchange or national market
quotation system (each, an Exchange) on which a Fund is listed or quoted
(the Independent Directors). The Board of Directors/Trustees of the
Fund (the Board) shall appoint the members of the Committee (which may
or may not be all of the Independent Directors) and shall designate the Chairman
of the Committee. The Committee shall have authority to retain its own counsel and
other advisers the Committee deems appropriate and shall have the sole authority
to approve the compensation and other terms of their retention.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee shall identify individuals
qualified to serve as Independent Directors of the Fund and shall recommend its
nominees for consideration by the full Board.
IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL
NOMINEES
In identifying and evaluating a person as a potential nominee to serve as an Independent Director of the Fund, the Committee should consider among other factors it may deem relevant:
| the contribution
which the person can make to the Board, with consideration being given to the persons business and professional experience, education and such other factors as
the Committee may consider relevant, including but not limited to whether a potential
nominees personal and professional qualities and attributes would provide
a beneficial diversity of skills, experience and/or perspective to the Board; |
|
| the character and integrity of the person; |
B-1
| whether or
not the person is an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act and
whether the person is otherwise qualified under applicable laws and regulations
to serve as a Director or Independent Director of the Fund; |
|
| whether or
not the person has any relationships that might impair his independence, such as
any business, financial or family relationships with Fund management, the investment
adviser of the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; |
|
| whether or
not the person is financially literate pursuant to the applicable Exchanges
audit committee membership standards; |
|
| whether or
not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated with, competing financial
service organizations or their related investment company complexes; |
|
| whether or
not the person is willing to serve as, and willing and able to commit the time necessary
for the performance of the duties of a Director of the Fund; |
|
| whether or
not the selection and nomination of the person would be in the best interest of
the Fund in light of the requirements of the Funds retirement policies. |
While the Committee is solely responsible
for the selection and nomination of the Funds Independent Directors, the Committee
shall review and consider nominations for the office of Director made by management
and by Fund stockholders as it deems appropriate. Stockholders who wish to recommend
a nominee should send nominations to the Secretary of the Fund which include biographical
information and set forth the qualifications of the proposed nominee.
QUORUM
A majority of the members of the Committee
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority
of the members of the Committee present at any meeting at which there is quorum
shall be the act of the Committee.
NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
After a determination by the Committee that a person should be selected and nominated as an Independent Director of the Fund, the Committee shall
B-2
present its recommendation to the full Board
for its consideration and, if necessary, to the Independent Directors.
MEETINGS
The Committee may meet either on its own
or in conjunction with meetings of the Board. Meetings of the Committee may be held
in person, by video conference or by conference telephone. The Committee may take
action by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Adopted: February 10, 2004
Revised through
February 16, 2011
APPENDIX A
Royce Capital
Fund
Royce Focus
Trust, Inc.
Royce Global
Value Trust, Inc.
Royce Micro-Cap
Trust, Inc.
Royce Value
Trust, Inc.
The Royce
Fund
B-3
PROXY TABULATOR | ||
C/O PROXY SERVICES | ||
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: | ||||
M61913-P42497 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS | |||
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY | ||||
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
For | Withhold | For All | To withhold authority to vote for a specific Director nominee, mark For All Except and write the nominees number on the line below. |
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All | All | Except | ||||||||||||
1. | PROPOSAL TO ELECT THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES
OF ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. |
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01) Charles M. Royce | 05) Stephen L. Isaacs | o | o | o | ||||||||||
02) W. Whitney George | 06) Arthur S. Mehlman | |||||||||||||
03) Patricia W. Chadwick | 07) David L. Meister | |||||||||||||
04) Richard M. Galkin | 08) G. Peter O'Brien | |||||||||||||
2. | THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. | |||||||||||||
Please Sign, Date and Return the Proxy Card Promptly Using the Enclosed Envelope | ||||||||||||||
Mark box at right if an address change or comment has been noted on the reverse side of this card. | o | |||||||||||||
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on reverse. When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney,
executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by president
or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. |
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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.
M61914-P42497 |
PROXY CARD |
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PROXY | PROXY | |||||||
ROYCE FOCUS TRUST, INC. | ||||||||
745 Fifth Avenue | ||||||||
New York, New York 10151 | ||||||||
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. | ||||||||
The undersigned hereby appoints Charles M. Royce and John E. Denneen or either of them, acting in absence
of the other, as Proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent
and to vote, as designated on the reverse, all shares of common stock of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. held of record
by the undersigned on July 19, 2013 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Royce Focus Trust, Inc. to be
held on September 25, 2013, and at any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
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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. |
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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.) |