As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2016
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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[ ]
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[x]
Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]
Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240. 14a-12
ROYCE GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
N/A
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[x]
No fee required.
[ ]
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(4)
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[ ]
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Date Filed:
ROYCE GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC.
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10151
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
To the Stockholders of:
ROYCE GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC.
NOTICE IS
HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of
ROYCE GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC. (the Fund) will be held at the offices
of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151 on Monday, September 19,
2016, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), for the following purposes:
1.
To elect three
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 15, 2016 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
July 29, 2016
IMPORTANT
NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY
OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
THE NOTICE,
PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY CARD
FOR THE FUND ARE AVAILABLE AT
WWW.PROXYVOTE.COM
PROXY
STATEMENT
ROYCE
GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC.
745 Fifth
Avenue
New York,
New York 10151
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
September
19, 2016
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 Global Value Trust, Inc. (the Fund), to be held at the offices
of the Fund, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10151, on Monday, September 19,
2016, 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and at any postponements or adjournments thereof.
The approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement is August 5, 2016.
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,
LP (formerly Royce & Associates, LLC) (R&A or Royce), the Funds investment adviser, may solicit proxies personally and by
telephone, if deemed desirable. Stockholders vote at the Meeting by casting ballots
(in person or by proxy) which are tabulated by one or two persons, appointed by
the Board before the Meeting, who serve as Inspectors and Judges of Voting at the
Meeting and who have executed an Inspectors and Judges Oath.
1
The Board
has set the close of business on July 15, 2016 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 10,344,899 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
10,166,616 shares
Record*
98.28%
*
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.
2
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Meeting,
three members of the Board will be elected. The Board has eight Directors. The eight
Directors are currently divided into three classes, each class having a term of
office of three years. The term of office of one class expires each year. Each of
Patricia W. Chadwick, Arthur S. Mehlman, and Michael K. Shields currently serves
as a Class II director and has been nominated by the Board to serve as a Class II
director for a three-year term to expire at the Funds 2019 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
The classes
of Directors and their respective terms are indicated below.
CLASS II DIRECTORS TO SERVE UNTIL 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Patricia W.
Chadwick
Arthur S. Mehlman
Michael K.
Shields
CLASS I DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Charles M. Royce
G. Peter OBrien
David L. Meister
CLASS III DIRECTORS SERVING UNTIL 2017 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Stephen L. Isaacs
Christopher D. Clark
Each of the
three 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 becomes 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.
3
Interested Persons
Certain biographical
and other information concerning Charles M. Royce and Christopher D. Clark, 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.
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 (until June 2016), President
(until June 2014), and Member of the Board of Managers of Royce & Associates,
LP (R&A or Royce), investment adviser to the Fund.
Member of Board of Directors/Trustees of 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).
76
Class I
Director
2011
2018
23
TICC
Capital Corp.
Christopher
D. Clark**
Chief Executive Officer (since July 2016), President
(since July 2014), Co-Chief Investment Officer (since January 2014), Managing Director,
and Member of the Board of Managers (since June 2015) of R&A, having been employed
by R&A since May 2007. President and Member of Board of Directors/Trustees
of The Royce Funds.
51
Class III
Director
and
President
2014
2017
23
None
*
The address
of Messrs. Royce and Clark is c/o Royce & Associates, LP, 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), the ultimate
corporate parent of R&A. There are no family relationships between any of the
Funds Directors and officers.
4
Non-Interested Directors
Certain biographical
and other information concerning the existing Directors, including all three of
the Director nominees, who are not interested persons, as defined in
the Investment Company Act, of the Fund, including their current designated classes,
if any, is set forth below.
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.
1 Chadwick
Consultant and President of Ravengate Partners
LLC (since 2000).
67
Class II
Director
2011
2016
23
Wisconsin
Energy Corp.
and Voya Funds
Stephen L.
Isaacs
Attorney and President of Health Policy Associates, Inc., consultants.
Mr. Isaacss 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).
76
Class III
Director
2011
2017
23
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).
74
Class II
Director
2011
2016
44
(Director/Trustee
of all Royce Funds, consisting of 23 portfolios; Director/Trustee of the Legg Mason
Family of Funds, consisting of 21 portfolios)
None
5
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
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.
76
Class I
Director
2011
2018
23
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).
71
Class I
Director
2011
2018
44
(Director/Trustee
of all Royce Funds, consisting of 23 portfolios; Director/Trustee of the Legg Mason
Family of Funds, consisting of 21 portfolios)
TICC
Capital Corp.
Michael K.
Shields
President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Trust Company, a private
North Carolina trust company (since May 2012). Mr. Shieldss prior business
experience includes owning Shields Advisors, an investment consulting firm (from
April 2010 to June 2012).
57
Class II
Director
April
2015
2016
23
None
*
The address
of each of Ms. Chadwick and Messrs. Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister, OBrien, and
Shields is c/o Royce & Associates, LP, 745 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
10151.
**
Each of the
Independent Directors, including all three 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. Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister, OBrien, and Shields
is a member of the Audit Committee of the Board and the Nominating Committee of
the Board.
6
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 a Member of the Board of Managers of R&A. Mr. Royce served
as the President of R&A from 1972 to June 2014 and as Chief Executive Officer
of R&A from 1972 to June 2016. 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 Chief Executive Officer, 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.
Stephen
L. Isaacs In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds, Mr. Isaacs serves as Attorney and President of a private consulting firm.
Mr. Isaacs has over 40 years of business and academic experience, including extensive
experience related to public health and philanthropy.
Arthur
S. Mehlman In addition to his tenure as a Director/Trustee of The Royce
Funds and of the Legg Mason Family of Funds, Mr. Mehlman serves as the Chairman
of the Boards Audit Committee, acting as liaison between the Board and the
Funds independent registered public accountants, and is designated as an Audit
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.
7
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 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.
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.
The Board
believes that each Directors experience, qualifications, attributes and skills
should be evaluated on an individual basis and in consideration of the perspective
such Director brings to the entire Board, with no single Director, or particular
factor, being indicative of Board effectiveness. However, the Board believes that
Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate, question and
discuss information provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management,
service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective business judgment
in the performance of their duties; the Board believes that their members satisfy
this standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be achieved through
a Directors educational background; business, professional training or practice,
public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member
(including the Board) or as an executive of investment funds, public companies or
significant private or non-profit entities or other organizations; and/or other
life experiences. The charter for the Boards Nominating Committee contains
certain other specific factors considered by the Nominating Committee in identifying
and selecting Director candidates (as described below).
To assist
them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the Directors are counseled
by their own independent legal counsel, who participates in Board meetings and interacts
with R&A, and also may benefit from information provided by R&As
internal counsel; both Board and R&As internal counsel have significant
experience advising funds and fund board members. The Board and its committees have
the ability to engage other experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance
on an annual basis.
8
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, 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 Audit Committee,
Mr. Mehlman, 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, Stephen L. Isaacs, Arthur S. Mehlman,
David L. Meister, G. Peter OBrien, and Michael K. Shields. Mr. Mehlman serves
as Chairman of the Audit Committee. 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.
At its February
2015 meetings, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved,
replacing Tait, Weller & Baker (TW&B) as the Funds independent
registered public accounting firm with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC).
As a result, PWC served as the Funds independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. TW&B served as the Funds
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2014.
9
The Audit
Committee also has (i) received written disclosures and the letter required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 from PWC, the Funds independent auditors for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and (ii) discussed certain matters required
to be discussed under the requirements of The Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board with PWC. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit
services by the Funds independent accountants is compatible with maintaining
their independence.
At its meetings
held on February 17, 2016 and February 24-25, 2016, the Audit Committee reviewed
and discussed the audit of the Funds financial statements as of December 31,
2015 and for the fiscal year then ended with Fund management and PWC. 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 2015
Annual Report to Stockholders, the Audit Committee would have been notified by Fund
management or PWC. The Audit Committee received no such notifications. At those
meetings, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Funds audited
financial statements be included in the Funds 2015 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. Isaacs, Mehlman, Meister,
OBrien, and Shields. Mr. OBrien serves as the Chairman 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
10
business,
financial or family relationships with Fund management, the investment adviser of
the Fund, Fund service providers or their affiliates; (v) whether or not the person
is financially literate pursuant to the New York Stock Exchanges audit committee
membership standards; (vi) whether or not the person serves on boards of, or is
otherwise affiliated with, competing financial service organizations or their related
investment company complexes; (vii) whether or not the person is willing to serve
as, and willing and able to commit the time necessary for the performance of the
duties of, a Director of the Fund; and (viii) whether or not the selection and nomination
of the person would be in the best interest of the Fund in light of the requirements
of the Funds retirement policies. While the Nominating Committee does not
have a formal policy regarding diversity, as noted above, it may consider the diversity
of skills, experience and/or perspective a potential nominee will bring to the Board
as part of its evaluation of the contribution such potential nominee will make to
the Board. Such factors will be considered in light of the other factors described
above and in the context of the Boards existing membership at the time such
potential candidate is considered.
To have a
candidate considered by the Nominating Committee, a stockholder must submit the
recommendation in writing and must include biographical information and set forth
the qualifications of the proposed nominee. The stockholder recommendation and information
described above must be sent to the Funds Secretary, John E. Denneen, c/o
Royce Global 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.
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 Treasurer. The Board also receives periodic presentations
from senior personnel of R&A or its affiliates regarding risk management generally,
as well as periodic
11
presentations regarding specific operational,
compliance or investment areas such as business continuity, anti-money laundering,
personal trading, valuation, investment research and securities lending. The Board
also receives reports from counsel to R&A and the Boards own independent
legal counsel regarding regulatory, compliance and governance matters. The Boards oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Funds investments
or activities.
Committee and Board of Directors Meetings
During the
year ended December 31, 2015, the Board held six meetings, the Audit Committee held
four meetings, and the Nominating Committee held two 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 and the Nominating
Committee held during that year.
Compensation of Directors
For the year
ended December 31, 2015, each Independent Director received a base fee of $2,800
per year, plus $300 for each in-person meeting of the Board attended. No Director
received remuneration for services as a Director for the year ended December 31,
2015 in addition to or in lieu of this standard arrangement. Each Independent Director
will continue to receive a base fee of $2,800 per year, plus $300 for each in-person
meeting of the Board attended for the year ending December 31, 2016.
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, 2015.
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
$4,300
None
None
$271,940
$271,940
Stephen L.
Isaacs,
Director
$4,300
None
None
$271,940
$271,940
Arthur S.
Mehlman,
Director
$4,300
None
None
$271,940
$441,940
David L. Meister,
Director
$4,300
None
None
$271,940
$271,940
G. Peter OBrien,
Director
$4,300
None
None
$271,940
$430,690
Michael K.
Shields,
Director**
$3,138
None
None
$191,977
$191,977
Richard Galkin,
Director***
$4,300
None
None
$271,940
$271,940
*
Represents
aggregate compensation paid to each Director during the calendar year ended December
31, 2015 from the Fund Complex. As of the date hereof, the Fund Complex includes
the 23 portfolios of The Royce Funds and the 21 portfolios of the Legg Mason Funds.
**
Mr. Shields
became a Director of the Fund in April 2015.
***
Mr. Galkin
retired as a Director of the Fund in February 2016.
12
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 Occupations
During Past Five Years
Age
Office**
Officer of
Fund Since
Christopher
D. Clark,
Chief Executive Officer (since July 2016), President (since July 2014),
Co-Chief Investment Officer (since January 2014), and Member of the Board of Managers
(since June 2015) of R&A, having been employed by R&A since May 2007.
51
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.
48
Vice President
2014
Peter K. Hoglund,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Managing Director
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.
50
Treasurer
2015
Daniel A.
OByrne,
Principal and Vice President of R&A, having been employed
by R&A since October 1986.
54
Vice President
2011
John E. Denneen,
General Counsel, Managing Director, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Secretary,
and, since 2015, Member of the Board of Managers of R&A; Secretary and Chief
Legal Officer of The Royce Funds.
49
Secretary
and
Chief Legal
Officer
2011
Lisa Curcio,
Chief Compliance Officer of The Royce Funds (since October 2004); and Compliance
Officer of R&A (since June 2004).
56
Chief Compliance
Officer
2011
*
The address
of each officer of the Fund is c/o Royce & Associates, LP, 745 Fifth Avenue,
New York, New York 10151.
**
Each officer
of the Fund is elected by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Board.
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.
13
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 2015 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.
Stock Ownership
Information
relating to each Directors ownership of shares of Common Stock as of July
15, 2016 and of shares of The Royce Funds overseen by each Director is set forth
below:
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
Stephen L.
Isaacs
$1$10,000
Over $100,000
Arthur S.
Mehlman
$10,000$50,000
Over $100,000
David L. Meister
None
Over $100,000
G. Peter OBrien
$1$10,000
Over $100,000
Michael K.
Shields
None
None
14
Information
regarding ownership of shares of Common Stock by the Funds 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
154,940
Christopher
D. Clark
None
Non-Interested Directors:
Patricia W.
Chadwick
None
Stephen L.
Isaacs
80
Arthur S.
Mehlman
2,227
David L. Meister
None
G. Peter OBrien
381
Michael K.
Shields
None
Interested Officers**:
Francis D.
Gannon
None
Peter K. Hoglund
None
Daniel A.
OByrne
None
John E. Denneen
None
Lisa Curcio
None
* The address
of each Director and each officer is c/o Royce & Associates, LP, 745 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10151.
** Does not
include shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Clark, if any, which information
is set forth immediately above under Interested Directors.
As of the Record Date,
the Funds Directors and officers as a group (13 persons) beneficially owned 157,628 shares of Common Stock, constituting
approximately 1.52% of the Funds outstanding shares.
As of July
15, 2016, 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.
15
FEES PAID TO INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Audit Fees
The aggregate
fees paid to PWC in connection with the annual audit of the Funds financial
statements and for services normally provided by PWC in connection with the statutory
and regulatory filings of the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 were
$20,000. 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 year ended December 31, 2014 were $20,000.
Audit Related Fees
No fees were
paid to PWC 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 the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
No fees were 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 the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2014.
Tax Fees
The aggregate
fees paid for tax-related services, including preparation of tax returns, tax compliance
and tax advice, rendered by PWC to the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2015 were $7,000. 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 year ended December 31, 2014 were $7,000.
All Other Fees
There were
no other fees billed for non-audit services rendered by PWC to the Fund for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. There were no other fees billed for non-audit
services rendered by TW&B to the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2014. The aggregate non-audit fees billed by PWC 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 year ended December 31,
2015 were $7,000. The Audit Committee has determined that the provision of non-audit
services is compatible with maintaining the independence of PWC. 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 year ended December 31, 2014 were $7,000.
PWC did not
provide any other professional services to the Fund or R&A for the year ended
December 31, 2015. No representatives of PWC are expected to be present at the Meeting.
16
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.
17
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.
18
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, 2015 was previously
mailed to its stockholders and the Semiannual Report to Stockholders for the six
months ended June 30, 2016 will be mailed to stockholders in late August 2016. 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 2017 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders must be received by the Fund by March 31, 2017 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 2017 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders must be in writing and received at the Funds principal
executive office between April 7, 2017 and May 8, 2017. 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.
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: July
29, 2016
19
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 committee financial expert,
as defined in rules of the Securities and
A-1
Exchange Commission
and (ii) whether simultaneous service on more than three public company audit committees
by a member of the Audit Committee would not impair the ability of such member to
effectively serve on the Audit Committee, and, with respect to the closed-end
funds only, the Board must disclose any determination made under clause (ii)
either on or through the applicable Funds website or in its annual proxy statement.
If the disclosure is made on the Funds website, the Fund must disclose that
fact in its annual proxy statement and provide the website address. Multiple boards
in the same fund complex are considered one board for this determination.
II.
Purposes of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee shall be responsible for:
(1)
assisting Board oversight of the
(a)
integrity
of the Funds financial statements;
(b)
independent
accountants qualifications and independence; and
(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;
A-2
(b)
to (i) select
an accounting firm to (1) serve as the Funds independent
accountants, (2) audit the Funds financial statements on an annual basis,
and (3) provide an opinion on an annual basis with respect to the Funds financial
statements, and (ii) recommend that the members of the Board of Directors/Trustees
who are not interested persons of the Fund, as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of
the 1940 Act, ratify such selection;
(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; to review the arrangements for annual and special
audits and the scope of such audits with the Funds independent accountants;
(g)
to meet to
review and discuss the Funds audited financial statements and, to the extent
required by applicable law or regulations, the Funds semi-annual financial
statements with Fund management and the Funds independent accountants,
A-3
including
the Funds disclosure of managements discussion of Fund performance;
(h)
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;
(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 Funds independent accountants;
(j)
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;
(k)
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; at least annually, to obtain and review
a report by the Funds independent accountants describing: (i) such independent
accountants internal quality-control procedures; (ii) any material issues
raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of such
independent accountants, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent
audits carried out by such firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues;
and (iii) all relationships between the Funds independent accountants and
the Fund, the Investment Adviser, Adviser Affiliates and members of management of
such entities (to assess the independence of the Funds independent accountants);
A-4
(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
Funds 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 Funds Investment Adviser relating to the possible violation of federal or state
law or fiduciary duty;
(n)
to discuss
with Fund management and the Funds 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 Funds press
releases that discuss earnings (if any), as well as financial information or earnings
guidance provided to analysts and ratings agencies (this may be done generally,
e.g., the type of information to be disclosed and the type of presentation
to be made); and
(p)
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 of the
Audit Committee by means of conference call or similar
A-6
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.
Annual
Performance Evaluation
The Audit
Committee shall perform a review and evaluation, at least annually, of the performance
of the Audit Committee.
VII.
Reporting
The Audit
Committee shall report regularly to the Board. The Chairman of the Audit Committee
shall report to the Board on the results of its deliberations, and make such recommendations
as deemed necessary or appropriate.
VIII.
Amendments
This Charter
may be amended or modified from time to time by vote of the Board.
Dated: April 11, 2000, as amended through
December 12, 2013
A-7
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 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; whether or not the person is an interested person as defined in the 1940 Act and whether the
B-1
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 present its recommendation to the full Board for its consideration
and, if necessary, to the Independent Directors.
B-2
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
B-3
APPENDIX A
Royce Capital
Fund
Royce Global
Value Trust, Inc.
Royce Micro-Cap
Trust, Inc.
Royce Value
Trust, Inc.
The Royce
Fund
B-4
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
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PROXY TABULATOR
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1.
PROPOSAL TO ELECT THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES
OF ROYCE GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC.
01) Patricia W. Chadwick
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
02) Arthur S. Mehlman
03) Michael K. Shields
2.
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M77639-P55296
PROXY CARD
PROXY
PROXY
ROYCE GLOBAL VALUE TRUST, INC.
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10151
This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Royce Global Value Trust, Inc.
The undersigned hereby appoints Christopher D. Clark 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 Global Value Trust, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on July 15, 2016 at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. to be held on September 19, 2016, 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.
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