In an equity mutual fund portfolio, capital gains become realized when a holding is sold at a gain, that is, at a stock price that is higher than the price at which it was purchased.
Net investment income results when dividends, interest or other income received exceed the portfolio's net expenses.
These realized capital gains and/or net investment income are then passed on to shareholders in the form of distributions. Royce Small-Cap Total Return and Dividend Value Funds pay dividends, if any, from net investment income on a quarterly basis and make any distributions resulting from net realized capital gains annually in December.
Our other open-end Funds pay any dividends from net investment income and make any distributions from net realized capital gains each year in December.
Fund distributions may consist, then, of dividend income, short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains. A capital gain is classified as long term if the shares were held in the portfolio for one year or more.
In general, the taxation status of distributions as ordinary income or capital gain (each of which is taxed at a different rate) is determined at the Fund level and is not related to how long you have owned a Fund's shares. You can find more information on taxation in the prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Managed Distribution Policy for Royce's Closed-End Funds
Two of our three closed-end funds have a managed distribution policy (“MDP”) designed to spread any capital gain distributions more evenly over the year.
The Board of Directors from each of Royce Small-Cap Trust, and Royce Micro-Cap Trust has authorized an MDP. Under the MDP, Royce Value Trust and Royce Micro-Cap Trust pay quarterly distributions at an annual rate of 7% of the average of the prior four quarter-end net asset values.
With each distribution, the Fund will issue a notice to its stockholders and an accompanying press release that provides detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution (including whether any portion of the distribution represents a return of capital) and other information required by a Fund’s MDP. You should not draw any conclusions about a Fund’s investment performance from the amount of distributions or from the terms of a Fund’s MDP. A Fund’s Board of Directors may amend or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to stockholders; however, at this time there are no reasonably foreseeable circumstances that might cause the termination of any of the MDPs
The distributions may include long-term capital gains, short-term capital gains, net investment income and/or return of capital for federal income tax purposes.
Why Dividend Reinvestment Is Important
A very important component of an investor's total return comes from the reinvestment of distributions. By reinvesting distributions, investors can maintain an undiluted investment in a Fund.
To get a better picture of the impact of reinvested distributions, please see the "Market Price Performance History Since Inception" charts for Royce Micro-Cap Trust and Royce Small-Cap Trust.