NEW YORK - (Business Wire) Royce Focus Trust, Inc. has declared a cash dividend of $0.375 per share on its Cumulative Preferred Stock, based on an annual rate of 6.00% of the initial liquidation preference of $25.00 per share. The dividend is to be paid on December 23, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 7, 2009 (ex-dividend December 3, 2009). The Preferred Stock, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "RFO.pra", is rated 'aaa' by Moody’s and has an annual dividend rate of $1.50 per share.
For Federal income tax purposes, approximately 97% of the 2009 distributions will be characterized as qualified dividend income (taxable at long-term capital gain rates), and 3% as return of capital. Treatment of a portion of the dividends as long-term capital gains has the effect of providing individual preferred stockholders with a higher ordinary income tax-equivalent yield.
Royce Focus Trust, Inc. is a closed-end diversified management investment company whose shares of Common Stock are listed and traded on the Nasdaq National Market (Nasdaq - FUND) and whose shares of Preferred Stock are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (RFO.pra). The Fund's investment goal is long-term capital growth, which it seeks by normally investing at least 65% of its assets in equity securities.
For further information on The Royce Fundssm, please visit our web site at: www.roycefunds.com.
Royce Focus Trust, Inc.
John D. Diederich, 800-348-1414
