N-CSRS 1 e86809.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT
OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-07537

Name of Registrant: Royce Capital Fund

Address of Registrant: 1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019

Name and address of agent for service:   John E. Denneen, Esquire
    1414 Avenue of the Americas
    New York, NY 10019

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 486-1445
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: January 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008



Item 1: Reports to Shareholders






   
  Royce Capital Fund —
Micro-Cap Portfolio



Royce Capital Fund —
Small-Cap Portfolio
































 
SEMIANNUAL
REVIEW AND REPORT

TO SHAREHOLDERS
 
 
 
 


www.roycefunds.com




     



Performance and Expenses Through June 30, 2008


      Average Annual Total Returns

   
                    Since   Annual Operating
 
Fund
 
1-Year
 
5-Year
 
10-Year  
Inception
 
Expenses
 
  Royce Capital Fund—Micro-Cap Portfolio   -11.58 %   13.65 %   14.09 %   14.63 %   (12/27/96)   1.31 %

  Royce Capital Fund—Small-Cap Portfolio   -9.82     14.50     12.50     13.46     (12/27/96)   1.08  

  Russell 2000   -16.19     10.29     5.53     7.18 *       n.a.  

* Since Royce Capital Fund’s inception on 12/27/96.

Important Performance, Expense and Risk Information
All performance information in this Review reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. Current month-end performance may be obtained at www.roycefunds.com. The performance information in the table above, and in the graphs and tables appearing on pages 10-13, does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distribution or the redemption of fund shares. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect any deduction for charges or expenses of the variable contracts or retirement plans investing in the Fund. All performance and expense information reflects results for each Fund’s Investment Class Shares. Service Class Shares bear an annual distribution expense that is not borne by the Investment Class. Operating expenses reflect the Fund’s total annual operating expenses for the Investment Class as of the Fund’s most current prospectus and include management fees and other expenses.

Royce Capital Fund invests primarily in securities of small- and micro-cap companies, which may involve considerably more risk than investments in securities of larger-cap companies (see “Primary Risks for Fund Investors” in the Prospectus). Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. The Russell 2000 is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of domestic small-cap stocks. It measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 index.



Table of Contents  

   
Semiannual Review  

   
Performance and Expenses Inside Cover
   
Letter to Our Shareholders 2
   

   
Semiannual Report to Shareholders 8
   





















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We are contrarians. To us, the
term has always been synonymous
with value investor. Our research
screens include searches for well-run
businesses whose stock prices
have fallen, which typically leads us
to companies, and often entire
industries, that others have recently
fled or are otherwise happy to ignore.

Searching among the neglected and
broken in the smaller-company world
for new investment ideas not only
helps us to find potential hidden
gems, it also helps to lower portfolio
risk. Companies whose stock prices
have been beaten up by mass sell-offs
often carry very low expectations
(and price risk), especially once the
smoke has cleared and former stock-
holders have moved on. Although
there’s always the risk of additional
stock price erosion if a company’s
fortunes worsen or an industry’s
prospects grow dimmer, we try to use
falling stock prices to our advantage;
it is common for us to add to posi-
tions at such times (provided,
of course, that our long-term outlook
for the company remains positive).

While our hope is that any
subsequent drops in share prices are
temporary, it is also why we look



Continued on page 4...

    Letter to Our Shareholders


Ballad of a Thin Market
The first six months of 2008 gave even the most serene investor cause for anxiety, if not outright panic. First, a long list of worries ushered in the new year: the credit crisis, housing bubble, subprime implosion, falling dollar, stumbling equity prices, and an economy in either a full-blown recession or “merely” stalled. By the end of June, one could add to this list rapidly rising oil prices and associated energy costs. And we would be remiss if we did not also mention that smaller-company stock prices, after rallying from mid-March through early June, spent most of that latter month swooning. Indeed, share price declines throughout the market were so severe that on July 1 several media outlets were trotting out comparisons to the 1930s, since June saw the worst respective one-month losses for both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 since the Great Depression.
    Each of the formidable problems besetting the economy and financial markets remained unsolved as the year crept nervously to its midpoint, with little in the way of solutions on the immediate horizon. For anyone expecting good news soon about these matters, we can offer only sympathy. It will probably take some time before genuine improvement begins. We do not mean to imply that we like being where we are, only that a measured look at the current landscape suggests that most equities will need to log a few more miles of volatility and poor short-term performance prior to a sustained recovery. The fact that this is not surprising does not make the news any easier to bear. What it does mean for smaller-company bargain-hunters such as ourselves is opportunity. Both domestically and internationally, we have seen a large number of what we believe are superb values emerge in our asset class. As is often the case with value investing, patience and discipline will be critical as we wait for the markets to rebound.


   

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    While we wait, it is worth noting that many observers, including some for whom we have enormous respect, are arguing that the events of the past year—particularly the housing crisis, the credit crunch and the slowing economy—signal the end of the era of low interest rates and low-to-moderate inflation that began following the 1982 recession and ran, with some notable interruptions, through the stock market peaks in 2007. We agree in large part with this assessment. It seems plain to us that we have entered a period that will be characterized by higher inflation and rising interest rates. However, there is little agreement as to how pronounced an effect these changes will have on the U.S. economy and stock markets. So these recent travails put all of us in the position of Dylan’s Mr. Jones: there is something happening here, but we don’t know what it is. Our take is that the short term will be challenging at best, but that solid recoveries for both the economy and equities will come in the next three to five years. As is our habit, we first look at history for future direction. In a Royce Fund 1989 Annual Report, we recalled a “full-blown recession” that led to a robust economic expansion, “an epic crash in 1987 and mini-crash in 1989,” and a market that saw “speculative binges in oil, precious metals and real estate as well as stocks.” In other words, it seems to us that nothing about the ’90s or the current decade is unprecedented.

  Both domestically and internationally, we have seen a large number of what we believe are superb values emerge in our asset class. As is often the case with value investing, patience and discipline will be critical as we wait for the markets to rebound.
     
Subterranean Small-Cap Blues    

As might be expected in such a tumultuous period, the current market leadership question also looks unsettled. Domestic small-caps, as measured by the Russell 2000 index, finished the year-to-date period ended 6/30/08 with a loss of 9.4%, which was better than the large-cap S&P 500 index (-11.9%), the more tech-laden Nasdaq Composite (-13.6%) and the global MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia and Far East) index (-11.0%). Small-cap’s performance advantage over large-cap stocks thus far in 2008 was primarily attributable to its advantage in the second quarter, in particular its strong relative showing in May, when the Russell 2000 gained 1.3% versus 1.0% for the S&P 500. (Smaller stocks finished the second quarter just barely in positive territory, up 0.6% versus -2.7% for their large-cap peers.) The strong rally from the current small-cap trough on 3/10/08 was followed by an almost equally strong decline in June that collapsed share prices across the globe. During the month, the Russell 2000 lost 7.7%, the S&P 500 fell 8.4%, the Nasdaq Composite was down 9.1% and the MSCI EAFE declined 8.2%.

  Although we once believed that large-cap would have an advantage, we now believe that quality-oriented companies, regardless of market cap, should outperform and that smaller companies may provide an edge during short-term market upswings. We also suspect that smaller stocks should lead when share prices eventually show some sustained recovery.

    The relative resilience of smaller companies during June was a welcome development. Although it did not decisively shift market leadership back to our chosen asset class, it certainly helped the Russell 2000 lose less during the highly volatile first half of 2008. However, the S&P 500 was slightly ahead of its small-cap counterpart in the first quarter of 2008 (-9.5% versus -9.9%) and decidedly better in the second half of 2007. These outperformance periods allowed the S&P 500 to stay ahead of the Russell 2000 for both the one-year (-13.1% versus -16.2%) and three-year (+4.4% versus +3.8%) periods ended

 
     

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for companies that have the
financial strength to survive difficult
times for their industry or sector. This
remains a cornerstone of our
approach because, despite our best
intelligence, trouble sometimes
lasts longer than we anticipate. Just
as we attempt to be opportunistic
from a purchase-price standpoint,
we like companies that view
opportunity through a similar prism.
Businesses with strong balance
sheets will at times act in a similar
fashion, using their financial position
to acquire lesser competitors.

Our practice of purchasing low-
expectation companies often involves
going against the grain of Wall
Street. Five years ago, for example,
oil was trading at a then-high of $30
per barrel. The Wall Street consensus
was that the price of oil had reached
a peak and would soon begin to
decline. We began to look closely
at energy services companies as well
as oil and gas businesses because
expectations were driving investors
away to the point that share prices
began to look more and more attractive
to us. This, combined with many
years of industry consolidation,
gave us the conviction to start building
positions within the sector.

We were not making a call on
the prospects for oil prices or thinking
that we knew better than the analysts
who devote their careers to the
study of energy—we simply saw an
industry in which we had enjoyed
success in the past once again looking
attractively undervalued to us.

Continued on page 6...
 
 


Letter to Our Shareholders

 
6/30/08, while over longer-term periods, smaller stocks held serve; the Russell 2000 beat the S&P 500 for the five-, 10- and 15-year periods ended 6/30/08.
    While large-cap stocks had to wait until early July to officially enter a bear market (traditionally defined as a price decline of 20% or more from a previous peak), the seeming inevitability of its arrival put the phrase ‘bear market’ on the lips of most investors before the end of June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the second quarter with a price 19.9% below its 10/9/07 all-time peak. After making a cyclical high in May, the S&P 500 fell more than 10% to close the quarter within a single percentage point of its cycle low on 3/10/08. The Russell 2000 rallied to a new cyclical high in early June before it fell 9.5% by the end of the quarter. However, the small-cap index also managed to retain more of its gain, staying 7.6% above its current cycle low on 3/10/08.
    We expect more volatility and lower, possibly negative returns for much of the market in the coming months. Although we once believed that large-cap would have an advantage, we now believe that quality-oriented companies, regardless of market cap, should outperform and that smaller companies may provide an edge during short-term market upswings. We also suspect that smaller stocks should lead when share prices eventually show some sustained recovery. This, however, is likely to take some time before materializing. Putting aside for a moment the challenges that must be worked through in the economy as well as in the credit and housing markets, the Russell 2000 also enjoyed a mostly uninterrupted run from its trough on 10/9/02 through its most recent peak on 7/13/07. Nearly five years of primarily rising stock prices does not correct itself quickly or, unfortunately, without pain.

Tangled up in Value
Small-cap value stocks, as measured by the Russell 2000 Value index, have felt more than their share of pain recently after dominating the Russell 2000 Growth index during the first seven years of the current decade. During the last full small-cap market cycle, which lasted from 3/9/00 until 7/13/07, the Russell 2000 Value index substantially outperformed the Russell 2000 Growth index (+189.5% versus -14.8%). The small-cap value index also outpaced the small-cap growth index from the small-cap market trough on 10/9/02 through 7/13/07, up 183.9% versus 169.7%. However, the small-cap growth index began to chip away at this lead during 2007, when it beat small-cap value in each of that year’s four quarters.
    Small-cap growth hung on to its advantage through the year-to-date period ended 6/30/08 (-8.9% versus -9.8% for the small-cap value index), as well as from the recent small-cap peak on 7/13/07. Results for both small-cap style indices were close from 7/13/07 through the new small-cap trough on 3/10/08, a period in which the Russell 2000 Value index fell 25.4% and its small-cap growth sibling lost 23.0%, reversing small-cap value’s usual edge during downturns. From the small-cap market peak on 7/13/07 through 6/30/08, the small-cap growth index enjoyed a larger performance edge, falling 13.8% versus a loss of 23.1% for the small-cap value index.
    While neither index has been exempt from the market’s troubles over the past year, investors may be wondering what became of small-cap value’s typical performance

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edge in down-market periods. We think that the current reversal is not entirely a surprise when one considers just how thoroughly the Russell 2000 Value index prevailed over the Russell 2000 Growth index both from the previous small-cap market peak on 3/9/00 and from the small-cap market trough on 10/9/02 through the end of the last full market cycle in July 2007. That small-cap value has been struggling of late is therefore not unexpected, both in the context of reversion to the mean and in the context of an indiscriminate bear market. Of course, just as we spent much of the first several years of the decade looking for high-quality bargains in areas usually populated by smaller-company growth managers, we have spent much of the last year scrutinizing those places where value managers are thought to roam.

  Interestingly, the degree of inefficiency that we are seeing today in many international smaller companies reminds us of the small-cap market in the United States 15 to 20 years ago.
     
The Times They Are A-Changin’    

As much as the current bearish period has convinced us that major changes are working their way through the market, it seems to us that there is a significant element to the story that has not received as much attention, namely, the shift in the status of the U.S. in the global economy. The U.S. has gone from being by far the most dominant force, perhaps the only truly dominant force, to being first among a small group of leading players, which includes the European Union, China, Japan and India. The first sign of this change can be traced back to late 2000, when the U.S. dollar first began to decline versus the Euro, a decline that has lasted more than seven years and counting. Other factors also contributed—the bursting Internet bubble, the events of 9/11, a war that has made the U.S. unpopular abroad, the surging economies of China and India, and our own recent struggles with housing, credit and an overall stalled economy. Each is a piece of a larger puzzle that shows the global economy undergoing major changes, and we believe that the shifting role of the U.S. within this system is the critical event.

  We see the next year or two as a time to prepare and position our portfolios for a market and economic rebound that looks at least a year or two away. We think that three to five years from now, investors will be mostly pleased with returns because we expect the economy to recover and think that the market will see it coming first.

    We have sought to meet the challenges these changes present by exporting our investment approach over the past decade. Our initial forays into international smaller companies generally involved those with a strong domestic presence, while more recently we have been expanding our scope to include companies whose activities are more international or centered in a particular overseas region such as Western Europe. Our evolution to international investing is rooted in the Royce tradition of attempting to capitalize on market inefficiencies to generate strong absolute returns, while always keeping a close eye on managing risk. We are focusing primarily on developed economies, where we see ample inefficiencies that could translate into opportunities to find attractively priced securities. Interestingly, the degree of inefficiency that we are seeing today in many international smaller companies reminds us of the small-cap market in the United States 15 to 20 years ago. It is possible that we may be in the early phases of a long-term outperformance cycle for smaller companies on a global scale, as international smaller companies follow their U.S. peers and potentially evolve into a professional asset class.

 
     

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Our thinking was that the industry was
both significant and robust enough
to eventually recover, though we set
no specific time table as to when.

More recently, certain industries in
the consumer sectors appear to us to
have been suffering from a similar
dearth of positive expectations. The
slowing economy, the credit crunch,
the housing bubble and, somewhat
ironically, rising energy costs have all
convinced many observers that the
American consumer is too financially
challenged for consumer stocks to
do anything more than languish at
best. As was the case with energy
earlier in the decade, we see a traditionally
cyclical area at what looks
to us like a potential low point in its
business cycle.

Our practice in the past several
months has been to root around various
consumer industries looking
for smaller-cap businesses that boast
sterling financial characteristics
in the form of strong balance sheets,
established records of earnings
and the ability to generate free
cash flow.

The contrarian habit of scouring
beaten-down industries that others
are avoiding or ignoring is a hallmark
of our time-tested value approach.
By closely examining industries for
which expectations are at a minimum,
we stay true to our goal of trying
to lower risk, which is a critical part
of building strong, long-term returns
for The Royce Funds.

  Letter to Our Shareholders

     The number of opportunities in international investing is vast. There are more companies from which to choose and greater total market capitalization. Our research indicates that there are three times as many micro-cap companies—those with market capitalizations up to $500 million—in the developed international universe, with roughly twice the total market capitalization of the U.S. micro-cap universe. Similarly, in the upper tier of the international small-cap world—market caps of $500 million to $2.5 billion—there are more total companies (2,091 versus 1,119) and greater total market capitalization ($2.4 trillion versus $1.3 trillion domestically). However, average market caps tend to be smaller in the international market. For example, according to Reuters the international micro-cap market has a weighted average market cap of $219, compared to $257 domestically. Liquidity issues, therefore, tend to increase as we move down the market-cap scale, which contributes to greater pricing inefficiencies. Independent research is difficult to come by (when it is available at all). We believe that these differences give us the opportunity to find quality businesses that are not properly priced. In addition, a counter-weight to the liquidity challenges is a marketplace with generally higher yields. As of 6/30/08, the weighted average yield of the international small-cap universe was more than a percentage point higher than its domestic equivalent, 3.5% versus 2.1%.

     DEVELOPED UNIVERSE BY MARKET CAPITALIZATION (EXCLUDING USA) June 30, 2008
 

  Market Cap Range
(Millions)
  Number
of Companies
  Total Market Cap
(Billions)
  Percent of
Companies
  Percent of
Total Market Cap
   
     $0 - $500  
14,148
 
1,235
  81 %   6 %
 

     $500 - $1,000  
1,106
 
798
  6     4  
 

     $1,000 - $2,000  
753
 
1,078
  4     5  
 

     $2,000 - $2,500  
232
 
518
  1     2  
 

     $2,500 - $5,000  
507
 
1,810
  3     8  
 

     $5,000 and over  
755
 
16,844
  4     76  
 

     Total  
17,501
 
22,283
  100     100  
 

     Source: Reuters                    
 

   Most importantly, we have found that quality is a truly international concept, an idea that recognizes no borders. The same attributes that attract us to domestic companies—strong balance sheets, an established record of earnings, the ability to generate free cash flow and excellent growth prospects—are readily found in international businesses. It really is a small world after all.


Bringing It all Back Home
However promising the future for global opportunities in smaller companies, we think that far too much uncertainty currently exists here at home for the equity markets to settle down and establish a consistent, forward-looking direction. Although there have been plenty of pleasant surprises, we do not think the profit picture is strong enough to outweigh the anxiety that so many investors are feeling, especially about inflation. We see the next year or so being a very volatile period as the market continues to sort out the effects of the housing and credit bubbles and adjusts to a more inflationary environment.



     

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       It seems plain to us that investors will therefore be looking for lower risk in the form of company quality, especially if the bond markets begin to struggle, as many seem to expect. We see the next year or two as a time to prepare and position our portfolios for a market and economic rebound that looks at least a year or two away. We think that three to five years from now, investors will be mostly pleased with returns because we expect the economy to recover and think that the market will see it coming first. So while smaller companies should be all right in the short term, we suspect that the real action lies further ahead. In any case, we keep doing what we have always done—buying what we think are high-quality smaller companies trading at attractive prices. A volatile stock market has historically been a boon to value investors, and the current period will hopefully be no exception. Certain areas continue to offer what look to us like compelling bargains, both here and abroad. In addition, some industries have been doing very well, so we have been taking gains in some cases, holding in others and even building positions in companies that are managing their growth most effectively. Wide divergence in sector performance is something that we anticipate will be with us for a while, so we see ample opportunity out there on a global scale.
   

Sincerely,
             
               
         
Charles M. Royce   W. Whitney George   Jack E. Fockler, Jr.      
President
  Vice President   Vice President      
               
               
July 31, 2008              

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Table of Contents    


Semiannual Report to Shareholders
   

Notes to Performance and Other Important Information   9
     
Managers’ Discussions of Fund Performance    
     
Royce Capital Fund — Micro-Cap Portfolio   10
     
Royce Capital Fund — Small-Cap Portfolio   12
     
Financial Statements   14
     
Notes to Financial Statements   24
     
Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses   27
     
Board Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements   28
     



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Notes to Performance and Other Important Information    


The thoughts expressed in this report concerning recent market movements and future prospects for small company stocks are solely the opinion of Royce at June 30, 2008, and, of course, historical market trends are not necessarily indicative of future market movements. Statements regarding the future prospects for particular securities held in the Funds’ portfolios and Royce’s investment intentions with respect to those securities reflect Royce’s opinions as of June 30, 2008 and are subject to change at any time without notice. There can be no assurance that securities mentioned in this report will be included in any Royce-managed portfolio in the future.
      The Russell 2000 is an index of domestic small-cap stocks. It measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 index. The Russell 2000 Value and Growth indices consist of the respective value and growth stocks within the Russell 2000 as determined by Russell Investments. The S&P 500 is an index of U.S. large-cap stocks selected by Standard & Poor’s based on market size, liquidity and industry grouping, among other factors. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the more than 3,000 common equities listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The MSCI EAFE Index (Europe, Australasia, Far East) is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. & Canada. Returns for the market indices used in this report were based on information supplied to Royce by Russell Investments. Royce has not independently verified the above described information. The Royce Funds is a service mark of The Royce Funds. Distributor: Royce Fund Services, Inc.
      Royce Capital Fund—Micro-Cap Portfolio invests primarily in securities of micro-cap companies and Royce Capital Fund—Small-Cap Portfolio invests primarily in securities of small-cap companies that may involve considerably more risk than investments in securities of larger-cap companies (Please see “Primary Risks for Fund Investors” in the prospectus). The Funds may invest up to
25% of their respective assets in foreign securities that may involve political, economic, currency and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
   
Forward-Looking Statements
This material contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve risks and uncertainties, including, among others, statements as to:
   
the Funds’ future operating results,
   
the prospects of the Funds’ portfolio companies,
   
the impact of investments that the Funds have made or may make,
   
the dependence of the Funds’ future success on the general economy and its impact on the companies and industries in which the Funds invest, and
   
the ability of the Funds’ portfolio companies to achieve their objectives.
   
       This review and report use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements for any reason.
       The Royce Funds have based the forward-looking statements included in this review and report on information available to us on the date of the report, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although The Royce Funds undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make through future shareholder communications or reports.




























     
  Proxy Voting  
 
A copy of the policies and procedures that The Royce Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities and information regarding how each of The Royce Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available, without charge, on The Royce Funds’ website at www.roycefunds.com, by calling (800) 221-4268 (toll-free) and on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), at www.sec.gov.
 
     
  Form N-Q Filing  
 
The Funds file their complete schedules of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Funds’ Forms N-Q are available on The Royce Funds’ website at www.roycefunds.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Funds’ Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. To find out more about this public service, call the SEC at (202) 942-8090. The Funds’ complete schedules of investments are updated quarterly, and are available at www.roycefunds.com.
 
     

Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders  |  9



   
     

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
Through 6/30/08


Jan-June 2008*

  -7.05 %

One-Year

              -11.58  

Three-Year

              10.40  

Five-Year

              13.65  

10-Year

              14.09  

Since Inception (12/27/96)

    14.63  

ANNUAL EXPENSE RATIO


Operating Expenses

  1.31 %

* Not annualized
     

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS


Year

  RCM     Year     RCM  

2007

  4.0 %   2001     29.7 %

2006

  21.1     2000     18.5  

2005

  11.6     1999     28.1  

2004

  13.8     1998     4.1  

2003

  49.2     1997     21.2  

2002

  -12.9              

                   

TOP 10 POSITIONS % of Net Assets


TTM Technologies

  1.3 %

Approach Resources

  1.1  

Bruker Corporation

  1.0  

Kennedy-Wilson

  1.0  

Red Back Mining

  1.0  

Deutsche Beteiligungs

  1.0  

TGC Industries

  1.0  

Allied Nevada Gold

  1.0  

Datasul

  0.9  

Tesco Corporation

  0.9  

                   
                   

PORTFOLIO SECTOR BREAKDOWN
% of Net Assets


Natural Resources

  18.1 %

Technology

  16.9  

Industrial Services

  14.5  

Health

  9.5  

Industrial Products

  8.7  

Consumer Products

  5.9  

Consumer Services

  5.8  

Financial Intermediaries

  4.7  

Financial Services

  3.2  

Miscellaneous

  4.2  

Preferred Stock

  0.4  

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  8.1  

 
 
 
 
 
 





Royce Capital Fund — Micro-Cap Portfolio

Manager’s Discussion
Certain holdings in the portfolio of Royce Capital Fund—Micro-Cap Portfolio (RCM) walked a slightly different path than both smaller stocks as a whole and their micro-cap peers in particular. The Fund was down 7.1% for the year-to-date period ended 6/30/08 versus a decline of 9.4% for its small-cap benchmark, the Russell 2000, and a loss of 15.5% for the Russell Microcap Index. This was consistent with the Fund’s recent pattern of strong relative and strong-to-solid absolute performance. The Fund was down 7.9% in the first-quarter downturn, while the Russell 2000 fell 9.9% and the Russell Microcap Index lost 12.4%. A welcome rally occurred from the recent small-cap market trough on 3/10/08. It lasted through April and May, though stock prices once again plummeted in June. For the second quarter, RCM gained 0.9% versus 0.6% for its small-cap benchmark and -3.5% for the micro-cap index.
         The Fund’s recent performances took place in the context of the new market cycle that began with the small-cap market peak on 7/13/07. From that peak through 6/30/08, RCM was down 13.6% compared to respective losses of 18.4% and 26.8% for the Russell 2000 and Russell Microcap Index. So while we would ideally prefer that the Fund show stronger absolute results, we were nonetheless pleased with its strong relative returns during a down market that has hit micro-cap stocks especially hard.
      Full market cycle and other long-term performances were noticeably better on an absolute basis, while also maintaining RCM’s relative advantage. From the previous small-cap market peak on 3/9/00 through 6/30/08, the Fund gained 188.2% versus 26.4% for the Russell 2000. (Data for the Russell Microcap index only goes back to 2002.) The Fund also beat the Russell 2000 for the one-, three-, five-, 10-year and since inception (12/27/96) periods ended 6/30/08. RCM’s average annual total return since inception was 14.6%.
        Seven of the Fund’s nine equity sectors finished the first half in the red, but the most significant losses on a dollar basis came from Technology and Health. Broadly speaking, ongoing anxiety over slowed consumer spending kept investors away from consumer-related tech businesses. In other technology areas, indifference has been the order of the day. With no significant innovations having come to the marketplace over the last few years, investors have mostly avoided or sold tech stocks. Healthcare companies suffered a different set of problems. Many were beset by growing concerns over profitability (or lack thereof ) in a
         
   

GOOD IDEAS THAT WORKED
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Return*
Year-to-Date Through 6/30/08

     
    Olympic Steel  

$6,839,002

   
    Approach Resources  

3,335,199

   
    Landi Renzo  

1,949,977

   
    Superior Well Services  

1,881,564

   
    Exponent  

1,667,766

   
    * Includes dividends    
         
           
Important Performance and Expense Information
All performance information in this Report reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect any deduction for charges or expenses of the variable contracts of retirement plans investing in the Fund. Returns as of the recent month-end may be obtained at www.roycefunds.com. All performance and risk information for RCM reflects Investment Class results. Shares of RCM’s Service Class bear an annual distribution expense that is not borne by the Investment Class. Operating expenses reflect the Fund’s total annual operating expenses for the Investment Class as of the date of the Fund’s most current prospectus and include management fees and other expenses.

10  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders



 
 
 
Performance and Portfolio Review



market where credit has become harder and harder to obtain. DNA-based identity testing firm Orchid Cellmark felt the effects of profit pressure and tighter credit on declining earnings as its share price fell in the first quarter. We remained confident in the potential of its business.
      Although not a technology or healthcare business, Thomas Weisel Partners Group has developed an investment banking specialty in those companies, which was not a service in high demand through the first half of 2008. We were initially drawn to the firm’s small asset management business and a small acquisition that diversified the business into the natural resources sector. At the end of June, we remained confident in the company. LECG Corporation provides expert testimony and strategic advice to companies and law firms, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies here and abroad. We liked the firm’s business and were particularly optimistic when new management took over in the summer of 2007. Some subsequent managerial missteps and a badly missed earnings estimate in January 2008 sent its stock price reeling, though we held a decent-sized position at the end of June. LSI Industries provides outdoor, indoor and landscape lighting, graphics and related technology for a variety of commercial and industrial markets, with a specialty in gas station-convenience stores. The firm’s conservative balance sheet and strong position in a niche business remain bright spots, and we also think that it can ultimately manage its transition to more cost- and energy-efficient LED-based solutions. Each of these factors guided our decision to build our position in the first half.
     
      In general, micro-cap businesses with strong balance sheets have been weathering the bear market more effectively than those carrying greater amounts of debt. This has so far been true even in hard-hit areas such as technology, healthcare, financials and consumer stocks. What little broad success there was among micro-caps came mostly from the steel and energy industries. Approach Resources develops unconventional natural gas and oil properties onshore in the U.S. and British Columbia and saw its growing business attract investors wanting to get in on the good times for energy stocks. Olympic Steel, a processor and distributor of specialty steel products, reaped the rewards of the renewed dynamism in the U.S. steel industry.

GOOD IDEAS AT THE TIME
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Loss*
Year-to-Date Through 6/30/08

 
 
   
LECG Corporation $2,781,383     

 
Thomas Weisel Partners Group 2,520,961     

 
LSI Industries 2,281,657     

 
Orchid Cellmark 2,263,130     

 
Dynamic Materials 2,136,470     

 
  *Net of dividends  
   


Includes reinvestment of distributions.

 
 
   
   
  FUND INFORMATION AND
PORTFOLIO DIAGNOSTICS
 
 

Average Market Capitalization*

$281 million   
 
  Weighted Average P/E Ratio** 12.7x   
 
  Weighted Average P/B Ratio 1.5x   
 
  Weighted Average Portfolio Yield 1.3%   
 
  Fund Net Assets $564 million   
 
  Turnover Rate 23%   
 
  Number of Holdings 210   
 
  Symbol  
    Investment Class RCMCX   
    Service Class RCMSX   
 
   *  Geometrically calculated
 

** The Fund’s P/E calculation excludes companies with zero or negative earnings (19% of portfolio holdings as of 6/30/08).

   
   
   
  RISK/RETURN COMPARISON
Five-Year Period Ended 6/30/08
 
    Average Annual
Total Return
Standard Deviation Return
Efficiency*
 
  RCM 13.65% 13.41 1.02
 
  Russell 2000 10.29     14.38 0.72
 
 
* Return Efficiency is the average annual total return divided by the annualized standard deviation over a designated time period. Please read the prospectus for a more complete discussion of risk.
   
 
   
   
   
   
   


Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders   |   11



   
     

 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
Through 6/30/08


Jan-June 2008*

  1.91 %

One-Year

              -9.82  

Three-Year

              6.28  

Five-Year

              14.50  

10-Year

              12.50  

Since Inception (12/27/96)

    13.46  

ANNUAL EXPENSE RATIO


Operating Expenses

  1.08 %

* Not annualized
     

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS


Year

  RCS     Year     RCS  

2007

  -2.1 %   2001     21.0 %

2006

  15.6     2000     33.3  

2005

  8.6     1999     8.2  

2004

  25.0     1998     8.9  

2003

  41.1     1997     17.1  

2002

  -13.8              

                   

TOP 10 POSITIONS % of Net Assets


Oil States International

  3.6 %

Unit Corporation

  3.6  

Gardner Denver

  2.5  

Sims Group ADR

  2.5  

Knight Capital Group Cl. A

  2.2  

Korn/Ferry International

  1.9  

Heidrick & Struggles International

  1.7  

Ensign Energy Services

  1.6  

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products

  1.6  

Superior Well Services

  1.6  

                   
                   

PORTFOLIO SECTOR BREAKDOWN
% of Net Assets


Natural Resources

  18.5 %

Technology

  14.6  

Industrial Products

  14.3  

Industrial Services

  12.3  

Financial Intermediaries

  9.0  

Consumer Products

  7.0  

Health

  5.4  

Consumer Services

  4.9  

Miscellaneous

  2.2  

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  11.8  

 
 
 
 
 
 





Royce Capital Fund — Small-Cap Portfolio

Manager’s Discussion
A combination of strong down-market performance and solid turns in the first half’s brief upswings gave Royce Capital Fund—Small-Cap Portfolio (RCS) respectable absolute and terrific relative results. The Fund gained 1.9% for the year-to-date period ended 6/30/08, significantly ahead of its small-cap benchmark, the Russell 2000, which declined 9.4% for the same period. The year began in much the same way that 2007 ended, with nervous investors and falling stock prices. The first quarter was a bearish period that saw the Russell 2000 fall 9.9%, while RCS was down only 0.3%. When stocks rallied after reaching a new small-cap market trough on 3/10/08, the Fund continued to perform well. When that rally was snuffed out by the miserable June downturn, RCS again held its value well. The result was a volatile second quarter in which the Fund was up 2.2% versus a 0.6% gain for its benchmark.
         The Fund’s results were equally strong on a relative basis from the beginning of the new small-cap market cycle on 7/13/07 through 6/30/08, a period in which RCS lost 11.8% compared to a loss of 18.4% for the Russell 2000. The Fund was essentially even with the small-cap index from the small-cap market trough on 3/10/08 through 6/30/08, up 7.5% versus 7.6% for the Russell 2000.
      More focused on years and full market cycles than on months and quarters, we put a higher premium on long-term time periods. Measuring results from the previous cycle and other long-term periods presents an even more attractive picture. RCS substantially outpaced the Russell 2000 from the previous small-cap market peak on 3/9/00 through 6/30/08, up 193.8% versus 26.4%. In addition, RCS held a sizeable performance edge over the Russell 2000 for the one-, three-, five-, 10-year and since inception (12/27/96) periods ended 6/30/08. The Fund’s average annual total return since inception was 13.5%.
        The Natural Resources sector dominated dollar-based performance, and the energy services industry similarly dominated that sector, posting dollar-based net gains more than triple that of the Fund’s next best-performing sector, Industrial Products. Oil States International operates three subsidiaries that provide specialty products and services to oil and gas drilling and production companies across the globe. Robust demand for its services played a large role in its success, though increased attention from Wall Street hardly hurt. We first began to buy shares of the company in 2003, attracted to its balance sheet and well-run business. Unit Corporation operates primarily as a contract drilling company, though
         
   

GOOD IDEAS THAT WORKED
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Return*
Year-to-Date Through 6/30/08

     
    Oil States International   $6,426,309
   
    Unit Corporation   6,075,205
   
    Sims Group ADR   4,229,546
   
    Gardner Denver   3,926,934
   
    Superior Well Services   2,597,362
   
    * Includes dividends    
         
         
         
         
         
         
           
Important Performance and Expense Information
All performance information in this Report reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed. Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. The Fund’s total returns do not reflect any deduction for charges or expenses of the variable contracts of retirement plans investing in the Fund. Returns as of the recent month-end may be obtained at www.roycefunds.com. All performance and risk information for RCS reflects Investment Class results. Shares of RCS’s Service Class bear an annual distribution expense that is not borne by the Investment Class. Operating expenses reflect the Fund’s total annual operating expenses for the Investment Class as of the date of the Fund’s most current prospectus and include management fees and other expenses.

12  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders



 
 
 
Performance and Portfolio Review



its also has its own oil and natural gas exploration business. This hybrid approach kept it off the radar screens of many energy industry analysts when we first began to buy shares early in 2002. The record-shattering price of oil and its own growing businesses helped its share price to climb during the first half. We were content to hold our respective large positions in each of these companies because it appears to us that many energy-related stocks, in spite of enjoying enviable returns, have not kept up with the feverish pace of oil prices—in many cases their stock prices have not increased proportionally with commodity prices. The demand for Gardner Denver’s compressor, vacuum and fluid transfer products used in cleaning oil rigs also remained high.
     Many steel companies have been helped by the weak U.S. dollar, which has made domestic steel and scrap metal attractively priced to BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and other developing countries where large-scale infrastructure construction has continued at a heady pace. After Metal Management merged with Australian scrap-metal business Sims Group in March 2008, the price of the latter moved up appreciably, no doubt reaping a benefit from its global presence in an increasingly international market. It was a top-ten position at the end of the first half. Schnitzer Steel Industries operates three segments: metals recycling, auto parts metals and steel manufacturing. Its share price stumbled after the firm missed its 2008 fiscal first-quarter earnings estimate, but began to climb shortly afterward as increased profits led to a strong fiscal second quarter and a record fiscal third quarter. We took gains in April and June.
     
     An ongoing slump in its stock price led us to more than quadruple our stake in NETGEAR, a designer and manufacturer of networking products for home users and small businesses worldwide. We liked its innovative business, conservative balance sheet and earnings history, while other investors began bailing last summer after an earnings disappointment, and continued to sell after a product recall in January 2008. Rimage Corporation, which produces recordable CD and DVD publishing systems, endured recent earnings disappointments that sent investors scurrying. We added to our stake in April and June. Increased energy prices helped to gum up the performance of RV (recreational vehicle) maker Winnebago Industries and RV and small- to mid-sized bus manufacturer Thor Industries, leading us to slightly increase our position in each company.

GOOD IDEAS AT THE TIME
Net Realized and Unrealized Investment Loss*
Year-to-Date Through 6/30/08

 
 
   
  NETGEAR $3,155,073     

 
  Rimage Corporation 2,928,833     

 
  Winnebago Industries 2,413,068     

 
  Thor Industries 2,397,160     

 
  Heidrick & Struggles International 1,897,065     

 
  * Net of dividends  
   


Includes reinvestment of distributions.

 
 
   
   
  FUND INFORMATION AND
PORTFOLIO DIAGNOSTICS
 
 

Average Market Capitalization*

$959 million   
 
  Weighted Average P/E Ratio** 12.4x   
 
  Weighted Average P/B Ratio 1.7x   
 
  Weighted Average Portfolio Yield 0.8%   
 
  Fund Net Assets $372 million   
 
  Turnover Rate 22%   
 
  Number of Holdings 95   
 
  Symbol  
    Investment Class RCPFX   
    Service Class RCSSX   
 
    * Geometrically calculated
 

** The Fund’s P/E calculation excludes companies with zero or  negative earnings (2% of portfolio holdings as of 6/30/08).

   
   
   
  RISK/RETURN COMPARISON
Five-Year Period Ended 6/30/08
 
    Average Annual
Total Return
Standard Deviation Return
Efficiency*
 
  RCS 14.50% 12.26 1.18
 
  Russell 2000 10.29     14.38 0.72
 
 
* Return Efficiency is the average annual total return divided by the annualized standard deviation over a designated time period. Please read the prospectus for a more complete discussion of risk.
   
 
   
   
   
   
   


Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders   |   13



Schedules of Investments



Royce Capital Fund – Micro-Cap Portfolio

    SHARES     VALUE  
COMMON STOCKS – 91.5%            
             
Consumer Products – 5.9%            
Apparel, Shoes and Accessories - 2.1%            

LaCrosse Footwear

  260,109   $ 3,805,395  

Steven Madden a

  128,971     2,370,487  

True Religion Apparel a,b

  108,100     2,880,865  

Volcom a,b

  116,000     2,775,880  
       
          11,832,627  
       
Food/Beverage/Tobacco - 0.9%            

Asian Citrus Holdings

  349,364     2,000,656  

Jones Soda a,b

  1,004,500     3,234,490  
       
          5,235,146  
       
Health, Beauty and Nutrition - 0.3%            

Nutraceutical International a

  146,500     1,758,000  
       
Home Furnishing and Appliances - 0.9%            

AS Creation Tapeten

  84,980     4,850,136  
       
Sports and Recreation - 1.7%            

Arctic Cat

  596,360     4,681,426  

Piscines Desjoyaux

  147,000     2,147,803  

RC2 Corporation a

  147,000     2,728,320  
       
          9,557,549  
       
Total (Cost $36,156,408)         33,233,458  
       
Consumer Services – 5.8%            
Leisure and Entertainment - 0.8%            

FortuNet a,b

  148,595     930,205  

New Frontier Media

  903,588     3,533,029  
       
          4,463,234  
       
Online Commerce - 0.4%            

CryptoLogic

  147,600     2,119,536  
       
Restaurants and Lodgings - 0.7%            

Benihana a,b

  61,314     383,826  

Benihana Cl. A a,b

  127,930     811,076  

City Lodge Hotels

  325,000     2,905,076  
       
          4,099,978  
       
Retail Stores - 3.1%            

A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts a

  239,500     1,688,475  

Buckle (The)

  79,350     3,628,676  

Cache a

  460,800     4,930,560  

Cato Corporation (The) Cl. A

  124,500     1,772,880  

Dover Saddlery a,b

  120,365     475,442  

Duckwall-ALCO Stores a

  11,552     106,278  

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers a,b

  118,600     3,172,550  

Stein Mart a,b

  383,551     1,729,815  
       
          17,504,676  
       
Other Consumer Services - 0.8%            

Collectors Universe

  225,807     1,831,295  

First Cash Financial Services a,b

  182,800     2,740,172  
       
          4,571,467  
       
Total (Cost $39,755,498)         32,758,891  
       
    SHARES     VALUE  
Financial Intermediaries – 4.7%            
Banking - 1.5%            

Bancorp (The) a

  127,528   $ 971,764  

BB Holdings a

  836,924     3,792,485  

Canadian Western Bank

  150,800     3,660,194  
       
          8,424,443  
       
Insurance - 2.2%            

American Physicians Service Group

  120,000     2,644,800  

American Safety Insurance Holdings a

  163,200     2,346,816  

Argo Group International Holdings a

  70,027     2,350,106  

Navigators Group a,b

  56,300     3,043,015  

United Fire & Casualty

  78,630     2,117,506  
       
          12,502,243  
       
Securities Brokers - 1.0%            

Sanders Morris Harris Group

  584,000     3,959,520  

Thomas Weisel Partners Group a,b

  314,600     1,720,862  
       
          5,680,382  
       
Total (Cost $25,338,215)         26,607,068  
       
Financial Services – 3.2%            
Information and Processing - 0.1%            

EDGAR Online a,b

  330,700     608,488  
       
Investment Management - 3.1%            

Anima

  1,305,150     2,959,048  

Brait

  1,087,300     2,791,153  

CapMan Cl. B

  1,062,359     4,181,581  

Deutsche Beteiligungs

  219,700     5,555,265  

U.S. Global Investors Cl. A

  112,300     1,881,025  
       
          17,368,072  
       
Total (Cost $23,722,089)         17,976,560  
       
Health – 9.5%            
Commercial Services - 0.4%            

PDI a

  222,700     1,939,717  
       
Drugs and Biotech - 2.2%            

Cell Genesys a

  417,500     1,085,500  

DUSA Pharmaceuticals a,b

  525,649     1,056,554  

Dyax Corporation a,b

  678,216     2,102,470  

Fornix Biosciences

  104,503     1,908,604  

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals a,b

  657,600     1,052,160  

Maxygen a

  147,000     498,330  

Orchid Cellmark a

  884,200     2,298,920  

ULURU a

  2,077,690     1,766,037  

YM Biosciences a

  947,400     890,556  
       
          12,659,131  
       
Health Services - 1.6%            

Bio-Imaging Technologies a,b

  303,823     2,248,290  

Computer Programs and Systems

  108,500     1,880,305  

CorVel Corporation a,b

  78,225     2,649,481  

U.S. Physical Therapy a

  141,960     2,329,564  
       
          9,107,640  
       
Medical Products and Devices - 5.3%            

Anika Therapeutics a

  123,252     1,058,735  

Bruker Corporation a

  454,343     5,838,308  

14  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.



June 30, 2008 (unaudited)



 

    SHARES     VALUE  
Health (continued)            
Medical Products and Devices (continued)            

Caliper Life Sciences a,b

  321,000   $ 831,390  

Cerus Corporation a,b

  400,000     1,636,000  

ICU Medical a,b

  15,000     343,200  

Merit Medical Systems a

  176,600     2,596,020  

Neogen Corporation a,b

  180,250     4,125,922  

NMT Medical a,b

  174,800     816,316  

Northstar Neuroscience a,b

  409,700     651,423  

SenoRx a

  217,500     1,679,100  

Shamir Optical Industry

  145,700     1,012,615  

Syneron Medical a,b

  235,144     3,865,767  

Thermage a

  327,900     937,794  

Vital Images a,b

  123,700     1,538,828  

Young Innovations

  149,465     3,111,861  
       
          30,043,279  
       
Total (Cost $63,132,448)         53,749,767  
       
Industrial Products – 8.7%            
Automotive - 1.3%            

ATC Technology a,b

  122,300     2,847,144  

Landi Renzo

  761,000     4,696,776  
       
          7,543,920  
       
Building Systems and Components - 1.6%            

AAON

  204,275     3,934,336  

Drew Industries a,b

  145,600     2,322,320  

LSI Industries

  304,499     2,472,532  
       
          8,729,188  
       
Industrial Components - 0.3%            

Orion Energy Systems a,b

  174,100     1,741,000  
       
Machinery - 2.1%            

Exel Industries Cl. A

  20,500     1,499,232  

Kadant a,b

  77,300     1,746,980  

Key Technology a

  130,300     4,144,843  

Technotrans

  193,000     4,223,780  
       
          11,614,835  
       
Metal Fabrication and Distribution - 2.0%            

Dynamic Materials

  90,300     2,975,385  

Izmir Demir Celik Sanayi

  451,500     1,025,717  

Olympic Steel

  69,900     5,306,808  

SamuelManu-Tech

  243,800     2,115,946  
       
          11,423,856  
       
Miscellaneous Manufacturing - 0.7%            

Peerless Manufacturing a

  87,400     4,096,438  
       
Specialty Chemicals and Materials - 0.7%            

American Vanguard

  162,933     2,004,076  

Hawkins

  128,300     1,919,368  
       
          3,923,444  
       
Textiles - 0.0%            

Marimekko

  7,648     167,376  
       
Total (Cost $37,622,409)         49,240,057  
       
Industrial Services – 14.5%            
Advertising and Publishing - 0.1%            

Haynes Publishing Group

  171,800     590,294  
       
    SHARES     VALUE  
Industrial Services (continued)            
Commercial Services - 6.2%            

Barrett Business Services

  84,099   $ 994,891  

CRA International a,b

  70,106     2,534,332  

Electro Rent

  148,200     1,858,428  

eTelecare Global Solutions ADR a

  364,100     1,944,294  

Exponent a

  127,328     3,999,372  

GP Strategies a

  353,000     3,547,650  

Intersections a

  340,300     3,719,479  

Kforce a

  585,800     4,973,442  

LECG Corporation a

  424,396     3,709,221  

Lincoln Educational Services a,b

  378,400     4,400,792  

PeopleSupport a

  219,987     1,869,890  

Willdan Group a

  290,100     1,395,381  
       
          34,947,172  
       
Engineering and Construction - 1.5%            

Cavco Industries a

  149,481     4,892,513  

Sterling Construction a

  187,000     3,713,820  
       
          8,606,333  
       
Food, Tobacco and Agriculture - 1.7%            

Imperial Sugar

  275,400     4,276,962  

Sipef

  3,000     2,298,998  

Zapata Corporation a

  394,300     2,756,157  
       
          9,332,117  
       
Industrial Distribution - 0.4%            

Houston Wire & Cable

  119,900     2,386,010  
       
Printing - 1.2%            

Courier Corporation

  159,618     3,205,129  

CSS Industries

  84,300     2,041,746  

Ennis

  108,400     1,696,460  
       
          6,943,335  
       
Transportation and Logistics - 3.4%            

Euroseas

  352,049     4,566,076  

Marten Transport a

  321,449     5,133,541  

Patriot Transportation Holding a,b

  66,281     5,302,480  

Vitran Corporation a

  259,050     3,883,159  
       
          18,885,256  
       
Total (Cost $87,512,920)         81,690,517  
       
Natural Resources – 18.1%            
Energy Services - 6.0%            

Boots & Coots International Well Control a

  1,250,000     2,975,000  

Gulf Island Fabrication

  28,200     1,379,826  

Particle Drilling Technologies a,b

  368,825     922,062  

Pioneer Drilling a

  152,500     2,868,525  

Savanna Energy Services

  86,084     1,983,891  

Superior Well Services a,b

  160,600     5,092,626  

Tesco Corporation a

  167,000     5,335,650  

TGC Industries a

  614,625     5,470,163  

Total Energy Services Trust

  567,900     4,689,338  

World Energy Solutions a

  2,239,400     2,854,977  
       
          33,572,058  
       
Oil and Gas - 1.5%            

Approach Resources a

  230,500     6,175,095  

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders  |  15



Schedules of Investments


   Royce Capital Fund – Micro-Cap Portfolio (continued)

    SHARES   VALUE  
Natural Resources (continued)            
Oil and Gas (continued)            

Kodiak Oil & Gas a,b

  560,500   $ 2,555,880  

PetroCorp a,c

  163,200     0  
       
          8,730,975  
       
Precious Metals and Mining - 10.0%            

Alamos Gold a

  429,200     2,588,585  

Allied Nevada Gold a

  920,109     5,419,442  

Aquiline Resources a

  221,000     1,677,493  

Bear Creek Mining a

  338,200     1,641,748  

Central African Gold a

  1,571,326     586,846  

Crosshair Exploration & Mining a

  1,299,500     1,000,615  

Eldorado Gold a

  200,000     1,730,000  

Endeavour Mining Capital

  722,900     5,246,112  

Endeavour Silver a,b

  428,100     1,335,672  

Entree Gold a

  988,700     1,918,078  

First Majestic Silver a

  702,800     3,170,423  

Gammon Gold a

  342,447     3,715,550  

Great Basin Gold a

  526,500     1,791,659  

Greystar Resources a

  418,800     1,589,444  

Hecla Mining a,b

  156,100     1,445,486  

Linear Gold a

  483,800     925,184  

Midway Gold a

  782,900     1,535,550  

Minco Silver a

  842,700     2,809,826  

Quaterra Resources a,b

  542,500     1,729,062  

Red Back Mining a

  677,100     5,710,562  

Rusoro Mining a

  626,900     799,225  

Silvercorp Metals

  317,400     1,867,608  

Uranium Resources a,b

  237,900     877,851  

US Gold a

  836,796     1,941,367  

US Silver a

  2,469,000     1,089,585  

Western Copper a,b

  1,611,200     2,006,692  
       
          56,149,665  
       
Real Estate - 0.6%            

Kennedy-Wilson a,b

  84,000     3,591,000  
       
Total (Cost $87,183,329)         102,043,698  
       
Technology – 16.9%            
Aerospace and Defense - 2.0%            

Aerovironment a

  125,770     3,418,429  

American Science & Engineering

  62,000     3,194,860  

Ducommun a

  131,400     3,016,944  

Integral Systems a

  49,756     1,925,557  
       
          11,555,790  
       
Components and Systems - 1.5%            

Excel Technology a

  228,700     5,104,584  

LaCie

  334,210     2,036,384  

Super Micro Computer a,b

  121,200     894,456  

Viscom

  43,018     360,322  
       
          8,395,746  
       
Distribution - 0.7%            

Diploma

  1,200,000     3,896,057  
       
Internet Software and Services - 0.3%            

Answers Corporation a,b

  65,700     239,805  
    SHARES   VALUE  
Technology (continued)            
Internet Software and Services (continued)            

SupportSoft a,b

  372,100   $ 1,209,325  
       
          1,449,130  
       
IT Services - 0.6%            

Neurones

  368,000     3,244,629  
       
Semiconductors and Equipment - 6.0%            

Advanced Energy Industries a

  141,100     1,933,070  

Cascade Microtech a

  184,763     1,215,740  

CEVA a

  412,500     3,287,625  

Eagle Test Systems a,b

  282,000     3,158,400  

GSI Technology a

  482,500     1,872,100  

Ikanos Communications a

  309,400     1,042,678  

Integrated Silicon Solution a

  274,696     1,527,310  

PDF Solutions a,b

  607,624     3,615,363  

QuickLogic Corporation a

  287,800     480,626  

Rubicon Technology a,b

  54,800     1,113,536  

Rudolph Technologies a,b

  188,800     1,453,760  

Semitool a

  275,500     2,069,005  

Supertex a

  161,800     3,776,412  

TTM Technologies a

  568,800     7,513,848  
       
          34,059,473  
       
Software - 2.2%            

Datasul

  375,000     5,345,112  

Fundtech a

  136,100     1,958,479  

Pervasive Software a,b

  324,400     1,385,188  

PLATO Learning a

  829,237     2,197,478  

SeaChange International a,b

  244,400     1,749,904  
       
          12,636,161  
       
Telecommunications - 3.6%            

Anaren a

  413,100     4,366,467  

Atlantic Tele-Network

  170,350     4,686,329  

Ceragon Networks a,b

  358,902     2,777,901  

Digi International a

  256,200     2,011,170  

KVH Industries a

  199,400     1,661,002  

Novatel Wireless a

  407,000     4,529,910  
       
          20,032,779  
       
Total (Cost $99,638,237)         95,269,765  
       
Miscellaneous d – 4.2%            
Total (Cost $28,813,182)         23,905,039  
       
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS            

(Cost $528,874,735)

        516,474,820  
       
PREFERRED STOCK – 0.4%            

Kennedy-Wilson Conv. c,e

           

(Cost $2,140,000)

  2,140     2,178,220  
       

16 | Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders   THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.




June 30, 2008 (unaudited)


      Royce Capital Fund – Small-Cap Portfolio

          VALUE  
               
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT – 8.3%              
State Street Bank & Trust Company,              

2.05% dated 6/30/08, due 7/1/08,

             

maturity value $47,215,689 (collateralized

             

by obligations of various U.S. Government

             

Agencies, valued at $48,393,369)

             

(Cost $47,213,000)

        $ 47,213,000  
         
               
    PRINCIPAL        
    AMOUNT        
COLLATERAL RECEIVED FOR SECURITIES              

LOANED – 6.2%

             
Fannie Mae-Discount Notes              

due 7/9/08-12/31/08

    $    4,018     4,017  
Fannie Mae-Notes              

3.375%-6.00%

             

due 3/5/10-4/18/36

    1,107     1,127  
Federal Home Loan Bank-Bonds              

5.53%

             

due 10/10/13

    1     1  
Federal Home Loan Bank-Discount Notes              

due 11/19/08-12/31/08

    1,547     1,547  
Freddie Mac-Notes              

3.05%

             

due 4/28/10

    224     226  
U.S. Treasury Bills              

due 11/13/08-11/20/08

    3,128     3,128  
U.S. Treasury Bonds              

2.375%-8.875%

             

due 5/15/17-1/15/25

    67,790     69,377  
U.S. Treasury Notes              

1.875%-5.00%

             

due 4/30/09-7/15/15

    27,067     27,289  
Money Market Funds              

State Street Navigator Securities Lending

             

Prime Portfolio (7 day yield-2.6748%)

          34,709,252  
         
TOTAL COLLATERAL RECEIVED FOR              

SECURITIES LOANED

             

(Cost $34,815,964)

          34,815,964  
         
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 106.4%              

(Cost $613,043,699)

          600,682,004  
               
LIABILITIES LESS CASH              

AND OTHER ASSETS – (6.4)%

          (36,196,182 )
         
NET ASSETS – 100.0%         $ 564,485,822  
         
    SHARES   VALUE  
COMMON STOCKS – 88.2%            
             
Consumer Products – 7.0%            
Apparel, Shoes and Accessories - 0.2%            

K-Swiss Cl. A

  42,200   $ 620,340  
       
Food/Beverage/Tobacco - 0.4%            

Sanderson Farms

  46,800     1,615,536  
       
Health, Beauty and Nutrition - 4.3%            

Inter Parfums

  317,296     4,759,440  

NBTY a

  116,900     3,747,814  

Nu Skin Enterprises Cl. A

  266,100     3,970,212  

Nutraceutical International a

  285,104     3,421,248  
       
          15,898,714  
       
Home Furnishing and Appliances - 0.6%            

Ethan Allen Interiors

  86,400     2,125,440  
       
Sports and Recreation - 1.5%            

Thor Industries

  147,800     3,142,228  

Winnebago Industries

  245,200     2,498,588  
       
          5,640,816  
       
Total (Cost $32,507,889)         25,900,846  
       
Consumer Services – 4.9%            
Leisure and Entertainment - 1.5%            

International Speedway Cl. A

  94,800     3,700,044  

Monarch Casino & Resort a,b

  166,100     1,959,980  
       
          5,660,024  
       
Retail Stores - 3.4%            

Buckle (The)

  98,600     4,508,978  

Cato Corporation (The) Cl. A

  240,900     3,430,416  

Dress Barn (The) a,b

  350,600     4,691,028  
       
          12,630,422  
       
Total (Cost $20,899,918)         18,290,446  
       
Financial Intermediaries – 9.0%            
Insurance - 6.4%            

AmCOMP a

  154,214     1,498,960  

American Safety Insurance Holdings a

  178,716     2,569,936  

Aspen Insurance Holdings

  182,700     4,324,509  

EMC Insurance Group

  86,722     2,088,266  

Harleysville Group

  33,427     1,130,835  

Max Capital Group

  165,503     3,530,179  

Meadowbrook Insurance Group

  500,700     2,653,710  

Montpelier Re Holdings b

  99,000     1,460,250  

ProAssurance Corporation a

  14,100     678,351  

United America Indemnity a

  3,532     47,223  

United Fire & Casualty

  68,900     1,855,477  

Validus Holdings b

  95,100     2,020,875  
       
          23,858,571  
       
Securities Brokers - 2.6%            

Knight Capital Group Cl. A a,b

  454,500     8,171,910  

Thomas Weisel Partners Group a

  254,194     1,390,441  
       
          9,562,351  
       
Total (Cost $37,801,611)         33,420,922  
       

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.   Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders | 17



Schedules of Investments


   Royce Capital Fund – Small-Cap Portfolio (continued)

    SHARES     VALUE  
Health – 5.4%            
Drugs and Biotech - 1.0%            

Emergent Biosolutions a,b

  378,620   $ 3,759,697  
       
Health Services - 1.2%            

LCA-Vision

  135,400     645,858  

U.S. Physical Therapy a

  226,200     3,711,942  
       
          4,357,800  
       
Medical Products and Devices - 3.2%            

Cutera a,b

  250,122     2,258,602  

Home Diagnostics a,b

  396,351     3,590,940  

Palomar Medical Technologies a,b

  268,000     2,674,640  

Vital Signs

  61,221     3,476,128  
       
          12,000,310  
       
Total (Cost $21,684,935)         20,117,807  
       
Industrial Products – 14.3%            
Automotive - 0.6%            

Dorman Products a

  208,259     1,678,568  

Miller Industries a,b

  66,000     657,360  
       
          2,335,928  
       
Building Systems and Components - 1.5%            

Drew Industries a,b

  135,900     2,167,605  

Simpson Manufacturing b

  139,485     3,311,374  
       
          5,478,979  
       
Industrial Components - 0.7%            

Bel Fuse Cl. A

  49,762     1,393,336  

Bel Fuse Cl. B

  46,888     1,158,602  
       
          2,551,938  
       
Machinery - 2.2%            

Lincoln Electric Holdings

  50,500     3,974,350  

Woodward Governor

  113,300     4,040,278  
       
          8,014,628  
       
Metal Fabrication and Distribution - 6.5%            

Carpenter Technology

  85,500     3,732,075  

Schnitzer Steel Industries Cl. A

  47,000     5,386,200  

Sims Group ADR

  232,470     9,275,553  

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products a,b

  161,760     5,991,590  
       
          24,385,418  
       
Pumps, Valves and Bearings - 2.5%            

Gardner Denver a

  164,500     9,343,600  
       
Specialty Chemicals and Materials - 0.3%            

Westlake Chemical

  82,800     1,230,408  
       
Total (Cost $40,264,207)         53,340,899  
       
Industrial Services – 12.3%            
Commercial Services - 9.0%            

Barrett Business Services

  206,426     2,442,019  

CRA International a

  110,718     4,002,456  

Heidrick & Struggles International

  225,800     6,241,112  

Kforce a

  472,100     4,008,129  

Korn/Ferry International a,b

  461,700     7,262,541  

Resources Connection a

  223,400     4,546,190  

TrueBlue a

  372,800     4,924,688  
       
          33,427,135  
       
    SHARES     VALUE  
Industrial Services (continued)            
Industrial Distribution - 1.3%            

Applied Industrial Technologies

  199,900   $ 4,831,583  
       
Transportation and Logistics - 2.0%            

Arkansas Best

  108,500     3,975,440  

Heartland Express

  243,200     3,626,112  
       
          7,601,552  
       
Total (Cost $57,237,044)         45,860,270  
       
Natural Resources – 18.5%            
Energy Services - 13.6%            

Ensign Energy Services

  276,200     6,018,598  

Oil States International a,b

  209,600     13,297,024  

Patterson-UTI Energy

  35,400     1,275,816  

Pioneer Drilling a

  184,864     3,477,292  

RPC

  198,500     3,334,800  

Superior Well Services a

  187,788     5,954,757  

Trican Well Service

  155,400     3,863,283  

Unit Corporation a

  159,800     13,258,606  
       
          50,480,176  
       
Oil and Gas - 1.1%            

Cimarex Energy

  58,518     4,076,949  
       
Precious Metals and Mining - 3.4%            

Agnico-Eagle Mines

  79,600     5,919,852  

Pan American Silver a

  86,000     2,973,880  

Red Back Mining a

  247,700     2,089,066  

Silver Standard Resources a

  56,400     1,615,860  
       
          12,598,658  
       
Real Estate - 0.4%            

W.P. Carey & Co.

  57,552     1,652,318  
       
Total (Cost $38,758,812)         68,808,101  
       
Technology – 14.6%            
Components and Systems - 4.0%            

MKS Instruments a

  260,700     5,709,330  

MTS Systems

  111,109     3,986,591  

Rimage Corporation a

  257,045     3,184,788  

Super Micro Computer a,b

  291,650     2,152,377  
       
          15,033,086  
       
Semiconductors and Equipment - 6.6%            

Advanced Energy Industries a

  282,400     3,868,880  

Eagle Test Systems a,b

  421,869     4,724,933  

Entegris a

  556,500     3,645,075  

Fairchild Semiconductor International a

  112,100     1,314,933  

OmniVision Technologies a

  244,614     2,957,383  

Semitool a

  47,700     358,227  

Techwell a,b

  78,860     971,555  

Trident Microsystems a

  593,900     2,167,735  

Verigy a

  191,900     4,358,049  
       
          24,366,770  
       
Software - 0.6%            

Sonic Solutions a

  389,200     2,319,632  
       
Telecommunications - 3.4%            

Comtech Telecommunications a

  95,200     4,664,800  

18 | Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders   THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.



  June 30, 2008 (unaudited)


 

    SHARES   VALUE
Technology (continued)            
Telecommunications (continued)            

NETGEAR a

  300,200   $ 4,160,772  

Radyne Corporation a

  334,291     3,820,946  
       
          12,646,518  
       
Total (Cost $65,572,834)         54,366,006  
       
Miscellaneous d – 2.2%            
Total (Cost $9,220,490)         8,214,762  
       
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS            

(Cost $323,947,740)

        328,320,059  
       
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT – 12.3%            
State Street Bank & Trust Company,            

2.05% dated 6/30/08, due 7/1/08,

           

maturity value $45,737,604 (collateralized

           

by obligations of various U.S. Government

           

Agencies, valued at $46,883,265)

           

(Cost $45,735,000)

        45,735,000  
       
COLLATERAL RECEIVED FOR SECURITIES            

LOANED – 3.9%

           
Money Market Funds            

State Street Navigator Securities Lending

           

Prime Portfolio (7 day yield-2.6748%)

           

(Cost $14,480,301)

        14,480,301  
       
TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 104.4%            

(Cost $384,163,041)

        388,535,360  
             
LIABILITIES LESS CASH            

AND OTHER ASSETS – (4.4)%

        (16,311,993 )
       
NET ASSETS – 100.0%       $ 372,223,367  
       


  New additions in 2008.
     
a   Non-income producing.
     
b   All or a portion of these securities were on loan at June 30, 2008.
     
c   Securities for which market quotations are not readily available represent 0.4% of net assets for Royce Micro-Cap Portfolio. These securities have been valued at their fair value under procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
     
d   Includes securities first acquired in 2008 and less than 1% of net assets.
     
e   This security, and the common stock into which the security is convertible, are not and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and related rules (“restricted security”). Accordingly, such securities may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, unless (i) such shares are registered under the Securities Act and any other applicable state securities laws, or (ii) an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any other applicable state securities laws is available.
     
    Bold indicates a Fund’s 20 largest equity holdings in terms of June 30, 2008 market value.


THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders | 19



Statements of Assets and Liabilities June 30, 2008 (unaudited)


    Micro-Cap     Small-Cap  
    Portfolio     Portfolio  
ASSETS:                
Investments at value                

(including collateral on loaned securities)*

  $ 553,469,004     $ 342,800,360  
Repurchase agreements (at cost and value)     47,213,000       45,735,000  
Cash and foreign currency     11,263       571  
Receivable for investments sold     2,017,094       841,192  
Receivable for capital shares sold     227,123       322,612  
Receivable for dividends and interest     266,065       149,608  
Prepaid expenses and other assets     3,521       1,828  

Total Assets

    603,207,070       389,851,171  

LIABILITIES:                
Payable for collateral on loaned securities     34,815,964        14,480,301  
Payable for investments purchased     2,884,155       2,185,765  
Payable for capital shares redeemed     302,225       552,184  
Payable for investment advisory fees     598,526       311,812  
Accrued expenses     120,378       97,742  

Total Liabilities

    38,721,248       17,627,804  

Net Assets

  $ 564,485,822     $ 372,223,367  

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS:                
Paid-in capital   $ 489,719,297     $ 337,653,162  
Undistributed net investment income (loss)     4,160,386       1,855,405  
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     82,967,930       28,342,582  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency     (12,361,791 )     4,372,218  

Net Assets

  $ 564,485,822     $ 372,223,367  

Investment Class

  $ 561,225,424     $ 370,226,358  

Service Class

    3,260,398       1,997,009  

SHARES OUTSTANDING:                
(unlimited number of $.001 par value shares authorized for each Fund)                

Investment Class

    44,833,087       36,476,939  

Service Class

    261,242       197,601  

NET ASSET VALUES:                
(Net Assets ÷ Shares Outstanding)                

(offering and redemption price per share)

               

Investment Class

    $ 12.52       $ 10.15  

Service Class

    12.48       10.11  

* Investments at identified cost

  $ 565,830,699     $ 338,428,041  

Market value of loaned securities

    33,072,436       14,056,656  

20  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.



Statements of Changes in Net Assets


    Micro-Cap Portfolio   Small-Cap Portfolio
   
 
    Six months ended           Six months ended        
    6/30/08   Year ended   6/30/08   Year ended
    (unaudited)   12/31/07   (unaudited)   12/31/07
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:                                
Net investment income (loss)   $ 4,529,863     $ 1,206,158     $ (144,011 )   $ 1,999,916  
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     30,556,079       59,162,715       (79,892 )     28,423,391  

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency

    (80,085,950 )     (37,328,290 )     6,173,016       (41,506,884 )

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from investment operations     (45,000,008 )     23,040,583       5,949,113       (11,083,577 )

DISTRIBUTIONS:                                
Net investment income                                

Investment Class

          (9,361,854 )           (180,956 )

Service Class

          (35,888 )            
Net realized gain on investments and foreign currency                                

Investment Class

          (53,346,171 )           (15,743,210 )

Service Class

          (235,606 )           (79,740 )

Total distributions           (62,979,519 )           (16,003,906 )

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:                                
Value of shares sold                                

Investment Class

    52,861,725       160,003,809       44,885,195       116,967,688  

Service Class

    723,921       3,215,912       405,358       2,184,727  
Distributions reinvested                                

Investment Class

          62,708,019             15,924,166  

Service Class

          271,494             79,740  
Value of shares redeemed                                

Investment Class

    (76,840,866 )     (114,348,536 )     (26,334,077 )     (34,312,008 )

Service Class

    (727,375 )     (961,816 )     (75,898 )     (554,804 )

Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

    (23,982,595 )     110,888,882       18,880,578       100,289,509  

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS     (68,982,603 )     70,949,946       24,829,691       73,202,026  
NET ASSETS:                                

Beginning of period

    633,468,425       562,518,479       347,393,676       274,191,650  

End of period

  $ 564,485,822     $ 633,468,425     $ 372,223,367     $ 347,393,676  

UNDISTRIBUTED NET INVESTMENT                                

INCOME (LOSS) AT END OF PERIOD

  $ 4,160,386     $ (369,476 )   $ 1,855,405     $ 1,999,415  

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.   Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders | 21



Statements of Operations Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 (unaudited)


      Micro-Cap       Small-Cap  
      Portfolio       Portfolio  
INVESTMENT INCOME:                
Income:                

Dividends

  $ 7,521,702     $ 1,286,699  

Interest

    585,931       401,106  

Securities lending

    241,999       76,038  

Total income     8,349,632       1,763,843  

Expenses:                

Investment advisory fees

    3,599,175       1,760,573  

Distribution fees

    4,050       2,222  

Custody

    67,922       19,124  

Shareholder reports

    60,266       67,531  

Administrative and office facilities

    25,263       14,514  

Trustees’ fees

    21,263       12,870  

Audit

    15,000       15,000  

Shareholder servicing

    12,974       11,968  

Legal

    3,226       1,849  

Registration

    2,529       760  

Other expenses

    13,492       7,185  

Total expenses     3,825,160       1,913,596  
Compensating balance credits     (22 )     (550 )
Expenses reimbursed by investment adviser                

Service Class

    (5,369 )     (5,192 )

Net expenses     3,819,769       1,907,854  

Net investment income (loss)     4,529,863       (144,011 )

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY:                
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     30,556,079       (79,892 )
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency      (80,085,950 )     6,173,016 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and foreign currency     (49,529,871 )     6,093,124  

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM INVESTMENT OPERATIONS   $ (45,000,008 )   $ 5,949,113  

22  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.



Financial Highlights


This table is presented to show selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period, and to assist shareholders in evaluating a Fund’s performance for the periods presented. Per share amounts have been determined on the basis of the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period.
 
          Net Realized and               Distributions from                               Ratio of Expenses
to Average Net Assets

  Ratio of Net
Investment
         
    Net Asset
Value,  
Beginning of
Period
Net
Investment
Income
(Loss)
  Unrealized Gain
(Loss) on
Investments and
Foreign Currency
  Total from
Investment
Operations
  Distributions
from Net
Investment
Income
  Net Realized Gain
on Investments
and Foreign
Currency
  Total
Distributions
  Net Asset
Value, End of
Period
Total
Return
  Net Assets,
End of Period
(in thousands)
Prior to Fee
Waivers and
Balance
Credits
  Prior to Fee
Waivers
Net of Fee
Waivers
  Income
(Loss) to
Average Net
Assets
  Portfolio
Turnover
Rate
 

Micro-Cap Portfolio – Investment Class
2008   $ 13.47   $ 0.10     $ (1.05 )   $ (0.95 )   $  –     $   –     $  –     $ 12.52     (7.05 )%#   $ 561,226     1.33 %*     1.33 %*   1.33 %*     1.57 %*     23 %  
2007     14.40     0.03       0.53       0.56       (0.22 )     (1.27 )     (1.49 )     13.47     3.98       629,953     1.31       1.31     1.31       0.19       47    
2006     12.57     0.01       2.63       2.64       (0.03 )     (0.78 )     (0.81 )     14.40     21.07       561,257     1.32       1.31     1.31       (0.09 )     41    
2005     11.50     (0.05 )     1.38       1.33       (0.06 )     (0.20 )     (0.26 )     12.57     11.61       384,069     1.33       1.33     1.33       (0.51 )     38    
2004     10.90     (0.09 )     1.58       1.49        –       (0.89 )     (0.89 )     11.50     13.85       345,499     1.34       1.34     1.34       (0.78 )     38    
2003     7.60     (0.08 )     3.80       3.72        –       (0.42 )     (0.42 )     10.90     49.16       249,652     1.36       1.36     1.35       (0.84 )     41    

Micro-Cap Portfolio – Service Class (a)
2008   $ 13.45   $ 0.09     $ (1.06 )   $ (0.97 )   $  –     $   –     $  –     $ 12.48     (7.21 )%#   $ 3,260     1.91 %*     1.91 %*   1.58 %*     1.36 %*     23 %  
2007     14.39     (0.06 )     0.58       0.52       (0.19 )     (1.27 )     (1.46 )     13.45     3.71       3,515     2.11       2.11     1.58       (0.06 )     47    
2006     14.90     (0.04 )     0.34       0.30       (0.02 )     (0.79 )     (0.81 )     14.39     2.06 #     1,262     8.67 *     8.67 *   1.58 *     0.16 *     41    

Small-Cap Portfolio – Investment Class
2008   $ 9.96   $ (0.00 )   $ 0.19     $ 0.19     $  –     $   –     $  –     $ 10.15     1.91 %#   $ 370,226     1.08 %*     1.08 %*   1.08 %*     (0.08 )%*     22 %  
2007     10.67     0.07       (0.30 )     (0.23 )     (0.00 )     (0.48 )     (0.48 )     9.96     (2.14 )     345,747     1.09       1.08   1.08       0.60       64    
2006     9.67     0.00       1.51       1.51       (0.01 )     (0.50 )     (0.51 )     10.67     15.57       274,089     1.08       1.08     1.08       0.08       54    
2005     9.00     0.01       0.76       0.77        –       (0.10 )     (0.10 )     9.67     8.56       187,039     1.11       1.11     1.11       0.11       45    
2004     7.59     (0.05 )     1.93       1.88        –       (0.47 )     (0.47 )     9.00     24.95       110,911     1.14       1.14     1.14       (0.62     47    
2003     5.71     (0.04 )     2.38       2.34        –       (0.46 )     (0.46 )     7.59     41.10       57,391     1.21       1.21     1.21       (0.55     70    

Small-Cap Portfolio – Service Class (a)
2008   $ 9.94   $ (0.02 )   $ 0.19     $ 0.17     $  –     $   –     $  –     $ 10.11     1.71 %#   $ 1,997     1.94 %*     1.94 %*   1.36 %*     (0.36 )%*     22 %  
2007     10.67     0.03       (0.28 )     (0.25 )      –       (0.48 )     (0.48 )     9.94     (2.37 )     1,647     2.09       2.09     1.36       0.23       64    
2006     10.85     (0.01 )     0.33       0.32        –       (0.50 )     (0.50 )     10.67     2.94 #     103     15.77 *     15.77 *   1.36 *     (0.12 )*     54    

(a)   The Class commenced operations on May 2, 2006.
     
*   Annualized.
     
#   Not annualized.
     
  Six months ended June 30, 2008 (unaudited).

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders | 23



Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)  


Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Royce Micro-Cap Portfolio and Royce Small-Cap Portfolio (the “Fund” or “Funds”) are the two series of Royce Capital Fund (the “Trust”), a diversified open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust. Shares of the Funds are offered to life insurance companies for allocation to certain separate accounts established for the purpose of funding qualified and non-qualified variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts, and may also be offered directly to certain pension plans and retirement plans and accounts permitting accumulation of assets on a tax-deferred basis. Micro-Cap Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio commenced operations on December 27, 1996.
     Classes of shares have equal rights as to earnings and assets, except that each class may bear different fees and expenses for distribution, shareholder servicing, registration, shareholder reports, compensating balance credits and different expense reimbursements. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains or losses on investments and foreign currency, and expenses other than those attributable to a specific class are allocated to each class of shares based on its relative net assets.
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Valuation of Investments:

Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. Securities that trade on an exchange, and securities traded on Nasdaq’s Electronic Bulletin Board, are valued at their last reported sales price or Nasdaq official closing price taken from the primary market in which each security trades or, if no sale is reported for such day, at their bid price. Other over-the-counter securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at their highest bid price. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value under procedures established by the Board of Trustees. In addition, if, between the time trading ends on a particular security and the close of the customary trading session on the NYSE, events occur that are significant and may make the closing price unreliable, the Fund may fair value the security. The Funds use an independent pricing service to provide fair value estimates for relevant non-U.S. equity securities on days when the U.S. market volatility exceeds a certain threshold. This pricing service uses proprietary correlations it has developed between the movement of prices of non-U.S. equity securities and indices of U.S.-traded securities, futures contracts and other indications to estimate the fair value of relevant non-U.S. securities. When fair value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a Fund may differ from quoted or published prices for the same security. Bonds and other fixed income securities may be valued by reference to other securities with comparable ratings, interest rates and maturities, using established independent pricing services. Investments in money market funds are valued at net asset value per share.
      Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels below:
          Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
          Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, foreign securities that may be fair valued and repurchase agreements)
          Level 3 – significant observable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
     The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

     The following is a summary of the inputs used to value each Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2008:


    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total

Micro-Cap Portfolio   $379,664,202     $218,839,582     $2,178,220     $600,682,004
Small-Cap Portfolio     316,349,113        72,186,247     -       388,535,360

      Level 3 Reconciliation:                      
    Balance as of 12/31/07         Change in unrealized appreciation       Purchases       Balance as of 6/30/08

Micro-Cap Portfolio   -     $38,220     $2,140,000     $2,178,220

Repurchase Agreements:

The Funds may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that the Funds’ investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. Each Fund restricts repurchase agreements to maturities of no more than seven days. Securities pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements, which are held until maturity of the repurchase agreements, are marked-to-market daily and maintained at a value at least equal to the principal amount of the repurchase agreement (including accrued interest). Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the counter-party, including possible delays or restrictions upon the ability of each Fund to dispose of its underlying securities.


Foreign Currency:

The Funds value their non-U.S. securities in U.S. dollars daily at the prevailing foreign currency exchange rates as quoted by a major bank. The effects of changes in foreign exchange rates on investments and other assets and liabilities are included with net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments.
     Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales and maturities of short-term securities, sales of foreign currencies, expiration of currency forward contracts, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference


24  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.



   


between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, including investments in securities at the end of the reporting period, as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Securities Lending:
   The Funds loan securities to qualified institutional investors for the purpose of realizing additional income. Collateral on all securities loaned for the Funds is accepted in cash and cash equivalents and invested temporarily by the custodian. The collateral is equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the Funds and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Funds on the next business day.

Distributions and Taxes:
   As qualified regulated investment companies under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, the Funds are not subject to income taxes to the extent that each Fund distributes substantially all of its taxable income for its fiscal year.
   The Funds pay any dividends and capital gain distributions annually in December. Dividends from net investment income are determined at a class level and distributions from capital gain are determined at a Fund level. Because federal income tax regulations differ from generally accepted accounting principles, income and capital gain distributions determined in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the character of distributions and composition of net assets for tax purposes differ from those reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income:
   Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividend income is recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are determined on the basis of identified cost for book and tax purposes.

Expenses:
   The Funds incur direct and indirect expenses. Expenses directly attributable to a Fund are charged to the Fund’s operations, while expenses applicable to more than one series of the Trust are allocated equitably. Allocated personnel and occupancy costs related to The Royce Funds are included in administrative and office facilities expenses. The Fund has adopted a deferred fee agreement that allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees’ Fees otherwise payable. The deferred fees are invested in certain Royce Funds until distributed in accordance with the agreement.

Compensating Balance Credits:
   The Funds have arrangements with their custodian bank and transfer agent, whereby a portion of the custodian’s fee and transfer agent’s fee is paid indirectly by credits earned on a Fund’s cash on deposit with the bank and transfer agent. These deposit arrangements are an alternative to purchasing overnight investments. Conversely, a Fund pays interest to the custodian on any cash overdrafts, to the extent they are not offset by credits earned on positive cash balances.

Line of Credit:
   The Funds, along with certain other Royce Funds, participate in a $75 million line of credit (“Credit Agreement”) to be used for temporary or emergency purposes. Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, each participating Fund is liable only for principal and interest payments related to borrowings made by that Fund. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to the prevailing federal funds rate plus the federal funds rate margin. The Funds did not utilize the line of credit during the six months ended June 30, 2008.

Capital Share Transactions (in shares):

                Shares issued for          
    Shares sold   reinvestment of
distributions
  Shares redeemed     Net increase (decrease)
in shares outstanding
   
 
 
   
    Period ended
6/30/08
(unaudited)
  Period ended
12/31/07
  Period ended
6/30/08
(unaudited)
  Period ended
12/31/07
  Period ended
6/30/08
(unaudited)
    Period ended
12/31/07
    Period ended
6/30/08
(unaudited)
  Period ended
12/31/07

Micro-Cap Portfolio                                                    

Investment Class

  4,151,273     10,635,970         4,690,203     (6,084,070 )     (7,534,125 )     (1,932,797 )   7,792,048  

Service Class

  57,086     217,328         20,336     (57,250 )     (63,948 )     (164   173,716  

Small-Cap Portfolio                                                    

Investment Class

  4,455,056     10,546,957         1,592,417     (2,680,668 )     (3,114,213 )     1,774,388     9,025,161  

Service Class

  39,527     199,236          7,998     (7,660 )      (51,148     31,867      156,086  

Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders  |  25



Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

Investment Adviser and Distributor:
Investment Adviser:
Under the Trust’s investment advisory agreements with Royce & Associates, LLC (“Royce”), Royce is entitled to receive Investment Advisory fees that are computed daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 1.25% and 1.00% of the average net assets of Micro-Cap Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio, respectively. Royce has contractually committed to reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to maintain the net annual operating expense ratios to average net assets at or below 1.58% and 1.36% for the Service Classes of Micro-Cap Portfolio and Small-Cap Portfolio, respectively, through December 31, 2008. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, Micro-Cap Portfolio recorded advisory fees of $3,599,175 and Small-Cap Portfolio recorded advisory fees of $1,760,573.

Distributor: Royce Fund Services, Inc. (“RFS”), the distributor of the Trust’s shares, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royce. RFS is entitled to receive distribution fees from each Fund’s Service Class that are computed daily and payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average net assets of each Class. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, Micro-Cap Portfolio-Service Class recorded net distribution fees of $4,050 and Small-Cap Portfolio-Service Class recorded net distribution fees of $2,222.

Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities:
   For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of investment securities, other than short-term securities and collateral received for securities loaned, were as follows:

    Purchases   Sales
Micro-Cap Portfolio   $ 130,051,418   $ 123,272,009
Small-Cap Portfolio     75,098,750     70,842,707

Class Specific Expenses:
   Class specific expenses were as follows:
    Net
Distribution
Fees
    Shareholder
Servicing
  Shareholder
Reports
  Registration   Transfer Agent
Balance Credits
  Total   Expenses
Reimbursed by
Investment
Adviser
Micro-Cap Portfolio – Investment Class   $     $ 7,825     $ 59,592     $ 2,494     $ (24 )   $ 69,887     $  
Micro-Cap Portfolio – Service Class     4,050       5,149       674       35       2       9,910       5,369  
      4,050       12,974       60,266       2,529       (22 )                
            6,827       66,852       760       (2 )     74,437        
Small-Cap Portfolio – Investment Class     2,222       5,141       679             2       8,044       5,192  
Small-Cap Portfolio – Service Class     2,222       11,968       67,531       760                        

Tax Information:
   At June 30, 2008, unrealized appreciation (depreciation) based on identified cost for tax purposes was as follows:
            Net Unrealized
Appreciation
    Gross Unrealized
      Tax Basis Cost     (Depreciation)     Appreciation     Depreciation  
Micro-Cap Portfolio     $613,231,296     $(12,549,292)     $87,514,463     $100,063,755  
Small-Cap Portfolio     384,172,096        4,363,264      58,984,438     54,621,174  

   The primary difference between book and tax basis cost is the timing of the recognition of losses on securities sold for book and tax purposes.

26  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.



Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses (unaudited)  


As a shareholder of a mutual fund, you pay ongoing expenses, including management fees and other Fund expenses including, for some funds, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees. Using the information below, you can estimate how these ongoing expenses (in dollars) affect your investment and compare them with the ongoing expenses of other funds. You may also incur one-time transaction expenses, including redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would result in higher total costs. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at January 1, 2008 and held for the entire six-month period ended June 30, 2008. Service Class shares are generally available only through certain brokers or retirement plan administrators who receive distribution and/or service fees from the Fund for services that they perform.


Actual Expenses

The first part of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this section, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value at June 30, 2008 by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.


Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second part of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, this section is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.


    Actual     Hypothetical (5% per year return before expenses)
   
   
    Beginning   Ending   Expenses Paid     Beginning   Ending   Expenses Paid   Annualized  
    Account Value   Account Value   During the     Account Value   Account Value   During the   Expense  
    1/1/08     6/30/08   Period(1)     1/1/08   6/30/08   Period(1)   Ratio(2)  
Investment Class                                              
                                               
Micro-Cap Portfolio   $ 1,000.00   $   929.47   $ 6.38     $ 1,000.00   $ 1,018.25   $ 6.67     1.33%  
Small-Cap Portfolio     1,000.00     1,019.08     5.42       1,000.00     1,019,49     5.42     1.08%  
                                               
Service Class                                              
                                               
Micro-Cap Portfolio     1,000.00        927.88     7.57       1,000.00     1,017.01     7.92     1.58%  
Small-Cap Portfolio     1,000.00     1,017.10     6.82       1,000.00     1,018.10     6.82     1.36%  

(1)   Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value for the period, multiplied by 182 days in the most recent fiscal half-year divided by 366 days (to reflect the half-year period). This information does not include fees or expenses of the variable annuity contracts or retirement plans investing in the Fund.
(2)   Annualized expense ratio used to derive figures in the table is based on the most recent fiscal half-year.

Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders  |  27



Board Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements

At meetings held on June 4-5, 2008, Royce Capital Fund’s Board of Trustees, including all of the non-interested trustees, approved the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreements between Royce & Associates, LLC (“R&A”) and each of Royce Micro-Cap Portfolio and Royce Small-Cap Portfolio (the “Funds”). In reaching these decisions, the Board reviewed the materials provided by R&A, which included, among other things, information prepared internally by R&A and independently by Morningstar Associates, LLC (“Morningstar”) containing detailed expense ratio and investment performance comparisons for each Fund with other mutual funds in their “peer group” and “category”, information regarding the past performance of Funds managed by R&A and a memorandum outlining the legal duties of the Board prepared by independent counsel to the non-interested trustees. R&A also provided the trustees with an analysis of its profitability with respect to providing investment advisory services to each of the Funds. In addition, the Board took into account information furnished throughout the year at regular Board meetings, including reports on investment performance, shareholder services, distribution fees and expenses, regulatory compliance, brokerage commissions and research, brokerage and execution products and services provided to the Funds. The Board also considered other matters it deemed important to the approval process such as payments made to R&A or its affiliates relating to allocation of Fund brokerage commissions, and other direct and indirect benefits to R&A and its affiliates, from their relationship with the Funds. The trustees also met throughout the year with investment advisory personnel from R&A. The Board, in its deliberations, recognized that, for many of the Funds’ shareholders, the decision to purchase Fund shares included a decision to select R&A as the investment adviser and that there was a strong association in the minds of Fund shareholders between R&A and each Fund. In considering factors relating to the approval of the continuance of the Investment Advisory Agreements, the non-interested trustees received assistance and advice from, and met separately with, their independent legal counsel. While the Investment Advisory Agreements for the Funds were considered at the same meetings, the trustees dealt with each agreement separately. Among other factors, the trustees noted that they considered the following:
   The nature, extent and quality of services provided by R&A: The trustees considered the following factors to be of fundamental importance to their consideration of whether to approve the continuance of the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreements: (i) R&A’s more than 30 years of small-cap value investing experience and track record; (ii) the history of long-tenured R&A portfolio managers managing The Royce Funds; (iii) R&A’s sole focus on mid-cap, small-cap and micro-cap value investing; (iv) the consistency of R&A’s approach to managing The Royce Funds over more than 30 years; (v) the integrity and high ethical standards adhered to at R&A; (vi) R&A’s specialized experience in the area of trading small- and micro-cap securities; (vii) R&A’s historical ability to attract and retain portfolio management talent and (viii) R&A’s focus on shareholder interests. The trustees reviewed the services that R&A provides to the Funds, including, but not limited to, managing each Fund’s investments in accordance with the stated policies of each Fund. The Board considered the fact that during 2008 R&A provided certain administrative services to the Fund at cost pursuant to the Administration Agreement between the Fund and R&A which went into effect on January 1, 2008. The trustees determined that the services to be provided to each Fund by R&A would be the same as those it previously provided to the Funds. They also took into consideration the histories, reputations and backgrounds of R&A’s portfolio managers for the Funds, finding that these would likely have an impact on the continued success of the Funds. Lastly, the trustees noted R&A’s ability to attract quality and experienced personnel. The trustees concluded that the services provided by R&A to each Fund compared favorably to services provided by R&A to other R&A client accounts, including other funds, in both nature and quality, and that the scope of services provided by R&A would continue to be suitable for each Fund.
   Investment performance of the Funds and R&A: In light of R&A’s risk-averse approach to investing, the trustees believe that risk-adjusted performance continues to be an appropriate measure of each Fund’s investment performance. One measure of risk-adjusted performance the trustees have historically used in their review of the Funds’ performance is the Sharpe Ratio. The Sharpe Ratio is a risk-adjusted measure of performance developed by Nobel Laureate William Sharpe. It is calculated by dividing a fund’s annualized excess returns by its annualized standard deviation to determine reward per unit of risk. The higher the Sharpe Ratio, the better a fund’s historical risk-adjusted performance. The Board attaches primary importance to risk-adjusted performance over relatively long periods of time, typically three to ten years. The trustees noted that Royce Micro-Cap Portfolio’s Sharpe Ratio for the three-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2007 placed it in the 1st quartile for each period among its Morningstar micro-cap fund peer group, and Royce Small-Cap Portfolio also placed it in the 1st quartile for the three-year, five-year and ten-year periods within Morningstar’s small blend category.
   The trustees noted that R&A manages a number of funds that invest in small-cap and micro-cap issuers, many of which were outperforming the Russell 2000 Index and their competitors. Although the trustees recognized that past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results, they found that R&A had the necessary qualifications, experience and track record in managing small-cap and micro-cap securities to manage the Funds. The trustees determined that R&A continued to be an appropriate investment adviser for the Funds and concluded that each Fund’s performance supported the renewal of its Investment Advisory Agreement.
   Cost of the services provided and profits realized by R&A from its relationship with each Fund: The trustees considered the cost of the services provided by R&A and profits realized by R&A from its relationship with each Fund. As part of the analysis, the Board discussed with R&A its methodology in allocating its costs to each Fund and concluded that its allocations were reasonable. The trustees concluded that R&A’s profits were reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services provided.
   The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow and whether fee levels would reflect such economies of sale: The trustees considered whether there have been economies of scale in respect of the management of the Funds, whether each of the Funds has appropriately benefited from any economies of scale and whether there is potential for realization of any further economies of scale. The trustees noted the time and effort involved in managing portfolios of small- and micro-cap stocks and that they did not involve the same efficiencies as do portfolios of large cap stocks. The trustees concluded that the current fee structure for each Fund was reasonable, and that no changes were currently necessary.


28  |  Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.




   Comparison of services to be rendered and fees to be paid to those under other investment advisory contracts, such as contracts of the same and other investment advisers or other clients: The trustees reviewed the investment advisory fee paid by each Fund and compared both the services to be rendered and the fees to be paid under the Investment Advisory Agreements to other contracts of R&A and to contracts of other investment advisers with registered investment companies investing in small- and micro-cap stocks, as provided by Morningstar. The trustees noted the importance of the net expense ratio in measuring a fund’s efficiency, particularly in light of the variations in the mutual fund industry as to who is responsible for which expenses. It was noted that each of Royce Micro-Cap Portfolio and Royce Small-Cap Portfolio placed in the 2nd quartile among its respective peers.
   The trustees noted that R&A had, from time to time, waived advisory fees in order to maintain expense ratios at competitive levels. The trustees also considered fees charged by R&A to institutional and other clients and noted that the Funds’ advisory fees compared favorably to these other accounts.
   After the non-interested trustees deliberated in executive session, the entire Board, including all the non-interested trustees, determined to approve the renewal of the existing Investment Advisory Agreements, concluding that a contract renewal on the existing terms was in the best interest of the shareholders of each Fund and that each investment advisory fee rate was reasonable in relation to the services provided.












Royce Capital Fund 2008 Semiannual Report to Shareholders



 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 


Wealth Of Experience
With approximately $29 billion in open- and closed-end fund assets under management, Royce & Associates is committed to the same smaller-company investing principles that have served us well for more than 30 years. Charles M. Royce, our Chief Investment Officer, enjoys one of the longest tenures of any active mutual fund manager. Royce’s investment staff includes 12 Portfolio Managers, as well as nine assistant portfolio managers and analysts, and eight traders.


Multiple Funds, Common Focus
Our goal is to offer both individual and institutional investors the best available smaller-cap value portfolios. Unlike a lot of mutual fund groups with broad product offerings, we have chosen to concentrate on smaller-company value investing by providing investors with a range of funds that take full advantage of this large and diverse sector.


Consistent Discipline
Our approach emphasizes paying close attention to risk and maintaining the same discipline, regardless of market movements and trends. The price we pay for a security must be significantly below our appraisal of its current worth. This requires a thorough analysis of the financial and business dynamics of an enterprise, as though we were purchasing the entire company.


Co-Ownership Of Funds
It is important that our employees and shareholders share a common financial goal; our officers, employees and their families currently have approximately $117 million invested in The Royce Funds.
   
           
   
  General Information        
  Additional Report Copies        
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This review and report must be accompanied or preceded by a current prospectus for the Funds.
Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money.
 
   
   






 
   
   
   
   
TheRoyceFunds
RCF-REP-0608  
   
   
   
   



Item 2. Code(s) of Ethics – Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not applicable to this semi-annual report.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not applicable.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

(a) See Item 1.

(b) Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not applicable.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – None.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Principal Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on their evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.

(b) Internal Control over Financial Reporting. There were no significant changes in Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect this control subsequent to the date of the evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report.



Item 12. Exhibits attached hereto.

(a)(1) Not applicable.

(a)(2) Separate certifications by the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(a)(3) Not Applicable

(b) Separate certifications by the Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ROYCE CAPITAL FUND

BY:   /s/Charles M. Royce
  Charles M. Royce
  President
   
Date:   August 20, 2008

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

ROYCE CAPITAL FUND   ROYCE CAPITAL FUND
         
BY:   /s/Charles M. Royce   BY: /s/John D. Diederich
  Charles M. Royce     John D. Diederich
  President     Chief Financial Officer
         
Date:   August 20, 2008   Date:   August 20, 2008