ROYCE FUND
N-30D, 1996-09-06
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<PAGE>
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


                             PENNSYLVANIA
                                MUTUAL
                                 FUND


                             JUNE 30, 1996

                            THE ROYCE FUNDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                The Royce Funds
                          1414 Avenue of the Americas
                               New York, NY 10019
                                 (212) 355-7311
                                 (800) 221-4268
 
Dear Shareholder:
 
   After a left foot start in January, small company stocks, as measured by the
Russell 2000 Index, outperformed their large company brethren (S&P 500) in
February, March, April and May (15.2% versus 6.2%), but were unable to continue
their winning ways in June (-4.1% versus 0.4%). June's downturn in performance
was the first sign of potentially higher volatility for small-cap issues. In
fact, the Nasdaq Composite closed the second quarter off over 5% from the high
it established on June 5th, its largest decline since a 13.8% drop in the second
quarter of 1994. In spite of June's downturn, and because of the February-May
surge, the Russell 2000 Index of small-cap stocks won the first half performance
derby with a 10.4% total return versus a 10.2% total return for the large-cap
oriented S&P 500.
 
   Within small-cap, 'growth' finished ahead of 'value' with the Russell 2000
Growth Index providing an 11.9% return versus an 8.7% gain for the Russell 2000
Value Index. A similar performance relationship, but with wider disparity, was
also present in the Wilshire Target Small Cap Index Funds, as the Small Cap
Growth Fund (+13.2%) handily outperformed the Small Cap Value Fund (+3.9%).
 
   PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND ('PMF'), with its small-cap value orientation,
performed in line with the two small-cap value proxies, posting a 5.7% return
for the six months. Contributing to the Fund's performance were nice gains in
two sectors (retail and consumer durables) which had been mediocre performers in
1995.
 
   Although not always leading in the short-term, PMF's longer-term results are
highly competitive in both an absolute and a relative sense. The Fund's 20-year
average annual total return of 16.4% was built during various periods of both
outperformance and underperformance for small-cap stocks. One of PMF's
additional attributes is its low risk profile. According to independent mutual
fund evaluation service, Morningstar, PMF was one of the lowest risk small-cap
funds for the three years ended June 30, 1996 as measured by standard deviation
(12th lowest out of 194 small-cap funds), beta (25th lowest out of 194 small-cap
funds) and Morningstar's risk ratio (26th lowest out of 194 small-cap funds).
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR APPROACH OF INVESTING IN HIGH QUALITY SMALL-CAP COMPANIES,
USING ABSOLUTE VALUATION STANDARDS, IS AN APPROPRIATE STRATEGY FOR GENERATING
ABOVE AVERAGE LONG-TERM RESULTS.

[GRAPHIC]

 
FIREWORKS IN JULY
 
   Louis Pasteur once
said, 'Chance favors the prepared mind.' Although everyone was prepared for the
fireworks of July 4th, few were prepared for the market fireworks which began in
June and intensified throughout July. Double digit gains in small-cap indices
were erased and many investors now find themselves starting over at mid-year.



            Performance Update Through July 31
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         % Decline      July '96     YTD Return
                         From High*     Return     thru 7/31/96
                         ---------     --------    ------------
<S>                      <C>           <C>         <C>
PMF                        -5.8%        -4.2%        +1.3%

Russell 2000              -13.1%        -8.7%        +0.7%
Nasdaq Comp.              -13.4%        -8.8%        +2.7%
</TABLE>

            * Russell 2000 high was made on 5/22/96.



 
                                       2

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
   We view the current pyrotechnics of July from the vantage point that these
fluctuations are inevitable and desirable, and part of the normal rhythm of the
market. We are prone to keep ourselves at a distance. This is largely common
sense -- no special preparation needed.
 
WORTH REPEATING
 
   To be quoted is flattering. To quote oneself presents the dual risk of boring
our readers and tooting our own horn. Nevertheless, we want to repeat some of
our comments from the 1995 Annual Report. (We promise we won't do this again.)
 
IN OUR LAST REPORT WE SAID:

'An interesting aspect of this five year rise in both
stocks and bonds is the ever increasing participation
of individual investors . . . . In fact, it is that very same
demand which is believed to ensure future success
and prevent any major reversal in market
fortunes . . . . The suggestion that continued success is
nearly guaranteed by demand is a scary
proposition . . . . We remain most astonished, not with
the magnitude of investor appetite for stocks, but the
nearly universal assumption of its permanence.'


 
WE NOW THINK:
 
   In a perverse way, the least informed (the purchasing public) now appear to
be dictating investment policy to those presumed most knowledgeable (portfolio
managers). Normally prudent professionals have taken comfort in the fact that
the public is pouring money into equity mutual funds. As one of our shareholders
commented, 'The inmates are running the asylum.'
 
ALSO IN THE 1995 ANNUAL REPORT WE SAID:

'We are certain, particularly in a global
economy, that an ample supply of securities can
be created to meet and even exceed investors'
demands.'

 
AND NOW:
 
   The $132 billion of new investments in equity mutual funds for the first half
of 1996 has eclipsed the prior annual record set in 1993 ($130 billion for the
full year). Yet, the dramatic upward progress that this commitment was expected
to produce has not materialized. A move up in long-term interest rates and
increased corporate insider selling activity are partly to blame, as well as a
surge in IPO activity. By late June, roughly 80 new offerings a week were
producing a fresh supply of securities at the rate of approximately $20 billion
a month.

[GRAPHIC]

 
                                       3
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
   One of the most instructive offerings of the recent IPO boom was the creation
and issuance of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B shares. Berkshire Hathaway's
Chairman, Warren Buffett, is perhaps the best known investor of our time.
Multiple warnings on the front page of the prospectus included: 'Neither Mr.
Buffett nor Mr. Munger (Vice Chairman) would currently buy Berkshire shares (at
the current price), nor would they recommend that their families or friends do
so' and 'Berkshire has attempted to assess the current demand for Class B shares
and has tailored the size of this offering to fully satisfy that demand (and)
therefore, buyers hoping to capture quick profits are almost certain to be
disappointed.' Yet, despite the warnings, over $500 million was raised. WALL
STREET HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CREATING AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF NEW AND SECONDARY
OFFERINGS TO FULLY SATISFY DEMAND. HOWEVER, IT PROVIDES NO SIMILAR 'WARNING
LABELS.'
 
ADDITIONALLY WE SAID:

'The magnitude of the decline in interest rates
is virtually not repeatable. Consequently, a
further decline in interest rates will not have the
same favorable impact on stock prices, no
matter how bullish one is on rates.'

 
AND NOW:
 
   The consensus expectations of lower rates (then at 6%) in an election year
have proved to be wrong. Long-term government bond yields rose by over 20% in
the first half to a current yield of over 7.0%. While this surprise has not
ended the party, it's getting hard to find the punch bowl.
 
AND FINALLY WE SAID:
 
'THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL BE DIFFERENT! It's
not likely that the next five years will rival the
previous five in terms of ideal wind conditions
or spectacular performance. History tells us
that periods of high valuation and high return
are usually followed by periods of lower, less
dynamic returns . . . . We see no reason why
performance should not revert to the mean and,
thus, a period of lower five year returns is
likely. Very simply, the last five years was a
period in which risk and reward were
synonymous and one in which risk management
provided virtually no benefit. It's likely that we
have completed the best five year performance
period for this decade.'


AND NOW?
 
   Enough said.
 
THE VALUE IN VALUE INVESTING
 
   A basic premise of value investing is that stocks, like other goods and
services, should be purchased at the most attractive prices possible, preferably
at a discount to their 'intrinsic worth.' The reality for most investors is just
the opposite. In other words, investor comfort levels and, therefore, demand
increase when prices rise, and diminish as prices decline. The higher a stock
rises, the greater the perceived opportunity.
 
   Value investing, on the other hand, takes a contrary view to this highly
emotional process. By systematically reducing risk when others ignore it and
taking risk when it is feared, one can capitalize on valuation discrepancies
(opportunities) which develop from time to time. The greatest risk that the
value investor confronts is the loss of either patience or discipline when faced
with the prospect of being out-of-sync with the market. THE VALUE IN
 
                                       4

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
'VALUE INVESTING' IS TO PROVIDE A COHERENT SYSTEM FOR RATIONAL DECISION MAKING
 . . . THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO COMPOUND WEALTH WHILE MINIMIZING RISK. Its
basic premise is that the price one pays for an investment makes a significant
difference in the return one receives.
 
WHAT WE DO
 
[GRAPHIC]               Pennsylvania Mutual Fund uses a risk-averse approach to
                     invest in the securities of small-cap companies. Experience
                     tells us that paying attention to risk does not diminish
long-term results, although individual market phases may not necessarily confirm
this.
 
   Our approach attempts to understand and value a company's private
worth -- what we believe an enterprise would sell for in a transaction between
rational parties. The price we will pay for a security must be significantly
under our appraisal of its private worth. The consistent use of this discipline,
applied to less well-known securities, is the source of our performance.
 
NO OTHER PLACE WE WOULD RATHER BE
 
   While the Fund focuses on companies with market caps below $1 billion, our
weighted average and median market caps are actually much lower, $392 million
and $294 million, respectively, at June 30, 1996.
 
   Although our orientation is small-cap stocks, our picking universe is by no
means small, with over 10,000 companies valued at more than $900 billion in
total market capitalization. It is both robust and perpetuating; IPO's, spin-
offs and reorganizations create hundreds of new prospects each year. It is a
sector rich in opportunity and easily accommodates our strategy given the size
of the investable universe.
 
   From time to time we are criticized for the large number of securities that
we hold in the portfolio. In fact, given the size of our universe, we believe
our strategy is quite focused because total portfolio holdings represent fewer
than 3% of the available small-cap universe. Not many large-cap managers would
be content with only 15 selections from the S&P 500.
 
   Not long ago we had a conversation with a highly successful and respected
fund manager about diversification. His contention was that statistical
diversification could be achieved with just 13 holdings. His own portfolio was
concentrated in a mere 20 selections. We were impressed. Yet, upon further
examination, we discovered his 20 large-cap holdings were involved in 61
different businesses. As defined by Standard Industrial Classification codes
(SICs), Philip Morris has seven different business groups, Pepsi has six,
Johnson & Johnson has five and so on. In contrast, the vast majority of our
holdings have single lines of business. When one adds up the numbers, there's
really not much difference in terms of diversification between our approach and
that of 'focused' managers.
 
HOW IT WORKS
 
   Our approach to investing in individual small-cap
companies has proven historical benefits, but can be both      [GRAPHIC]
unpredictable and frustrating in the near-term. We believe that the stock market
in the short-term is a polling place, and in the long-term, a highly efficient
weighing device. While our ultimate success will continue to be driven by the
process of 'weighing the true value' of the small companies in which we have
invested, the following provides a brief glimpse of some of this year's
'election results.'
                                       5
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>

 
FALLING IN LOVE
 
[GRAPHIC]                     Despite a generally rising market, there were
                           numerous opportunities for us to either add new
                           positions or increase our investment in some old
                           favorites. The following companies represent our most
significant commitments in 1996's first half. More importantly, they represent
examples of works in progress which we hope will build future performance.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SECURITY                                  DOLLARS INVESTED
- ---------------------------------------   ----------------
 
<S>                                       <C>
Electroglas Inc.                             $3,787,690
Zenith National Insurance                     3,638,173
Penn Manufacturing                            2,955,625
Haemonetics Corporation                       2,841,204
The Commerce Group, Inc.                      2,823,807
</TABLE>
 
   Our largest new purchase, Electroglas is, much to our surprise, a technology
company. What a difference a year makes in terms of valuations in the high tech
field. Electroglas dominates its industry niche, gets wonderful returns on its
own capital, has a fortress-like balance sheet and now trades at one third of
last years' market valuation. At two times cash on hand we couldn't resist.
Zenith National Insurance, Pennsylvania Manufacturers and The Commerce Group are
all insurance companies. Each is well managed, conservatively capitalized, and
so far, unrecognized for their historically superior performance. Rising
interest-rates and continuing price competition in the industry have provided us
with the opportunity to increase our ownership in these companies on very
favorable terms. Finally, Haemonetics is a market leader in providing equipment
and dispensable supplies to the blood collection business. Near-term earnings
growth slowed at Haemonetics as the company is transitioning to a new generation
of blood collection products. If Haemonetics' new systems are accepted, and all
the evidence suggests they will be, we believe this could become a new growth
stock star.
 
HARVEST SEASON
 
   Selling stocks is always difficult for the value
investor for it requires either parting with success or        [GRAPHIC]
admitting mistakes. So far this year we have done both. The following is a list
of our five largest divestitures year to date.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SECURITY                                    NET PROCEEDS
- -----------------------------------------   ------------
 
<S>                                         <C>
Camco International Inc.                     $5,191,084
Claire's Stores, Inc.                         5,011,988
Comdisco, Inc.                                4,843,471
NCH Corporation                               4,658,000
Mine Safety Appliances Company                4,571,500
</TABLE>
 
   In the cases of Camco International, Claire's Stores, and Comdisco, we
reduced our exposure due to full and fair valuations. Each of these companies
were purchased when conditions in their respective industries were challenging
and their potential obscured to most investors. Lately, fortunes in the energy,
retailing and computer leasing industries have improved and we have enjoyed some
winners.
 
   NCH Corporation and Mine Safety Appliance Company, on the other hand, may
have been mistakes. While we suffered no material loss on either position, our
confidence of future gain has diminished to the point that even our patience is
running thin.
 
                                       6
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>


VOLATILITY IS A FRIEND
 
   Recently, stock market volatility has generated a great deal of attention
from the financial press. While large changes (100 point or greater moves) in
the Dow Jones Industrial Average make interesting reading in the morning papers,
their significance is exaggerated. The table below depicts the Russell 2000's
yearly price variation using the index's annual range as a percentage of the
beginning year's price.
 
 
[GRAPHIC] 
 
   It's interesting to note how tame the markets have remained in the last four
and a half years relative to the prior thirteen. TO US, VOLATILITY IS A FRIEND
IN THAT IT CREATES IRRATIONAL PRICING OF SECURITIES AND, THEREFORE,
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO CAPITALIZE ON OUR RISK MANAGEMENT SKILLS.


ARE THERE ANY REAL INVESTORS LEFT?
 
   The term 'investor' denotes a long-term supplier of capital.    [GRAPHIC]
In contrast, a 'speculator' is one who takes opportunistic risk
in hopes of generating quick profits. In essence, investors
expect to get paid by the correct assessment of underlying business
fundamentals, whereas speculators count on others (often referred to as greater
fools) to buy them out profitably.
 
   In the current bull market, it has become very difficult to tell the
difference between investors and speculators. For example, what exactly is
'momentum investing?' The term seems oxymoronic. While equities represent a
permanent ownership position in an enterprise, in many fund portfolios, they are
reviewed and replaced more frequently than three month Treasury Bills. Wall
Street brokerage firms publish 'Buy' and 'Sell' recommendations based on a
company's quarterly progress down to the penny per share; and the country's
largest equity mutual fund lost its star manager after a short period of
underperformance, which may have contributed to the decision by that fund's
investors to withdraw in excess of $1 billion.
 
                                       7
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 
   Only time and more difficult market conditions will separate true investors
from disappointed speculators. GIVEN THAT WE BELIEVE THAT EQUITIES REPRESENT
LONG-TERM INTERESTS IN BUSINESSES, THE TERM 'INVESTOR' SUITS US JUST FINE.
 
WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
 
   Given our belief that the next phase of the market will include lower equity
returns and greater volatility -- the need for basic blocking and tackling, in
the form of commitment, focus and experience, is paramount. We remain committed
to investing in high quality, small-cap companies using absolute valuation
standards; our focus remains sharp, and exclusively on small and micro-cap
companies; and our 20+ years of investment experience ensures that our vigilance
and discipline remain constant. Your continued confidence is appreciated.
 
   Yours faithfully,
 
    CHARLES M. ROYCE            Jack E. Fockler, Jr.
     Charles M. Royce           W. Whitney George
      President                  Vice Presidents


 
August 1, 1996
 
P.S. Our 'new era' fund will wait for the 'new era.'
 
Morningstar proprietary risk ratio, beta and standard deviation are measures of
a fund's relative risk and are calculated for the trailing 36-month period.
Morningstar risk ratio measures a fund's downside volatility relative to all
equity funds which have an average score of 1.00. Beta is a measure of
sensitivity to market movements compared to the unmanaged S&P 500 Index, with
the beta of the S&P 500 equal to 1.00. Standard deviation is a statistical
measure of the range within which a fund's total return falls. The average
Morningstar risk ratio, beta and standard deviation for the 194 small-cap equity
funds with a three-year history as of 6/30/96 were:
1.02, 0.84 & 11.87, respectively. The Morningstar risk ratio, beta and standard
deviation for Pennsylvania Mutual Fund over the same period were: 0.67, 0.57 &
6.82, respectively. Source: Morningstar, Inc.
 
The Russell 2000, Russell 2000 Growth, Russell 2000 Value and S&P 500 indices
are unmanaged and include the reinvestment of dividends. The Nasdaq Composite is
an unmanaged index. The Wilshire Target Small Company Value and Growth Funds
attempt to replicate the performance of the Wilshire Next 1750 Small Company
Value and Growth Indices, respectively.
 
                                       8
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
 
                                FINANCIAL REVIEW
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            TOTAL
         PERIOD             RETURN
- -------------------------   ------
<S>                         <C>
1996 (through 6/30)......     5.7%
1995.....................    18.7%
1994.....................    (0.7%)
1993.....................    11.3%
1992.....................    16.2%
1991.....................    31.8%
1990.....................   (11.5%)
1989.....................    16.7%
1988.....................    24.6%
1987.....................     1.4%
1986.....................    11.2%
1985.....................    26.8%
1984.....................     3.1%
1983.....................    40.5%
1982.....................    33.5%
1981.....................     0.7%
1980.....................    25.7%
1979.....................    35.5%
1978.....................    16.6%
1977.....................    23.8%
1976.....................    49.0%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS
  ----------------------------------
            (AS OF 6/30/96)
<S>                          <C>
20-year..................    16.4%
15-year..................    13.3%
10-year..................    10.2%
5-year...................    11.8%
1-year...................    13.3%
</TABLE>

POSITIVE RETURNS IN 19 OF THE LAST
21 CALENDAR YEARS (1975-1995).

                        TWENTY YEARS OF BUILDING WEALTH
                      VALUE OF $10,000 INVESTED ON 6/30/76
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Period
Ended:            PMF              S&P             TB
- -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>             <C>            <C>
06/30/76          10,000          10,000         10,000
09/30/76          10,062          10,191         10,124
12/31/76          11,080          10,511         10,232
03/31/77          11,179           9,729         10,347
06/30/77          12,016          10,052         10,473
09/30/77          12,419           9,770         10,626
12/31/77          13,719           9,757         10,784
03/31/78          14,778           9,276         10,955
06/30/78          17,131          10,064         11,133
09/30/78          19,327          10,936         11,326
12/31/78          15,970          10,397         11,556
03/31/79          18,637          11,133         11,824
06/30/79          19,528          11,436         12,108
09/30/79          21,697          12,298         12,392
12/31/79          21,634          12,314         12,722
03/31/80          17,517          11,813         13,112
06/30/80          20,931          13,397         13,522
09/30/80          25,808          14,897         13,810
12/31/80          27,197          16,306         14,210
03/31/81          28,886          16,522         14,724
06/30/81          31,743          16,140         15,244
09/30/81          24,197          14,490         15,820
12/31/81          27,377          15,506         16,379
03/31/82          25,028          14,374         16,862
06/30/82          25,443          14,295         17,403
09/30/82          28,425          15,942         17,912
12/31/82          36,538          18,855         18,286
03/31/83          43,498          20,736         18,657
06/30/83          50,554          23,022         19,049
09/30/83          49,927          22,982         19,474
12/31/83          51,340          23,084         19,912
03/31/84          49,564          22,527         20,360
06/30/84          49,127          21,942         20,849
09/30/84          52,257          24,061         21,378
12/31/84          52,952          24,492         21,898
03/31/85          58,634          26,745         22,349
06/30/85          60,533          28,689         22,776
09/30/85          60,352          27,504         23,181
12/31/85          67,129          32,227         23,577
03/31/86          74,285          36,758         23,969
06/30/86          78,467          38,853         24,347
09/30/86          72,936          36,153         24,696
12/31/86          74,635          38,098         25,034
03/31/87          85,487          46,217         25,387
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Period
Ended:            PMF              S&P             TB
- -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>             <C>            <C>
06/30/87           86,590          48,602         25,745
09/30/87           90,668          51,814         26,139
12/31/87           75,662          40,073         26,518
03/31/88           86,588          42,377         26,894
06/30/88           92,260          45,149         27,306
09/30/88           93,505          45,316         27,784
12/31/88           94,253          46,684         28,312
03/31/89          100,870          49,962         28,909
06/30/89          106,750          54,358         29,551
09/30/89          111,309          60,147         30,154
12/31/89          109,984          61,362         30,757
03/31/90          109,016          59,485         31,353
06/30/90          112,548          63,232         31,977
09/30/90           93,922          54,506         32,594
12/31/90           97,293          59,401         33,184
03/31/91          116,986          68,049         33,712
06/30/91          118,167          67,907         34,194
09/30/91          122,882          71,560         34,673
12/30/91          128,264          77,542         35,092
03/31/92          137,935          75,565         35,443  
06/30/92          134,418          77,054         35,781
09/30/92          137,590          79,442         36,079
12/31/92          149,024          83,502         36,357
03/31/93          156,654          87,101         36,630
06/30/93          154,978          87,528         36,901
09/30/93          161,130          89,777         37,185
12/31/93          165,787          91,851         37,471
03/31/94          163,997          88,351         37,764
06/30/94          160,405          88,696         38,130
09/30/94          166,388          93,051         38,549
12/31/94          164,591          93,060         39,051
03/31/95          171,257         102,124         39,597
06/30/95          182,372         111,857         40,171
09/30/95          195,247         120,794         40,738
12/31/95          195,403         127,969         41,296
03/31/96          199,468         134,943         41,829
06/30/96          206,569         141,070         42,356
</TABLE>
 
     The total returns and risk measurements presented in this report should not
be  considered representative of  total return or  risk of an  investment in the
Fund today. They  are provided  only to give  an historical  perspective of  the
Fund.  Total return and principal  value of Fund shares  will fluctuate, so that
shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when redeemed.
 
                                       9

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                          RISK AND VOLATILITY ANALYSIS
 
     To  focus solely on the return component  of the investment equation is the
equivalent of evaluating  one's time  (return) in  a road  race without  knowing
anything about the course (risk). For example, was the course hilly or flat, did
weather  hinder or  help performance, were  thousands participating  or merely a
handful? By  knowing the  answers to  these and  related matters,  you then  can
properly  evaluate  the quality  of the  performance.  The same  is true  in the
investment world. Although  PMF has had  one of the  lowest risk profiles  among
small-cap funds, that in and of itself is not particularly helpful. Somehow, one
must  link the  concepts of  risk and return  together, because  one without the
other presents an incomplete picture.
 
     Fund risk (volatility) versus relevant  indices and peers can be  evaluated
by using the generally accepted measures of standard deviation and beta, as well
as the Morningstar Risk Ratio.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 STANDARD                       WORST TWO MONTHS     MORNINGSTAR
                                                DEVIATION*         BETA*         PERFORMANCE(#)      RISK RATIO*
                                                -----------     -----------     ----------------     -----------
 
<S>                                             <C>             <C>             <C>                  <C>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND                            6.82            0.57                - 7.7%           0.67
 
  Indices
S&P 500                                             8.12            1.00                - 7.9            0.63`D'
Russell 2000                                       10.54            0.88               - 11.1            0.90`D'
 
  Peer Group**
Group Average                                      10.72            0.81               - 10.3            0.95
</TABLE>
 
   OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, PMF HAD LOWER VOLATILITY THAN THE ABOVE MARKET
                INDICES AND WAS AMONG THE LOWEST IN ITS PEER GROUP.
 
     STANDARD  DEVIATION is a statistical measure  of fund volatility over time.
The lower the standard deviation, the less volatile and more consistent a fund's
historical monthly  returns.  BETA  measures  a  fund's  sensitivity  to  market
movements.  The beta of  the S&P 500  index, chosen to  represent the market, is
1.00. A fund with a  1.10 beta is expected to  perform 10% better in up  markets
and  10%  worse  in  down  markets.  MORNINGSTAR  RISK  RATIO  is  a proprietary
measurement of  a fund's  downside volatility  relative to  other funds  in  its
investment  category. The average score for the  3 years ended June 30, 1996 for
all equity funds  was 1.00. These  measures of risk  are historical, may  change
monthly, and are not necessarily predictive of future volatility.
 
 * Source:  Morningstar Mutual Funds. Data reported  for the 3-year period ended
   June 30, 1996. The indices listed above are unmanaged.
 
 `D' Note: Vanguard Index Trust 500 and  Small Cap Stock Portfolios are used  as
     proxies for measuring the Morningstar Risk Ratio of the S&P 500 and Russell
     2000.
 
** In  constructing a peer group, we used  the following method. We isolated all
   small company  mutual  funds as  identified  by Morningstar.  We  began  this
   process  by first screening  the domestic equity  mutual fund universe (2,100
   funds) for funds with a small company investment style. Of the 408 funds with
   a small company  investment style,  only 305  fell within  the small  company
   style  box, which  Morningstar has  categorized as  funds with  median market
   capitalizations below  $1 billion.  In other  words, we  only included  funds
   whose  actual investment practice matched  their investment style. We further
   narrowed the universe  by identifying funds  which were in  existence at  the
   last general market peak (6/30/90) so, at a minimum, at least one full market
   cycle  of comparison would be  available. And finally, of  the 65 funds which
   passed these screens, only  18 funds (managed  by other investment  advisers)
   had  $100 million in  assets or greater  at the last  general market peak. We
   believe that these 18  funds constitute a relevant  peer group. This  group's
   $12.3  billion  in  assets  represents  approximately  14%  of  all small-cap
   category assets.
 
 # Average of the two worst monthly performances since the last small-cap market
   peak (9/30/89).
 
                                       10
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                            
RETURN PER UNIT OF RISK
     The Return Per Unit  of Risk calculation shows  the relationship between  a
fund's  historical return and the amount  of risk associated with the production
of that total return. It is calculated by dividing a fund's average annual total
return by its average  annualized standard deviation  over a designated  period.
PMF's  return per  unit of risk  calculations versus relevant  indices and peers
over the past three general market cycles are depicted below.
 
     Market peaks and  troughs were derived  by taking the  daily S&P 500  cycle
highs  and lows, defined as a change of 10% or greater from the previous peak or
trough, and rounding  to the  nearest quarter. (Viz.  peaks: 11/26/80;  8/25/87;
7/16/90; troughs: 8/12/82; 12/4/87; 10/11/90.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period
Ended                      S&P 500
- ----------------------------------
<S>                       <C>
Jun 79                      1
Jul 79                      1.011
Aug 79                      1.073
Sep 79                      1.075
Oct 79                      1.005
Nov 79                      1.057
Dec 79                      1.077
Jan 80                      1.143
Feb 80                      1.146
Mar 80                      1.033
Apr 80                      1.077
May 80                      1.138
Jun 80                      1.172
Jul 80                      1.251
Aug 80                      1.267
Sep 80                      1.303
Oct 80                      1.327
Nov 80                      1.472
Dec 80                      1.426
Jan 81                      1.363
Feb 81                      1.392
Mar 81                      1.445
Apr 81                      1.414
May 81                      1.423
Jun 81                      1.411
Jul 81                      1.412
Aug 81                      1.334
Sep 81                      1.267
Oct 81                      1.334
Nov 81                      1.393
Dec 81                      1.356
Jan 82                      1.338
Feb 82                      1.264
Mar 82                      1.257
Apr 82                      1.314
May 82                      1.269
Jun 82                      1.25
Jul 82                      1.228
Aug 82                      1.377
Sep 82                      1.394
Oct 82                      1.555
Nov 82                      1.617
Dec 82                      1.649
Jan 83                      1.706
Feb 83                      1.749
Mar 83                      1.813
Apr 83                      1.95
May 83                      1.939
Jun 83                      2.013
Jul 83                      1.95
Aug 83                      1.983
Sep 83                      2.01
Oct 83                      1.983
Nov 83                      2.029
Dec 83                      2.018
Jan 84                      2.002
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Period
Ended                      S&P 500
- ----------------------------------
<S>                        <C>
Feb 84                      1.931
Mar 84                      1.97
Apr 84                      1.985
May 84                      1.878
Jun 84                      1 919
Jul 84                      1.891
Aug 84                      2.104
Sep 84                      2.104
Oct 84                      2.111
Nov 84                      2.088
Dec 84                      2.142
Jan 85                      2.303
Feb 85                      2.338
Mar 85                      2.339
Apr 85                      2.331
May 85                      2.471
Jun 85                      2.509
Jul 85                      2.501
Aug 85                      2.485
Sep 85                      2.405
Oct 85                      2.513
Nov 85                      2.692
Dec 85                      2.818
Jan 86                      2.83
Feb 86                      3.046
Mar 86                      3.214
Apr 86                      3.172
May 86                      3.342
Jun 86                      3.397
Jul 86                      3.203
Aug 86                      3.444
Sep 86                      3.161
Oct 86                      3.339
Nov 86                      3.423
Dec 86                      3.331
Jan 87                      3.777
Feb 87                      3.933
Mar 87                      4.041
Apr 87                      4.005
May 87                      4.047
Jun 87                      4.249
Jul 87                      4.461
Aug 87                      4.631
Sep 87                      4.53
Oct 87                      3.553
Nov 87                      3.262
Dec 87                      3.503
Jan 88                      3.651
Feb 88                      3.822
Mar 88                      3.705
Apr 88                      3.743
May 88                      3.772
Jun 88                      3.947
Jul 88                      3.931
Aug 88                      3.801
Sep 88                      3.962
Oct 88                      4.068
Nov 88                      4.01
Dec 88                      4.081
Jan 89                      4.376
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period
Ended                      S&P 500
- ----------------------------------
<S>                         <C>
Feb 89                      4.267
Mar 89                      4.368
Apr 89                      4.592
May 89                      4.778
Jun 89                      4.752
Jul 89                      5.179
Aug 89                      5.278
Sep 89                      5.258
Oct 89                      5.134
Nov 89                      5.24
Dec 89                      5.364
Jan 90                      5.004
Feb 90                      5.068
Mar 90                      5.2
Apr 90                      5.072
May 90                      5.566
Jun 90                      5.528
Jul 90                      5.51
Aug 90                      5.012
Sep 90                      4.765
Oct 90                      4.748
Nov 90                      5.053
Dec 90                      5.192
Jan 91                      5.423
Feb 91                      5.811
Mar 91                      5.948
Apr 91                      5.965
May 91                      6.22
Jun 91                      5.936
Jul 91                      6.213
Aug 91                      6.36
Sep 91                      6.256
Oct 91                      6.339
Nov 91                      6.083
Dec 91                      6.779
Jan 92                      6.653
Feb 92                      6.739
Mar 92                      6.606
Apr 92                      6.799
May 92                      6.835
Jun 92                      6.736
Jul 92                      7.008
Aug 92                      6.866
Sep 92                      6.945
Oct 92                      6.97
Nov 92                      7.206
Dec 92                      7.3
Jan 93                      7.354
Feb 93                      7.453
Mar 93                      7.615
Apr 93                      7.427
May 93                      7.627
Jun 93                      7.652
Jul 93                      7.616
Aug 93                      7.906
Sep 93                      7.849
Oct 93                      8.009
Nov 93                      7.933
Dec 93                      8.032
Jan 94                      8.302
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
 


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period
Ended                      S&P 500
- ----------------------------------
<S>                        <C>
Feb 94                     8.076
Mar 94                     7.725
Apr 94                     7.825 
May 94                     7.953 
Jun 94                     7.755 
Jul 94                     8.012 
Aug 94                     8.338 
Sep 94                     8.136 
Oct 94                     8.325 
Nov 94                     8.02  
Dec 94                     8.138 
Jan 95                     8.348
Feb 95                     8.672  
Mar 95                     8.931
Apr 95                     9.194  
May 95                     9.557 
Jun 95                     9.782
Jul 95                     10.111 
Aug 95                     10.138
Sep 95                     10.564
Oct 95                     10.526
Nov 95                     10.989
Dec 95                     11.192
Jan 96                     11.576
Feb 96                     11.688
Mar 96                     11.803
Apr 96                     11.979
May 96                     12.288
Jun 96                     12.338

</TABLE>

     Market peaks and troughs were derived  by taking the  daily  S&P 500  cycle
highs and lows, defined as a change of 10% or greater from the previous  peak or
trough, and rounding  to the nearest quarter.  (Viz. peaks:  11/26/80;  8/25/87;
7/16/90; troughs: 8/12/82; 12/4/87; 10/11/90.)


                            RETURN PER UNIT OF RISK
                           (PEAK TO PEAK COMPARISON)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       1ST PEAK       2ND PEAK       3RD PEAK       1ST PEAK
                                                     TO 2ND PEAK    TO 3RD PEAK     TO CURRENT     TO CURRENT
                                                      12/31/80-       9/30/87-       6/30/90-      12/31/80-
                                                       9/30/87        6/30/90        6/30/96        6/30/96
                                                     ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND                                 1.34           0.55           1.06           1.07
Indices
  S&P 500                                                1.28           0.39           1.33           1.04
  Russell 2000                                           0.91           0.07           0.96           0.71
Peer Group*
  Group Average                                          0.89           0.30           0.98           0.77
     (# of Funds)                                        (8)            (18)           (18)           (8)
  PMF Rank                                            1 out of 8    3 out of 18    8 out of 18     1 out of 8
</TABLE>
 
PMF'S RISK ADJUSTED RETURNS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE HIGHEST IN ITS PEER
                                     GROUP.
 
* See  page 9 for a discussion of how the peer group was constructed. The number
  of peer group funds in existence during each cycle is shown above.
 
                                       11

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                        PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND ('PMF')
 
                            PORTFOLIO OR PORTFOLIOS?
     Throughout   its  history,   Pennsylvania  Mutual   Fund  has   provided  a
multi-dimensional value approach to small-cap  investing. And while PMF  remains
true to its historical approach, two core portfolios ('premier' and 'micro-cap')
have  evolved. Capitalization  parameters and  concentration goals differentiate
these two portfolio components.
 
     This core portfolio approach has emerged in response to the changing nature
of the small-cap universe, namely, the  number of small company funds and  their
respective assets have increased tenfold in the last ten years. At the upper end
of  the small-cap range, $300 million to $1 billion, PMF has developed a focused
strategy which  emphasizes  companies with  superior  financial  characteristics
and/or  unusually  attractive  business  prospects,  companies  we  classify  as
premier. We  believe  that  holding  slightly  higher  concentrations  of  these
securities   is  an  appropriate  strategy   to  offset  the  increasing  market
efficiencies found in this segment of the small-cap sector.
 
     Micro-cap, the second  core portfolio, represents  those securities at  the
other  end of the capitalization range (below $300 million). Micro-cap companies
are the antithesis of  what most professional investors  look for, in that  they
are not well known, are not well researched and their securities are not easy to
buy  and sell.  These are  precisely the conditions  that we  believe breed good
investment opportunities. In our  view, the micro-cap  sector is what  small-cap
was 20 years ago in terms of investment opportunities.
 
 
CORE PORTFOLIOS 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>  
                                                              % OF PORTFOLIO*
PREMIER COMPANIES:                                                46%
MIRCOCAP COMPANIES:                                               54% 
 
</TABLE> 
 
     Within  each core  portfolio are a  variety of tactical  strategies, two of
which involve 'equity income' and 'low-priced' securities. Both are longstanding
strategies and have central roles in PMF. Equity income focuses on above average
dividend paying  companies, a  sector not  generally associated  with  small-cap
investing.  Low-priced, on  the other  hand, invests  in an  area that  is often
associated with small-cap investing,  stocks trading below  $15 per share.  Both
portfolio  segments remain virtually undiscovered by most professional small-cap
investors.
 
CORE AND TACTICAL PORTFOLIOS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          % OF PORTFOLIO*
<S>                           <C>            <C>
PREMIRE COMPANIES:             46%           If one were to sum the core
MICROCAP COMPANIES:            54%           and tactical strategies, the
EQUITY INCOME COMPANIES:       41%           total would exceed 100% as
LOW PRICE COMPANIES:           27%           many issues meet several
                                             criteria.
</TABLE>
 
     We believe  that  PMF's two  tier  strategy, combining  core  and  tactical
portfolios, is an effective, all weather approach to capturing the opportunities
within the small-cap sector.
 
                                       12

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                               PORTFOLIO SUMMARY
 
The  following  information  is provided  as  a  'bird's eye'  view  of  the PMF
portfolio. For  a more  complete picture,  the full  portfolio and  accompanying
financial statements should be read in their entirety.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 % OF COMMON
PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION                              STOCKS            VALUE         % OF NET ASSETS
<C>   <S>                                        <C>            <C>                <C>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 150 Stocks                                       83.0%       $ 427,693,025           79.6%
Other Stocks                                         17.0           87,731,093           16.3
                                                 -----------    ---------------       -------
Common Stocks                                       100.0%         515,424,118           95.9
                                                 -----------
                                                 -----------
Preferred Stocks                                                       361,425            0.1
Cash & Other Net Assets                                             21,555,178            4.0
                                                                ---------------       -------
Total Net Assets                                                 $ 537,340,721          100.0%
                                                                ---------------       -------
                                                                ---------------       -------
PORTFOLIO DIAGNOSTICS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Average Market Capitalization (Total Portfolio)        $392 Million
Median Market Capitalization                                    $294 Million
Weighted Average P/E Ratio (150 Largest Positions)                   14.3x
Weighted Average P/B Ratio (150 Largest Positions)                    1.6x
Weighted Average Portfolio Yield (150 Largest Positions)              1.9%
 
COMMON STOCK SECTORS                                            % OF NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industrial Cyclicals                                                 24.5%
Financial                                                            22.9
Services                                                             19.5
Consumer Durables                                                    10.8
Retail                                                                4.4
Consumer Staples                                                      3.6
Miscellaneous                                                         3.2
Technology                                                            2.9
Energy                                                                2.4
Health                                                                1.3
Utilities                                                             0.4
TOP TWENTY POSITIONS                                                 VALUE         % OF NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1.  The Standard Register Company                                 $6,538,184            1.2%
  2.  Zenith National Insurance Corp.                                6,077,250            1.1
  3.  Kimball International, Inc. Cl. B                              5,884,125            1.1
  4.  Lilly Industries, Inc. Cl. A                                   5,492,904            1.0
  5.  Family Dollar Stores, Inc.                                     5,207,287            1.0
  6.  Juno Lighting, Inc.                                            5,018,400            0.9
  7.  Trenwick Group Inc.                                            5,015,000            0.9
  8.  ALLIED Group, Inc.                                             4,998,150            0.9
  9.  Air Express International Corporation                          4,977,650            0.9
 10.  Pennsylvania Manufacturers Corporation                         4,949,550            0.9
 11.  Marshall Industries                                            4,782,400            0.9
 12.  Fab Industries, Inc.                                           4,772,347            0.9
 13.  The Pioneer Group, Inc.                                        4,710,675            0.9
 14.  Stanhome Inc.                                                  4,653,400            0.9
 15.  Tecumseh Products Company                                      4,619,175            0.9
 16.  Crawford & Company                                             4,611,712            0.9
 17.  Florida Rock Industries, Inc.                                  4,556,588            0.8
 18.  Haemonetics Corporation                                        4,358,100            0.8
 19.  Wesco Financial Corporation                                    4,310,725            0.8
 20.  Vallen Corporation                                             4,273,500            0.8
</TABLE>
 
                                       13

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMON STOCKS - 95.9%
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Shares                                    Value
<C>           <S>                        <C>
CONSUMER DURABLES - 10.8%
     57,511   Allen Organ Company Cl.
                B....................... $  2,250,118
     39,100   *Baldwin Piano & Organ
                Company.................      576,725
     73,675   Bassett Furniture
                Industries,
                Incorporated............    1,970,806
     37,506   Burnham Corporation Cl.
                A.......................      965,780
    205,848   *Delta Woodside
                Industries, Inc.........    1,054,971
    166,200   Ethan Allen Interiors
                Inc.....................    4,113,450
    182,600   Flexsteel Industries,
                Inc.....................    2,145,550
     82,100   Garan Incorporated........    1,395,700
     21,800   Haggar Corp...............      294,300
     94,400   *Johnson Worldwide
                Associates, Inc. Cl.
                A.......................    1,298,000
    295,200   Juno Lighting, Inc........    5,018,400
     25,000   Justin Industries, Inc....      328,125
    134,100   K-Swiss Inc. Cl. A........    1,458,337
     71,000   La-Z-Boy Chair Company....    2,138,875
    115,400   *Lazare Kaplan
                International, Inc......    1,514,625
    186,450   **Liberty Homes, Inc. Cl.
                A.......................    2,353,931
    267,429   *`D'Lifetime Hoan
                Corporation.............    2,874,862
     16,100   Matthews International
                Corporation Cl. A.......      442,750
     85,150   National Presto
                Industries, Inc.........    3,235,700
     78,200   The Rival Company.........    1,798,600
    101,600   Russ Berrie and Company,
                Inc.....................    1,866,900
     61,800   The Singer Company N.V....    1,251,450
    163,800   Skyline Corporation.......    4,095,000
    138,700   The Stride Rite
                Corporation.............    1,144,275
     84,900   Sturm, Ruger & Company,
                Inc.....................    3,947,850
    129,400   Thomaston Mills, Inc. Cl.
                A.......................    1,455,750
    201,500   Thor Industries, Inc......    4,130,750
    292,100   *The Topps Company, Inc...    1,643,063
     38,500   Weyco Group, Inc..........    1,559,250
                                         ------------
                                           58,323,893
                                         ------------
CONSUMER STAPLES - 3.6%
     79,500   A.T. Cross Company Cl.
                A....................... $  1,411,125
     30,350   Farmer Bros. Co...........    4,188,300
     30,000   *J & J Snack Foods
                Corp....................      345,000
    272,300   *`D'Midwest Grain
                Products, Inc...........    3,539,900
    175,600   Stanhome Inc..............    4,653,400
     65,000   Velcro Industries N.V.....    3,607,500
    107,900   WLR Foods, Inc............    1,510,600
                                         ------------
                                           19,255,825
                                         ------------
ENERGY - 2.4%
     20,100   *Belden & Blake
                Corporation.............      417,075
     49,500   *Tom Brown, Inc...........      847,687
     54,500   Camco International Inc...    1,846,188
      5,172   The Coal Creek Mining and
                Manufacturing Company...      532,716
     60,700   Devon Energy
                Corporation.............    1,487,150
     78,050   *Equity Oil Company.......      375,616
     36,900   *Gulfmark International
                Inc.....................    1,282,275
    109,944   Lufkin Industries, Inc....    2,253,852
    102,200   *Offshore Logistics,
                Inc.....................    1,418,025
     72,500   *Parker Drilling Company..      416,875
     57,343   Penn Virginia
                Corporation.............    2,007,005
                                         ------------
                                           12,884,464
                                         ------------
FINANCIAL - 22.9%
     16,975   *Alleghany Corporation....    3,259,200
    114,900   ALLIED Group, Inc.........    4,998,150
    111,750   Argonaut Group, Inc.......    3,492,187
     42,569   *Avatar Holdings Inc......    1,463,309
     26,020   Baker Boyer Bancorp.......      910,700
    176,078   Baldwin & Lyons, Inc. Cl.
                B.......................    3,631,609
     75,225   W. R. Berkley Corp........    3,140,644
    154,500   E.W. Blanch Holdings,
                Inc.....................    3,070,688
     30,000   The Boston Bancorp........    1,297,500
    155,007   Comdisco, Inc.............    4,127,061
    184,542   The Commerce Group,
                Inc.....................    3,852,314
     38,349   Community Banks, Inc......      901,202
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
                                       14
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Shares                                    Value
<C>           <S>                        <C>
FINANCIAL - (continued)
     39,800   Consolidated-Tomoka Land
                Co...................... $    786,050
    177,350   Crawford & Company Cl.
                A.......................    3,014,950
     91,900   Crawford & Company Cl.
                B.......................    1,596,762
     55,700   Eaton Vance Corp..........    2,019,125
      5,536   Exchange Bank.............      340,464
     13,800   F & M Bancorporation......      565,800
      1,542   Farmers & Merchants Bank
                of Long Beach...........    2,811,066
        715   The First National Bank of
                Anchorage...............    1,079,650
    117,750   `D'Fremont General
                Corporation.............    2,708,250
    132,500   Arthur J. Gallagher &
                Co......................    4,240,000
    179,800   *Gryphon Holdings Inc.....    2,697,000
    149,100   Guaranty National
                Corporation.............    2,683,800
    123,726   *Hanmi Bank...............      974,342
    217,125   Hilb, Rogal & Hamilton
                Company.................    3,012,609
     56,700   Intercargo Corporation....      489,037
     42,834   Investors Financial
                Services Corporation....      995,890
     54,800   The John Nuveen Company...    1,363,150
     75,249   Keystone Heritage Group,
                Inc.....................    1,702,509
    157,472   Leucadia National
                Corporation.............    3,858,064
     57,609   *MAIC Holdings, Inc.......    2,145,935
        404   MidCity Financial Corp....    1,050,400
     48,200   NYMAGIC, INC..............      909,775
     26,671   National Bancorp of
                Alaska, Inc.............    1,680,273
     49,700   New England Investment
                Companies, L.P..........    1,167,950
    213,700   The Newhall Land and
                Farming Company.........    3,526,050
     13,200   Nobel Insurance Limited...      153,450
     59,806   Orion Capital
                Corporation.............    3,050,106
    291,150   Pennsylvania Manufacturers
                Corporation.............    4,949,550
     94,600   Phoenix Duff & Phelps
                Corporation............. $    709,500
    176,100   The Pioneer Group, Inc....    4,710,675
    183,200   Piper Jaffray Companies
                Inc.....................    2,290,000
     47,594   Portsmouth Bank Shares,
                Inc.....................      660,367
     57,825   RLI Corp..................    1,409,484
     19,591   *Reliance Group Holdings,
                Inc.....................       40,416
     14,300   Student Loan Corporation..      514,800
     95,639   *Sunrise Bancorp..........      346,691
     20,200   Transatlantic Holdings,
                Inc.....................    1,416,525
     68,200   Transnational Re
                Corporation.............    1,679,425
    100,300   `D'Trenwick Group Inc.....    5,015,000
     16,757   TriCo Bancshares..........      305,815
     17,930   Webster Financial
                Corporation.............      502,040
     26,900   Wesco Financial
                Corporation.............    4,310,725
    278,400   `D'`D'Willis Corroon Group
                plc.....................    3,306,000
    222,000   Zenith National Insurance
                Corp....................    6,077,250
                                         ------------
                                          123,011,284
                                         ------------
HEALTH - 1.3%
     39,000   Diagnostic Products
                Corporation.............    1,501,500
    238,800   *Haemonetics Corporation..    4,358,100
     33,400   Life Technologies, Inc....    1,052,100
                                         ------------
                                            6,911,700
                                         ------------
INDUSTRIAL CYCLICALS - 24.5%
    114,600   *Ag-Chem Equipment Co.,
                Inc.....................    2,435,250
     95,100   American Filtrona
                Corporation.............    3,043,200
     55,500   *Ameron International
                Corp....................    2,192,250
     15,509   Ash Grove Cement
                Company.................    1,729,254
     31,500   *Athey Products Corp......      133,875
     98,087   BHA Group, Inc. Cl. A.....    1,299,659
     91,500   *Bird Corp................      300,234
    174,000   Blessings Corporation.....    1,783,500
     97,900   W. H. Brady Co. Cl. A.....    2,178,275
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
                                       15
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Shares                                    Value
<C>           <S>                        <C>
INDUSTRIAL CYCLICALS - (continued)
    233,600   CalMat Co................. $  4,234,000
    126,000   Cascade Corp..............    1,685,250
      1,874   Central Steel & Wire
                Company.................    1,182,494
     75,250   CLARCOR Inc...............    1,862,437
      5,330   ConBraCo Industries,
                Inc.....................    2,265,250
     27,000   Core Industries Inc.......      388,125
     78,800   Curtiss-Wright
                Corporation.............    4,255,200
    137,500   *Devcon International
                Corp....................    1,271,875
     85,000   *DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.....      199,219
     63,600   Donaldson Company, Inc....    1,637,700
     17,600   Eastern Co................      200,200
    175,132   Fab Industries, Inc.......    4,772,347
     96,700   *Fansteel Inc.............      604,375
     18,033   Federal Signal
                Corporation.............      423,776
    176,100   Florida Rock Industries,
                Inc.....................    4,556,588
    183,400   P. H. Glatfelter Company..    3,369,975
     85,812   Gorman-Rupp Company.......    1,137,009
     89,125   Guilford Mills, Inc.......    2,228,125
     59,400   *C. H. Heist Corp.........      400,950
     46,800   *Insituform Technologies,
                Inc.....................      362,700
    129,700   International Aluminum
                Corporation.............    3,274,925
     51,700   Kaman Corporation Cl. A...      523,463
     70,200   Kaydon Corporation........    3,018,600
    213,000   Kimball International,
                Inc. Cl. B..............    5,884,125
     23,300   Knape & Vogt Manufacturing
                Company.................      366,975
     18,400   *Laclede Steel Company....      116,150
     27,550   *Lancer Corporation.......      616,431
     94,920   Lawter International,
                Inc.....................    1,186,500
     68,560   LeaRonal, Inc.............    1,714,000
    323,112   Lilly Industries, Inc. Cl.
                A.......................    5,492,904
     98,190   The Lincoln Electric
                Company.................    2,970,248
     53,450   Lindberg Corporation......      547,863
     51,200   Liqui-Box Corporation.....    1,536,000
     10,906   MacDermid, Incorporated...      763,420

INDUSTRIAL CYCLICALS - (continued)
     62,000   Minuteman International,
                Inc..................... $    527,000
     58,300   The Monarch Machine Tool
                Company.................      685,025
     62,700   *Moore Products Co........    1,175,625
     32,900   Paul Mueller Company......    1,118,600
    133,620   Myers Industries, Inc.....    2,488,672
     54,200   Nordson Corporation.......    3,062,300
     42,550   Oil-Dri Corporation of
                America.................      632,931
     37,500   The Oilgear Company.......      553,125
    181,000   Oregon Steel Mills,
                Inc.....................    2,488,750
    149,800   Oshkosh Truck Corporation
                Cl. B...................    2,115,925
    186,150   Penn Engineering and
                Manufacturing Inc.......    3,513,581
     49,550   Penn Engineering and
                Manufacturing Corp. Cl.
                A.......................    1,170,619
     73,693   Preformed Line Products
                Company.................    2,505,562
     43,300   *Proler International
                Corp....................      265,213
    122,000   Puerto Rican Cement
                Company, Inc............    3,797,250
    195,764   Quaker Chemical
                Corporation.............    2,495,991
     73,310   Robroy Industries, Inc.
                Cl. A...................    1,136,305
    145,700   *Simpson Manufacturing
                Co., Inc................    2,914,000
     23,700   *Steel of West Virginia,
                Inc.....................      213,300
     35,000   Synalloy Corporation......      568,750
     71,600   Tab Products Co...........      528,050
     12,650   Tecumseh Products
                Company.................      657,800
     73,700   Tecumseh Products Company
                Cl. A...................    3,961,375
     96,500   *`D'Todd Shipyards
                Corporation.............      723,750
    150,900   *UNC, Inc.................    1,263,788
     96,500   Unifi, Inc................    2,714,062
     90,532   Versa Technologies, Inc...    1,222,182
     43,500   Watts Industries, Inc. Cl.
                A.......................      810,187
     41,718   Woodward Governor
                Company.................    3,671,184
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
                                       16
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Shares                                    Value
<C>           <S>                        <C>
INDUSTRIAL CYCLICALS - (continued)
    105,800   Zero Corporation.......... $  2,261,475
                                         ------------
                                          131,387,073
                                         ------------
RETAIL - 4.4%
    163,900   *CATHERINES STORES
                CORPORATION.............    1,618,512
    112,100   *Charming Shoppes, Inc....      791,706
    123,000   Claire's Stores, Inc......    3,397,875
    382,700   *The Dress Barn, Inc......    4,018,350
    299,700   Family Dollar Stores,
                Inc.....................    5,207,287
     10,800   LANDS' END, INC...........      267,300
    177,600   *Mikasa, Inc..............    1,953,600
     57,700   *Old America Stores,
                Inc.....................      468,813
     84,000   Oshkosh B'Gosh, Inc. Cl.
                A.......................    1,512,000
    274,155   Pier 1 Imports, Inc.......    4,078,056
     35,400   *Stein Mart, Inc..........      646,050
                                         ------------
                                           23,959,549
                                         ------------
SERVICES - 19.5%
     79,700   ABM Industries
                Incorporated............    3,118,262
     64,094   Aceto Corporation.........    1,009,481
    176,200   `D'Air Express
                International
                Corporation.............    4,977,650
    249,800   Arnold Industries, Inc....    3,559,650
    176,700   *Guy F. Atkinson Company
                of California...........    2,385,450
     64,200   Atlantic Southeast
                Airlines, Inc...........    1,813,650
     57,900   *Banister Foundation
                Inc.....................      455,963
     89,252   *Bell Industries, Inc.....    1,494,971
    102,300   Bowl America Incorporated
                Cl. A...................      716,100
    119,100   Bowne & Co., Inc..........    2,456,438
    116,700   *`D'Jenny Craig, Inc......    2,086,012
    174,700   Dames & Moore.............    2,118,238
     13,800   *Devon Group, Inc.........      448,500
     76,433   DUFF & PHELPS CREDIT
                RATING CO...............    1,624,201
    156,100   Ennis Business Forms,
                Inc.....................    1,775,638
     50,000   Expeditores International
                of Washington, Inc......    1,550,000
     85,900   *FRP Properties, Inc......    1,760,950
    127,000   *FCA International Ltd....      215,755
      4,768   Fisher Companies Inc......      417,200

     22,500   FlightSafety
                International, Inc...... $  1,220,625
    240,021   Frozen Food Express
                Industries, Inc.........    2,700,236
     17,259   Grey Advertising Inc......    3,814,239
    210,737   The Harper Group..........    4,109,371
     82,000   *International Dairy
                Queen, Inc. Cl. A.......    1,804,000
     83,600   *International Dairy
                Queen, Inc. Cl. B.......    1,797,400
     70,800   Kenan Transport Company...    1,469,100
      8,171   *Lady Baltimore Foods,
                Inc.....................      359,524
     77,700   Lawson Products, Inc......    1,961,925
     55,250   The Marcus Corporation....    1,388,156
    170,800   *Marshall Industries......    4,782,400
    103,900   Merrill Corporation.......    2,597,500
     65,200   *Milgray Electronics,
                Inc.....................      766,100
    151,700   New England Business
                Service, Inc............    2,958,150
     35,200   *Nichols Research
                Corporation.............    1,100,000
     59,600   PCA International, Inc....      998,300
     72,600   *PAYCO AMERICAN
                CORPORATION.............      635,250
     93,900   *Perini Corporation.......    1,126,800
     58,150   Pioneer-Standard
                Electronics, Inc........      770,487
     89,650   Plenum Publishing
                Corporation.............    3,137,750
    103,862   Richardson Electronics,
                Ltd.....................    1,038,620
    135,300   *Rollins Environmental
                Services, Inc...........      524,288
    187,156   Rykoff-Sexton, Inc........    2,690,367
     14,700   Scope Industries..........      543,900
    231,600   *Shoney's, Inc............    2,518,650
    248,500   Sotheby's Holdings, Inc.
                Cl. A...................    3,603,250
    265,510   The Standard Register
                Company.................    6,538,184
     80,200   Stone & Webster, Inc......    2,736,825
    131,250   Super Food Services,
                Inc.....................    1,246,875
    292,977   *TBC Corporation..........    2,526,927
     68,900   True North Communications
                Inc.....................    1,533,025
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
                                       17
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS AT JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Shares                                    Value
<C>           <S>                        <C>
SERVICES - (continued)
     80,100   *The Turner Corporation... $    921,150
    244,200   *Vallen Corporation.......    4,273,500
     17,625   Wyle Electronics..........      583,828
                                         ------------
                                          104,760,811
                                         ------------
TECHNOLOGY - 2.9%
     99,600   *Astrosystems, Inc........      634,950
     15,500   BGS Systems, Inc..........      604,500
     25,300   *CEM Corporation..........      335,225
     38,400   *`D'Comptek Research,
                Inc.....................      211,200
     33,387   *DH Technology, Inc.......      801,288
     66,838   *Dionex Corporation.......    2,155,526
    177,200   Exar Corporation..........    2,303,600
     49,205   Hach Company..............      787,280
     19,300   MacNeal-Schwendler
                Corporation.............      144,750
     46,400   Modern Controls, Inc......      481,400
     87,003   National Computer Systems,
                Inc.....................    1,859,689
    135,900   `D'Newport Corporation....    1,342,013
    186,100   Scitex Corporation
                Limited.................    3,210,225
     53,150   Woodhead Industries,
                Inc.....................      624,513
                                         ------------
                                           15,496,159
                                         ------------
 
UTILITIES - 0.4%
     69,838   *Southern Union Company... $  1,536,436
     38,745   Southwest Water Company...      445,567
                                         ------------
                                            1,982,003
                                         ------------
MISCELLANEOUS - 3.2%                       17,451,357
                                         ------------
              Total Common Stocks
                (Cost $352,291,534).....  515,424,118
                                         ------------
PREFERRED STOCK - 0.1%
     23,700   Bird Corp. $1.85 Conv.
                (Cost $ 369,469)........      361,425
                                         ------------
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT - 4.2%
  State Street Bank and Trust Company,
  4.90% due 7/01/96, collateralized by
  U.S. Treasury Notes, 5.25%, due
  12/31/97, valued at $23,156,585 (Cost
  $22,700,000)..........................   22,700,000
                                         ------------
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 100.2% (COST
  $375,361,003).........................  538,485,543
LIABILITIES LESS CASH AND OTHER
  ASSETS - (0.2)%.......................  (1,144,822)
                                         ------------
NET ASSETS - 100.0%..................... $537,340,721
                                         ------------
                                         ------------
</TABLE>
 
 * Non-income producing.
 
 ** At  June 30, 1996,  the Fund owned  5% or more  of the Company's outstanding
    shares, thereby making the  Company an affiliated person  as defined in  the
    Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
 `D' A  portion of these securities  are on loan at  June 30, 1996. Total market
     value of all securities on loan is $7,772,918, for which the Fund  received
     $7,979,583 as collateral.
 
`D'`D' American Depository Receipt.
 
INCOME  TAX INFORMATION -- The cost of  total investments for federal income tax
purposes was $375,361,003. At June 30, 1996, net unrealized appreciation for all
securities amounted to  $163,124,540, consisting of  aggregate gross  unrealized
appreciation  of  $177,500,610 and  aggregate  gross unrealized  depreciation of
$14,376,070.
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
                                       18

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                               <C>             <C>
ASSETS:
Investments at value (identified cost $375,361,003)...........................................    $538,485,543
Cash..........................................................................................          78,476
Receivable for investments sold...............................................................       3,106,593
Receivable for shares of beneficial interest sold.............................................         221,882
Receivable for dividends and interest.........................................................         797,414
Prepaid expenses and other assets.............................................................         108,327
                                                                                                  ------------
       TOTAL ASSETS...........................................................................     542,798,235
                                                                                                  ------------
LIABILITIES:
Payable for investments purchased.............................................................       3,941,163
Payable for shares of beneficial interest redeemed............................................         974,386
Payable for investment advisory fees..........................................................         261,667
Accrued expenses..............................................................................         280,298
                                                                                                  ------------
       TOTAL LIABILITIES......................................................................       5,457,514
                                                                                                  ------------
       NET ASSETS.............................................................................    $537,340,721
                                                                                                  ------------
                                                                                                  ------------
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS:
Undistributed net investment income...........................................................    $  2,868,444
Accumulated net realized gain on investments..................................................      82,926,553
Net unrealized appreciation on investments....................................................     163,124,540
Shares of beneficial interest.................................................................          65,972
Additional paid-in capital....................................................................     288,355,212
                                                                                                  ------------
       NET ASSETS.............................................................................    $537,340,721
                                                                                                  ------------
                                                                                                  ------------
PRICING OF SHARES:
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
  ($537,340,721[div]65,971,631 shares outstanding)............................................           $8.15
</TABLE>
 
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Six Months ended
                                                                        June 30, 1996         Year ended
                                                                         (unaudited)       December 31, 1995
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
<S>                                                                   <C>                  <C>
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income............................................     $   2,865,763       $     8,281,365
  Net realized gain on investments.................................        62,650,050            95,221,780
  Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments.............       (34,091,348)           17,417,882
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
  Net increase in net assets resulting from investment
    operations.....................................................        31,424,465           120,921,027
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS:
  From net investment income.......................................                --            (8,285,016)
  From net realized gain on investments............................                --           (73,143,226)
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
  Total dividends and distributions................................                --           (81,428,242)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
  Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions.......      (124,202,355)         (180,790,798)
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS.........................................       (92,777,890)         (141,298,013)
NET ASSETS:
  Beginning of period..............................................       630,118,611           771,416,624
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
  End of period (including undistributed net investment income of
    $2,868,444 and $2,681, respectively)...........................     $ 537,340,721       $   630,118,611
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
                                                                      -----------------    -----------------
</TABLE>
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                       19
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME:
Income:
  Dividends........................................................................................   $  5,140,358
  Interest.........................................................................................        588,345
                                                                                                      ------------
         Total Income..............................................................................      5,728,703
                                                                                                      ------------
Expenses:
  Investment advisory fees.........................................................................      2,270,843
  Custodian and transfer agent fees................................................................        206,376
  Administrative and office facilities expenses....................................................        153,132
  Trustees' fees...................................................................................         46,046
  Other expenses...................................................................................        284,617
                                                                                                      ------------
         Total Expenses............................................................................      2,961,014
                                                                                                      ------------
         Fees waived by investment advisor.........................................................        (98,074)
                                                                                                      ------------
         Net Expenses..............................................................................      2,862,940
                                                                                                      ------------
               Net Investment Income...............................................................      2,865,763
                                                                                                      ------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN ON INVESTMENTS:
Net realized gain on investments...................................................................     62,650,050
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments...............................................    (34,091,348)
                                                                                                      ------------
  Net realized and unrealized gain on investments..................................................     28,558,702
                                                                                                      ------------
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS...............................................   $ 31,424,465
                                                                                                      ------------
                                                                                                      ------------
</TABLE>
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    This  table  is presented  to  show selected  data  for a  share outstanding
throughout each  period, and  to assist  shareholders in  evaluating the  Fund's
performance for the periods presented.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Six
                                                   Months
                                                   ended
                                                  June 30,                      Years ended December 31,
                                                    1996       ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                  (unaudited)    1995        1994         1993         1992        1991
                                                  --------     --------    --------    ----------   ----------   --------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF PERIOD............     $7.71        $7.41       $8.31         $8.00        $7.29      $5.78
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:
  Net investment income.........................      0.04         0.11        0.12          0.11         0.11       0.12
  Net realized and unrealized gain on
    investments.................................      0.40         1.27       (0.18)         0.79         1.07       1.72
    Total from investment operations............      0.44         1.38       (0.06)         0.90         1.18       1.84
  DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS:
  Net investment income.........................        --        (0.11)      (0.11)        (0.11)       (0.10)     (0.12)
  Net realized gain on investments..............        --        (0.97)      (0.73)        (0.48)       (0.37)     (0.21)
    Total dividends and distributions...........        --        (1.08)      (0.84)        (0.59)       (0.47)     (0.33)
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD..................     $8.15        $7.71       $7.41         $8.31        $8.00      $7.29
TOTAL RETURN....................................      5.7%        18.7%        (0.7)%       11.3%        16.2%      31.8%
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:
Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands)........  $537,340     $630,119    $771,417    $1,022,161   $1,102,224   $789,141
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(a)......    0.99%*        0.98%       0.98%         0.98%        0.91%      0.95%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net
  Assets........................................    0.99%*        1.18%       1.33%         1.23%        1.48%      1.73%
Portfolio Turnover Rate.........................       16%          10%         17%           24%          22%        29%
Average Commission Rate Paid`D'.................  $ 0.0598           --          --            --           --         --
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
 (a) Expense  ratio before fee waivers by the investment adviser would have been
     1.02% for the six months  ended June 30, 1996 and  .99% for the year  ended
     December 31, 1995.
 
 * Annualized.
 
 + For  fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 1995, the Fund is required
   to disclose its  average commission  rate paid  per share  for purchases  and
   sales of investments.
 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
 
                                       20

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
     Pennsylvania  Mutual Fund (the 'Fund')  is a series of  The Royce Fund (the
'Trust'), a diversified open-end management investment company established as  a
business  trust under the laws  of Delaware. The Fund  was a separate investment
company organized as a  Delaware business trust until  the close of business  on
June 28, 1996, when it was merged into a counterpart series of the Trust.
 
     The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported amounts  of  assets and  liabilities and
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.
 
a. Valuation of investments:
 
     Securities listed on an  exchange or on the  Nasdaq National Market  System
are  valued  on the  basis  of the  last  reported sale  prior  to the  time the
valuation is made or, if  no sale is reported for  such day, at their bid  price
for  exchange-listed securities and at the average of their bid and asked prices
for Nasdaq securities. Quotations are taken  from the market where the  security
is   primarily  traded.  Other  over-the-counter  securities  for  which  market
quotations are readily available are valued  at their bid price. Securities  for
which market quotations are not readily available are valued at their fair value
under  procedures established and supervised by the Board of Trustees. 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.
 
b. Investment transactions and related investment income:
 
     Investment transactions are accounted  for on the  trade date and  dividend
income  is recorded on the ex-dividend date.  Interest income is recorded on the
accrual basis.  Realized  gains  and losses  from  investment  transactions  and
unrealized  appreciation  and  depreciation  are  determined  on  the  basis  of
identified cost for book and tax purposes.
 
c. Taxes:
 
     As a  qualified regulated  investment  company under  Subchapter M  of  the
Internal  Revenue Code, the  Fund is not  subject to income  taxes to the extent
that it distributes substantially all of its taxable income for its fiscal year.
The Schedule of  Investments includes information  regarding income taxes  under
the caption 'Income Tax Information'.
 
d. Distributions:
 
     Dividend  and capital  gain distributions  are recorded  on the ex-dividend
date and  paid  annually in  December.  These distributions  are  determined  in
accordance  with income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted
accounting principles.  Permanent book  and tax  basis differences  relating  to
shareholder  distributions will  result in reclassifications  to paid-in capital
and may affect  net investment  income per share.  Undistributed net  investment
income  may include temporary book and  tax basis differences which will reverse
in a subsequent period. Any taxable income or gain remaining at fiscal year  end
is distributed in the following year.
 
e. Repurchase agreements:
 
     The  Fund enters into  repurchase agreements with  respect to its portfolio
securities solely  with  State Street  Bank  and Trust  Company  ('SSB&T'),  the
custodian of its assets. The Fund restricts repurchase
 
                                       21
 
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PENNSYLVANIA MUTUAL FUND
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
agreements  to  maturities of  no more  than seven  days. Securities  pledged as
collateral for repurchase  agreements are held  by SSB&T until  maturity of  the
repurchase  agreements. Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the
event  of  default  of  insolvency  of  SSB&T,  including  possible  delays   or
restrictions  upon  the  ability  of  the  Fund  to  dispose  of  the underlying
securities.
 
f. Security Lending:
 
     The Fund  loans securities  to qualified  institutional investors  for  the
purpose  of realizing  additional income.  This income  is included  in interest
income. Loans  of securities  of  the Fund  are  collateralized by  cash  and/or
securities  issued  or guaranteed  by  the U.S.  Government  or its  agencies or
instrumentalities. The  collateral is  equal to  at least  100% of  the  current
market value of the loaned securities.
 
2. INVESTMENT ADVISER:
 
     Under  the Trust's investment advisory  agreement with Quest Advisory Corp.
('Quest'), the Fund  accrued and  paid Quest  fees totaling  $2,172,769 (net  of
$98,074 voluntarily waived by Quest) for the six months ended June 30, 1996. The
agreement  provides for fees equal to 1.0% per annum of the first $50 million of
the Fund's average net assets, .875% per  annum of the next $50 million of  such
net  assets and .75% per annum of additional amounts of average net assets. Such
fees are computed daily and are payable monthly to Quest.
 
3. FUND SHARES:
 
     The Board of Trustees has authority to issue an unlimited number of  shares
of  beneficial  interest  of  the  Fund,  with  a  par  value  of  $.001.  Share
transactions were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Six Months ended
                                                      June 30, 1996                     Year ended
                                                       (unaudited)                   December 31, 1995
                                               ---------------------------      ---------------------------
                                                 Shares          Amount           Shares          Amount
                                               -----------    ------------      -----------    ------------
<S>                                            <C>            <C>               <C>            <C>
Sold........................................     2,712,479    $ 21,146,448        4,913,877    $ 39,278,575
Issued as reinvested dividends and
  distributions.............................            --              --        9,739,008      74,600,820
Redeemed....................................   (18,442,843)   (145,348,803)     (37,019,497)   (294,670,193)
</TABLE>
 
     Shares redeemed within one year of purchase are subject to a 1%  redemption
fee,  payable to  the Fund, which  is used  to offset costs  associated with the
redemption.
 
4. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES:
 
     For the six  months ended  June 30,  1996, the  cost of  purchases and  the
proceeds  from sales of investment securities, other than short-term securities,
amounted to $88,690,283 and $207,833,523, respectively.
 
5. TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF AFFILIATED COMPANIES:
 
     An 'Affiliated Company', as defined in the Investment Company Act of  1940,
is  a company in  which the Fund owns  at least 5%  of the company's outstanding
voting securities. At  June 30,  1996, the  Fund owned  at least  5% of  Liberty
Homes, Inc. Class A. The Fund effected no transactions in shares of this company
during the six months ended June 30, 1996.
 
                                       22

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
THE ROYCE FUND
TRUSTEES
 
Hubert L. Cafritz
Thomas R. Ebright
Richard M. Galkin
Stephen L. Isaacs
William L. Koke
David L. Meister
Charles M. Royce
 
OFFICERS
 
Charles M. Royce, President and Treasurer
Jack E. Fockler, Jr., Vice President
W. Whitney George, Vice President
Daniel A. O'Byrne, Vice President and Assistant Secretary
John E. Denneen, Secretary
 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
 
CUSTODIAN
 
State Street Bank and Trust Company
 
                                       23

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                        POSTSCRIPT: NEW ERA DEFINITIONS
 
     A by-product of any new era is a change in its language. The use of new
words and definitions typically signifies the emergence of a new culture. For
example, the acceptance of popular slang words 'cool' and 'hip' in the '60s
ushered in an era known as 'pop culture.'
 
     The protracted bull market of the last five years has many believing that
we have entered into a new age of investing. Just as 'bad' came to mean 'good'
in the slang of the '70s, Steve Leuthold, stock market researcher and money
manager, with further corroboration from USA Today 'Money Talk' columnist,
Daniel Kadlec, has suggested, with tongue firmly in cheek, that the following
'new definitions for a new era' have replaced those established by Mr. Webster:
 
     BEAR MARKET: When stocks decline for a week.
 
     MAJOR CORRECTION: When stocks decline for a day.
 
     OLD-TIMER: A person who knows someone who lost money in the stock market.
 
     CYNIC: Anyone reminding you stocks can go down.
 
     CONSERVATIVE: Anyone without a margin account.
 
     RISK: How much you can lose being out of the market.
 
     INFLATION: Historical phenomena that used to adversely affect stocks.
 
     CONTRARIAN: Someone with nothing to talk about at parties.
 
     IPO: Instant profit opportunity.
 
     SHORT SALE: Temporary condition associated with memory failure.
 
     GRAHAM & DODD: Ancient philosophers who believed the book value of a
company was too much to pay. It's widely assumed they also believed the world
was flat.
 
     MUTUAL FUND: A pool of money guaranteed to grow because it has lots of
contributors, and you just know that many people can't be wrong.
 
     As conservative cynics, we can only hope that when the current market is no
longer 'hip,' it will not find too many people feeling 'bad,' as it was
originally defined.
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
 
                                THE ROYCE FUNDS
 
     General Information and Telephone Purchases ....... 1 (800)   221-4268
     Shareholder Account Services ...................... 1 (800)   841-1180
     Investment Advisor Services ......................... 1 (800) 33-ROYCE
     The Royce Funds InfoLine ............................ 1 (800) 78-ROYCE
     E-mail Address ............................... roycenet @interport.net
     Internet Homepage ......................... http: //www.roycefunds.com
 
             1414 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019 

 This report must be accompanied by or preceded by a current prospectus of the
                                     Fund.

                              STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES
                              ------------------------

The dagger symbol shall be expressed as `D'
The division sign shall be expressed as [div]


                               GRAPHIC APPENDIX

On page 2 of the paper format Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund report:
Picture of firecracker exploding

On page 3 of the paper format Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund report:
A picture of a Prospectus cover of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

On page 5 of the paper format Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund report:
A picture of a scale balancing a dollar sign and a factory.
A picture of a man in long white coat pointing with a pointer.

On page 6 of the paper format Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund report:
A picture of Cupid shooting an arrow with two hearts around him.
A picture of a basket of fruit at harvest time.

On page 7 of the paper format Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund report:
A bar graph of the Russell 2000 price variations from 1979 to 1996.

A picture of a ticker tape machine.



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