Registration Nos. 002-65539/811-2958
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
Post-Effective Amendment No. 188 /X/
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 /X/
Amendment No. 170 /X/
T. ROWE PRICE INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC.
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202
Address of Principal Executive Offices
410-345-2000
Registrant’s Telephone Number,
Including Area Code
David Oestreicher
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Name and
Address of Agent for Service
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering March 1, 2020
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
// Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/X/ On March 1, 2020 pursuant to paragraph (b)
// 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
// On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
// 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
// On pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
If appropriate, check the following box:
// This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.
PROSPECTUS March 1, 2020 | ||||
T. ROWE PRICE | ||||
Africa & Middle East Fund | ||||
TRAMX PRAMX | Investor Class I Class | |||
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by SEC regulations, paper copies of the T. Rowe Price funds’ annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be mailed, unless you specifically request them. Instead, shareholder reports will be made available on the funds’ website (troweprice.com/prospectus), and you will be notified by mail with a website link to access the reports each time a report is posted to the site. If you already elected to receive reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and need not take any action. At any time, shareholders who invest directly in T. Rowe Price funds may generally elect to receive reports or other communications electronically by enrolling at troweprice.com/paperless or, if you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the funds through a financial intermediary (such as an investment advisor, broker-dealer, insurance company, or bank), by contacting your representative or your financial intermediary. You may elect to continue receiving paper copies of future shareholder reports free of charge. To do so, if you invest directly with T. Rowe Price, please call T. Rowe Price as follows: IRA, nonretirement account holders, and institutional investors, 1-800-225-5132; small business retirement accounts, 1-800-492-7670. If you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the T. Rowe Price funds through a financial intermediary, please contact your representative or financial intermediary, or follow additional instructions if included with this document. Your election to receive paper copies of reports will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly in the T. Rowe Price funds, with T. Rowe Price. Your election can be changed at any time in the future. | ||||
Table of Contents
1 | SUMMARY | ||
2 | MORE ABOUT THE FUND | ||
More Information About the Fund’s | |||
3 | INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS | ||
Investing with T. Rowe Price 29 Distribution and Shareholder Policies for Opening an Account 34 Pricing of Shares and Transactions 35 Investing Directly with T. Rowe Price 37 Investing Through a Financial General Policies Relating to Transactions 45 |
SUMMARY | 1 | |
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in the common stocks of companies located (or with primary operations) in Africa and the Middle East.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling shares of the Investor Class or I Class, which are not reflected in the table.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Investor | I | |||
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
Maximum account fee | $20 | a | — | |
Annual
fund operating expenses | ||||
Management fees | 1.04 | % | 1.04 | % |
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees | — | — | ||
Other expenses | 0.46 | 0.25 | c | |
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.50 | 1.28 | ||
Fee waiver/expense reimbursement | (0.19 | )b | (0.19 | )c |
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement | 1.31 | b | 1.09 | c |
a Subject to certain exceptions, accounts with a balance of less than $10,000 are charged an annual $20 fee.
b T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2022) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; and nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to exceed 1.30%. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2022, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 1.30%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
c T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2021) to pay the operating expenses of the fund’s I Class excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses (“I Class Operating Expenses”), to the extent the I Class Operating Expenses exceed 0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2021, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 0.05%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.05%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the
T. ROWE PRICE | 2 |
I Class Operating Expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the limitation on I Class Operating Expenses in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses.
Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example also assumes that any current expense limitation arrangement remains in place for the period noted in the table above; therefore, the figures have been adjusted to reflect fee waivers or expense reimbursements only in the periods for which the expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
Investor Class | $133 | $436 | $781 | $1,757 |
I Class | 111 | 387 | 684 | 1,529 |
Portfolio Turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 48.0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks, and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in African and Middle Eastern companies. For purposes of determining whether the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in African and Middle Eastern companies, the fund relies on the country assigned to a security by MSCI Inc. or another unaffiliated data provider. The fund expects to primarily invest in common stocks and participation notes (P-notes) linked to common stocks of companies located (or with primary operations) in Africa and the Middle East. The countries in which the fund normally invests include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Primary Emphasis: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates.
· Others: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The fund is “nondiversified,” meaning it may invest a greater portion of its assets in a single company and own more of the company’s voting securities than is permissible for a “diversified” fund. While most assets will be invested directly in common stocks, the fund may gain exposure to common stocks by purchasing P-notes that offer a return linked to a particular underlying common stock. P-notes are primarily used to invest indirectly in certain
SUMMARY | 3 |
stocks that trade in a market that restricts foreign investors, such as the fund, from investing directly in that market. The fund may make substantial investments in banks and financial companies in various African and Middle Eastern countries.
While the adviser invests with an awareness of the outlook for certain industry sectors and individual countries within the region, the adviser’s decision-making process focuses on bottom-up stock selection. Country allocation is driven largely by stock selection, though the adviser may limit investments in markets or industries that appear to have poor overall prospects.
Security selection reflects a growth style. The adviser relies on a global team of investment analysts dedicated to in-depth fundamental research in an effort to identify companies capable of achieving and sustaining above-average, long-term earnings growth. The adviser seeks to purchase stocks of companies at reasonable prices in relation to present or anticipated earnings, cash flow, or book value.
In selecting investments, the adviser generally favors companies with one or more of the following characteristics:
· leading or improving market position;
· attractive business niche;
· attractive or improving franchise or industry position;
· seasoned management;
· stable or improving earnings and/or cash flow; and
· sound or improving balance sheet.
The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.
Principal Risks
As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective(s). The fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the fund. The principal risks of investing in this fund, which may be even greater during periods of market disruption or volatility, are summarized as follows.
Investing in Africa and the Middle East Many African and Middle Eastern countries have histories of dictatorships, political and military unrest, and financial troubles, and their markets should be considered extremely volatile even when compared to those of other emerging market countries. Many of these countries tend to be highly reliant on exporting oil and other commodities so their economies can be significantly impacted by fluctuations in commodity prices and the global demand for certain commodities.
Geographic concentration Because the fund focuses its investments on a particular geographic area, the fund’s performance is closely tied to the social, political, and economic conditions of that area. Political developments and changes in regulatory, tax, or economic policy could significantly affect the markets in which the fund invests. As a result, the fund is likely to be more volatile than more geographically diverse international funds.
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Banks and financial companies Because the fund may invest significantly in banks and financial companies, the fund is more susceptible to adverse developments affecting such companies and may perform poorly during a downturn that impacts the financials sector. Banks and other financial services companies can be adversely affected by, among other things, regulatory changes, interest rate movements, the availability of capital and cost to borrow, and the rate of debt defaults.
Investing in South Africa Investing in securities of South African issuers involves significant risks, including legal, political, and economic risks specific to South Africa. South Africa has a history of social unrest and governmental interference, which could lead to increased volatility. In addition, South Africa’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and mining and is therefore more susceptible to market events and regulatory developments impacting the commodity markets.
Investing in Saudi Arabia Because the ability of foreign investors (such as the fund) to invest in Saudi Arabian issuers is still relatively new and untested, such ability could be restricted or revoked by the Saudi Arabian government at any time, and unforeseen risks could materialize due to foreign ownership in such securities. The economy of Saudi Arabia is dominated by petroleum exports. As a result, a sustained decrease in petroleum prices would have a negative impact on all aspects of the Saudi Arabian economy. Political instability in Saudi Arabia, or even the broader Middle East region, could adversely impact the economy of Saudi Arabia.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging market countries are subject to greater risk and overall volatility than investments in the U.S. and developed markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. In addition to the risks associated with investing outside the U.S., emerging markets are more susceptible to governmental interference, political and economic uncertainty, local taxes and restrictions on the fund’s investments, less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity, and more volatile currency exchange rates.
Frontier markets Frontier markets generally have smaller economies and less mature capital markets than emerging markets. As a result, the risks associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. Frontier markets are more susceptible to abrupt changes in currency values, have less mature markets and settlement practices, and can have lower trading volumes that could lead to greater price volatility and illiquidity. Investor protections in frontier market countries may be limited and settlement procedures and custody services may prove inadequate in certain markets.
International investing Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. Non-U.S. securities tend to be more volatile and have lower overall liquidity than investments in U.S. securities and may lose value because of adverse local, political, social, or economic developments overseas, or due to changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. In addition, investments outside the U.S. are subject to settlement practices and regulatory and financial reporting standards that differ from those of the U.S. The risks of investing outside the U.S. are
SUMMARY | 5 |
heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are susceptible to greater volatility than investments in developed markets.
Liquidity A particular investment or an entire market segment may become less liquid or even illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which could limit the fund’s ability to purchase or sell holdings in a timely manner at a desired price. An inability to sell a portfolio holding can adversely affect the fund’s overall value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of substantial market volatility and unexpected episodes of illiquidity may limit the fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds without selling holdings at an unfavorable time or at a suitable price. Large redemptions may also have a negative impact on the fund’s overall liquidity.
Nondiversification As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, poor performance by a single issuer could adversely affect fund performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers. The fund’s share price can be expected to fluctuate more than that of a similar fund that is more broadly diversified.
Growth investing The fund’s growth approach to investing could cause it to underperform other stock funds that employ a different investment style. Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than certain other types of stocks and their prices may fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock market. A stock with growth characteristics can have sharp price declines due to decreases in current or expected earnings and may lack dividends that can help cushion its share price in a declining market.
Stock investing Stocks generally fluctuate in value more than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is a chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. The value of stocks held by the fund may decline due to general weakness or volatility in the stock markets in which the fund invests or because of factors that affect a particular company or industry.
Active management The fund’s overall investment program and holdings selected by the fund’s investment adviser may underperform the broad markets, relevant indices, or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
P-notes Investments in P-notes are subject to certain risks in addition to the risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign securities or market the P-note seeks to replicate. As the purchaser of a P-note, the fund is relying on the creditworthiness of the counterparty issuing the P-note and does not have the same rights under a P-note as it would as a shareholder of the underlying issuer. Therefore, if a counterparty becomes insolvent, the fund could lose the total value of its investment in the P-note. In addition, there is no assurance that there will be a trading market for a P-note or that the trading price of a P-note will equal the value of the underlying security.
T. ROWE PRICE | 6 |
Performance
The following performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and is not necessarily an indication of future results.
The following bar chart illustrates how much returns can differ from year to year by showing calendar year returns and the best and worst calendar quarter returns during those years for the fund’s Investor Class. Returns for other share classes vary since they have different expenses.
The following table shows the average annual total returns for each class of the fund that has been in operation for at least one full calendar year, and also compares the returns with the returns of a relevant broad-based market index, as well as with the returns of one or more comparative indexes that have investment characteristics similar to those of the fund, if applicable.
In addition, the table shows hypothetical after-tax returns to demonstrate how taxes paid by a shareholder may influence returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or an IRA. After-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Class and will differ for other share classes.
SUMMARY | 7 |
Average Annual Total Returns |
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| 09/04/2007 |
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| Returns before taxes | 8.05 | % |
| 0.83 | % |
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| Returns after taxes on distributions | 5.99 |
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| and sale of fund shares | 5.24 |
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| 03/06/2017 |
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| Returns before taxes | 8.30 |
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| MSCI Arabian Markets & Africa 10/40 Investable Market Index Net (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) |
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3.13 | a | |||||||||||||||
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| 10.83 |
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| 5.03 | b |
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| Combined Index Portfolio Net (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses)c |
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| 10.83 |
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| 5.53 | b |
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| Lipper Emerging Markets Funds Average |
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| 20.54 |
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| 3.89 |
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| 8.55 | d |
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a Return since 11/30/10.
b Return since 3/6/17.
c Combined Index Portfolio Net is an unmanaged linked performance portfolio composed of: 100% S&P IFCG Africa & Middle East Index Net (excluding Saudi Arabia and Israel) through 6/30/09 (prior to 9/1/08, the index excluded Kuwait); 100% MSCI Arabian Markets & Africa Index Net from 7/1/09 through 9/29/10; 100% S&P Emerging/Frontier ME & Africa BMI ex IL Net from 9/30/10 through 12/31/17; and 100% MSCI Arabian Markets & Africa 10/40 Investable Market Index Net from 1/1/18 forward.
d Return since 2/28/17.
Updated performance information is available through troweprice.com.
Management
Investment Adviser T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price or Price Associates)
Investment Subadviser T. Rowe Price International Ltd (T. Rowe Price International)
Portfolio Manager | Title | Managed | Joined |
Oliver D.M. Bell | Chairman of Investment Advisory Committee | 2011 | 2011 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Investor Class generally requires a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment if opening an IRA, a custodial account for a minor, or a small business
T. ROWE PRICE | 8 |
retirement plan account). Additional purchases generally require a $100 minimum. These investment minimums generally are waived for financial intermediaries and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans submitting orders on behalf of their customers.
The I Class requires a $1 million minimum initial investment and there is no minimum for additional purchases, although the initial investment minimum generally is waived for financial intermediaries, retirement plans, and certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority.
For investors holding shares of the fund directly with T. Rowe Price, you may purchase, redeem, or exchange fund shares by mail; by telephone (1-800-225-5132 for IRAs and nonretirement accounts; 1-800-492-7670 for small business retirement plans; and 1-800-638-8790 for institutional investors and financial intermediaries); or, for certain accounts, by accessing your account online through troweprice.com.
If you hold shares through a financial intermediary or retirement plan, you must purchase, redeem, and exchange shares of the fund through your intermediary or retirement plan. You should check with your intermediary or retirement plan to determine the investment minimums that apply to your account.
Tax Information
Any dividends or capital gains are declared and paid annually, usually in December. Redemptions or exchanges of fund shares and distributions by the fund, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional fund shares, generally may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains unless you invest through a tax-deferred account (in which case you will be taxed upon withdrawal from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 2 | |
Investment Adviser(s)
T. Rowe Price is the fund’s investment adviser and oversees the selection of the fund’s investments and management of the fund’s portfolio pursuant to an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and the fund. T. Rowe Price is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides investment management services to individual and institutional investors, and sponsors and serves as adviser and subadviser to registered investment companies, institutional separate accounts, and common trust funds. The address for T. Rowe Price is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. As of December 31, 2019, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates (the “Firm”) had approximately $1.21 trillion in assets under management and provided investment management services for more than 7 million individual and institutional investor accounts.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with T. Rowe Price International under which T. Rowe Price International is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of the fund. T. Rowe Price International is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser, and is authorized or licensed by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and other global regulators. T. Rowe Price International sponsors and serves as adviser to foreign collective investment schemes and provides investment management services to registered investment companies and other institutional investors. T. Rowe Price International is headquartered in London and has several branch offices around the world. T. Rowe Price International is a direct subsidiary of T. Rowe Price and its address is 60 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4TZ, United Kingdom.
Portfolio Management
T. Rowe Price has established an Investment Advisory Committee with respect to the fund. The committee chairman is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio and works with the committee in developing and executing the fund’s investment program. The members of the committee are as follows: Oliver D.M. Bell, Chairman, Roy H. Adkins, Malik Asif, Tala Boulos, Iona Dent, Mark J. Lawrence, Johannes Loefstrand, Oluwaseun A. Oyegunle, and Gonzalo Pangaro. The following information provides the year that the chairman (portfolio manager) first joined the Firm and the chairman’s specific business experience during the past five years (although the chairman may have had portfolio management responsibilities for a longer period). Mr. Bell has been chairman of the committee since 2011. Mr. Bell joined the Firm in 2011 and his investment experience dates from 1997. He has served as a portfolio manager with the Firm throughout the past five years. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of the fund’s shares.
T. ROWE PRICE | 10 |
The Management Fee
The management fee consists of two components—an “individual fund fee,” which reflects the fund’s particular characteristics, and a “group fee.” The group fee, which is designed to reflect the benefits of the shared resources of the Firm, is calculated daily based on the combined net assets of all mutual funds sponsored and advised by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”) (except the funds-of-funds, TRP Reserve Funds, Multi-Sector Account Portfolios, and any index or private-label mutual funds). The group fee schedule (in the following table) is graduated, declining as the combined assets of the T. Rowe Price Funds rise, so shareholders benefit from the overall growth in mutual fund assets.
Group Fee Schedule
0.334%* | First $50 billion |
0.305% | Next $30 billion |
0.300% | Next $40 billion |
0.295% | Next $40 billion |
0.290% | Next $60 billion |
0.285% | Next $80 billion |
0.280% | Next $100 billion |
0.275% | Next $100 billion |
0.270% | Next $150 billion |
0.265% | Thereafter |
* Represents a blended group fee rate containing various breakpoints.
The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. On October 31, 2019, the annual group fee rate was 0.29%. The individual fund fee, also applied to the fund’s average daily net assets, is 0.75%.
A discussion about the factors considered by the fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and its conclusions in approving the fund’s investment management agreement (and any subadvisory agreement, if applicable) appear in the fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ended April 30.
Investment Objective(s)
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in the common stocks of companies located (or with primary operations) in Africa and the Middle East.
The investment objective is a fundamental policy and shareholder approval is required to substantially change it. As with any fund, there is no guarantee the fund will achieve its objective.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 11 |
Principal Investment Strategies
Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and your tolerance for risk. The fund may be appropriate for you if you are seeking diversification for your equity investments and can accept the risks that accompany foreign investments. Your decision should take into account whether you have any other foreign stock investments. If you do not, you may want to consider investing in a more widely diversified fund to gain the broadest exposure to global opportunities. The fund may be an appropriate part of your overall portfolio if you are supplementing existing holdings primarily in the U.S. and developed international markets and are comfortable with the potentially significant volatility associated with investing in the African and Middle Eastern region.
The market may reward growth stocks with price increases when earnings expectations are met or exceeded. Funds that employ a growth-oriented approach to stock selection rely on the premise that by investing in companies that increase their earnings faster than both inflation and the overall economy, the market will eventually reward those companies with a higher stock price. The fund’s successful implementation of a growth-oriented strategy may lead to long-term growth of capital over time.
Investing a portion of your overall portfolio in stock funds with foreign holdings can enhance your diversification and increase your available investment opportunities.
The fund invests primarily in companies in African and Middle Eastern countries. Focusing on African and Middle Eastern countries provides the fund with the opportunity to seek strong growth in the areas the fund views as most promising, but with commensurately higher risks.
Portfolio managers closely monitor the fund’s investments as well as political and economic trends in the countries and regions in which the fund invests. Holdings are adjusted according to the portfolio manager’s analysis and outlook. The impact of unfavorable developments in a particular country may be reduced when investments are spread among many countries. However, the economies and financial markets of countries in a certain region may be heavily influenced by one another.
The Firm integrates environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors into its investment research process. We focus on the ESG factors we consider most likely to have a material impact on the performance of the holdings in the fund’s portfolio.
Principal Risks
Some of the principal tools the adviser uses to try to reduce overall risk include intensive research when evaluating a company’s prospects and limiting exposure to certain industries, asset classes, or investment styles when appropriate.
The principal risks associated with the fund’s principal investment strategies include the following:
Investing in Africa and the Middle East The economies of certain African and Middle Eastern countries are in the earliest stages of economic development, which may result in a high concentration of trading volume and market capitalization in a small number of issuers or
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a limited number of industries. There are typically fewer brokers in African and Middle Eastern countries, and they are typically less well capitalized than brokers in the U.S. or other developed markets. Many African nations have a history of military intervention, dictatorship, civil war, and corruption, which all limit the effectiveness of markets in those countries. Many Middle Eastern countries are facing political and economic uncertainty, with little or no democratic tradition or free market history, which could result in significant economic downturn.
During periods of instability or upheaval, a country’s government may act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. In addition, at certain times, the fund may have to “fair value”—or assign a value on the basis of factors other than market quotations—certain securities. Portfolio holdings that are valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to greater fluctuation than if market quotations had been used, and there is no assurance that the fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time. Further, the economies of many Middle Eastern and African countries are largely dependent on, and linked together by, certain commodities (such as gold, silver, copper, diamonds, and oil). As a result, African and Middle Eastern economies are vulnerable to changes in commodity prices, and fluctuations in demand for these commodities could significantly impact economies in these regions. A downturn in one country’s economy could have a disproportionally large effect on others in the region.
Geographic concentration Funds that are less diversified across geographic regions, countries, industries, or individual companies are generally riskier than more diversified funds. The performance of a fund that is less diversified will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries, regions, or industries in which the fund invests and may be more volatile than the performance of a more diversified fund. The economies and financial markets of certain regions—such as Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa—can be interdependent and may all decline at the same time.
Banking and financial companies To the extent the fund has significant investments in financial companies, it is more susceptible to adverse developments affecting such companies and may perform poorly during a downturn in the banking industry. Banks can be adversely affected by, among other things, regulatory changes, interest rate movements, the availability of capital and the cost to borrow, and the rate of debt defaults. Banks and other financial services institutions are often subject to extensive governmental regulation and intervention, and the potential for additional regulation could reduce profit margins and adversely affect the scope of their activities, increase the amount of capital they must maintain, and limit the amounts and types of loans and other financial commitments they can make. In addition, companies in the financials sector may also be adversely affected by decreases in the availability of money or asset valuations, credit rating downgrades, increased competition, and adverse conditions in other related markets.
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The oversight of, and regulations applicable to, banks in emerging markets may be ineffective when compared with the regulatory frameworks for banks in developed markets. Banks in emerging markets may have significantly less access to capital than banks in more developed markets, leading them to be more likely to fail under adverse economic conditions. In addition, the impact of future regulation on any individual bank, or on the financial services sector as a whole, can be very difficult to predict.
Investing in South Africa South Africa’s two-tiered economy, which exhibits characteristics of both developed and emerging economies, is characterized by an uneven distribution of wealth and relatively high unemployment. This could lead to civil or social unrest, which, combined with the possibility of ethnic conflict in the country, could result in the rejection of South Africa’s free market reforms. South Africa’s insufficient reserves leave it vulnerable to currency devaluation in the future. The South African government controls a large share of the economy; heavy regulation of labor and product markets could stifle growth. A large portion of South Africa’s export market is dependent on agriculture and mining, leaving the country’s economy susceptible to droughts and other natural disasters, as well as fluctuations in the overall market for these commodities.
Investing in Saudi Arabia Foreign investors have historically been restricted from investing directly in the Saudi Arabian stock exchange and have gained indirect exposure to Saudi Arabian stocks through instruments such as P-notes. Qualified foreign institutional investors (such as the fund) may now invest directly in the Saudi Arabian stock exchange, although this ability is relatively new and untested and investments in a particular Saudi Arabian company are subject to various aggregate foreign ownership limits. The ability of foreign investors to invest directly could be restricted or revoked by the Saudi Arabian government at any time and unforeseen risks could materialize due to foreign ownership in such securities. The economy of Saudi Arabia is highly reliant on exporting oil and a sustained decrease in oil prices could have a negative impact on all aspects of the Saudi Arabian economy. Like many Middle Eastern governments, the government of Saudi Arabia exercises substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector and heightened risks relating to investing in Saudi Arabia may include, among others, expropriation of assets and confiscatory taxation, restrictions on foreign ownership, government intervention in international trade, and political instability as a result of religious, ethnic and/or socioeconomic unrest. Although efforts for liberalization in the broader Saudi Arabian economy are underway, in many areas it has lagged significantly and change has been impeded by the fact that Saudi Arabia is governed by an absolute monarchy. In addition, Saudi Arabia’s economy tends to rely heavily on cheap, foreign labor and changes in the availability of this labor supply could have an adverse effect on the economy.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging markets are subject to the risk of abrupt and severe price declines. The economic and political structures of emerging market countries, in most cases, do not compare favorably with the U.S. or other developed countries in terms of wealth and stability, and their financial markets often lack liquidity. These economies are less developed, can be overly reliant on particular industries, and are more vulnerable to the ebb and flow of international trade, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures.
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Governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets. As a result, foreign investments may be restricted and subject to greater government control, including repatriation of sales proceeds. Emerging market securities exchanges are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the custody of holdings by local banks, agents, and depositories. In addition, the accounting standards in emerging market countries may be unreliable and could present an inaccurate picture of a company’s finances. Some countries have histories of instability and upheaval that could cause their governments to act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. Investments in countries or regions that have recently begun moving away from central planning and state-owned industries toward free markets should be regarded as speculative.
While some countries have made progress in economic growth, liberalization, fiscal discipline, and political and social stability, there is no assurance these trends will continue. Significant risks, such as war and terrorism, currently affect some emerging market countries. The fund’s performance will likely be hurt by exposure to nations in the midst of hyperinflation, currency devaluation, trade disagreements, sudden political upheaval, or interventionist government policies. The volatility of emerging markets may be heightened by the actions (such as significant buying or selling) of a few major investors. For example, substantial increases or decreases in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local securities prices and, therefore, could cause fund share prices to decline.
Frontier markets Frontier market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of emerging market or developed market countries. In addition to the risks of investing in international emerging markets, frontier markets tend to have less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity and are more susceptible to governmental interference, local taxes being imposed on international investments, and restrictions on gaining access to sales proceeds. The possibility of a securities exchange closing unexpectedly for a long period of time is much greater in a frontier market. Frontier markets generally have smaller economies or less mature capital markets than emerging markets and, as a result, the risks typically associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries. Certain frontier market countries may impose restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of investment income and capital.
Adverse changes in currency values of frontier market countries may be severe and settlement procedures and custody services may prove inadequate in certain markets. The markets of frontier countries typically have low trading volumes and the potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity. This volatility may be further increased by the actions of a few major investors. For example, a substantial increase or decrease in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local stock prices and, therefore, the net asset value of the fund. In addition, frontier market securities may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Custody services in many frontier market countries remain undeveloped and, although the fund’s custodian will
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seek to establish control mechanisms, including the selection of appropriate sub-custodians to hold securities on behalf of the fund, there is greater transaction and custody risk in dealing in securities of frontier market countries. Overall, the laws and market practices of frontier market countries carry fewer safeguards than more mature markets, including, for example, the protection against claims from general creditors in the event of the insolvency of an agent selected to hold securities on behalf of the fund.
International investing Investments outside the U.S. may lose value because of declining foreign currencies or adverse political or economic events overseas, among other things. Securities of non-U.S. issuers (including depositary receipts and other instruments that represent interests in a non-U.S. issuer) tend to be more volatile than U.S. securities and are subject to trading markets with lower overall liquidity, governmental interference, and regulatory and accounting standards and settlement practices that differ from the U.S. The fund could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies in which the fund’s holdings are denominated versus the U.S. dollar, and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar. Risks can result from differing regulatory environments, less stringent investor protections, uncertain tax laws, and higher transaction costs compared to U.S. markets. Investments outside the U.S. could be subject to governmental actions such as capital or currency controls, nationalization of a company or industry, expropriation of assets, or imposition of high taxes.
A trading market may close for national holidays or without warning for extended time periods, preventing the fund from buying or selling securities in that market. Trading securities in which the fund invests may take place in various foreign markets on certain days when the fund is not open for business and does not calculate its net asset value. For example, the fund may invest in securities that trade in various foreign markets that are open on weekends. As the securities trade, their value may substantially change. As a result, the fund’s net asset value may be significantly affected on days when shareholders cannot make transactions. In addition, market volatility may significantly limit the liquidity of securities of certain issuers in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the fund’s obligations.
Liquidity A particular investment or an entire market segment may become less liquid or even illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the fund’s overall value and its ability to limit losses. Less liquid or illiquid investments can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is an increased risk that the investment may not be sold for the price at which the fund is valuing it. Market prices of holdings with reduced liquidity may be volatile and an inability to sell a portfolio holding can adversely affect the fund’s value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of substantial market volatility due to higher than normal redemption rates. Unexpected episodes of illiquidity may limit the fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. Large redemptions by one or more shareholders owning a significant percentage of the fund’s assets may also have a negative impact on the fund’s overall liquidity. To meet redemption requests during periods of
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illiquidity, the fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Nondiversification Because the fund is nondiversified and thus can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers, it is more exposed to the risks associated with an individual issuer than a fund that invests more broadly across many issuers. For example, poor performance by a single large holding of the fund would adversely affect the fund’s performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers.
Growth investing Different investment styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending on market conditions and investor sentiment. Growth stocks can be more volatile than other types of stocks and their prices tend to fluctuate more dramatically than the overall stock markets. Growth stocks are typically priced higher than other stocks because investors believe they have more growth potential, which may or may not be realized. Since these companies usually invest a high portion of earnings in their businesses, they may lack the dividends that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. In addition, earnings disappointments often lead to sharply falling prices for growth stocks.
Stock investing The fund’s share price can fall because of weakness in the overall stock markets, a particular industry, or specific holdings. Stock markets as a whole can be volatile and decline for many reasons, such as adverse local, political, regulatory, or economic developments; changes in investor psychology; or heavy institutional selling at the same time by major institutional investors in the market, such as mutual funds, pension funds, and banks. The prospects for an industry or company may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings or changes in the competitive environment. In addition, the adviser’s assessment of companies whose stocks are held by the fund may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor performance, even in rising markets. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
Active management The investment adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. The fund could underperform other funds with a similar benchmark or similar investment program if the fund’s investment selections or overall strategies fail to produce the intended results.
P-notes Although P-notes may serve as an efficient means to gain exposure to foreign securities markets or foreign securities that might otherwise be difficult or costly to access or purchase because of foreign regulatory restrictions or foreign tax laws, such investments carry additional risks beyond the risks associated with a direct investment in their underlying reference asset. P-Notes involve transaction costs, which may be higher than those applicable to the underlying securities. Any dividends or capital gains collected from the underlying securities are passed through to the foreign investors; however, the holder of a P-Note is not entitled to the same rights (e.g., dividends, voting rights) as an owner of the underlying security. The fund must rely on the creditworthiness of a counterparty and would have no rights against the issuer of an underlying security. Other risks include the risk that a P-Note may be illiquid and that the fund may not be able to terminate or offset its positions at the time
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it wishes to do so or at a favorable price and that, as a result of the failure of a counterparty or legal or operational issues, the fund may not receive payments required to be made to them under the terms of a P-Note.
Additional Strategies and Risks
In addition to the principal investment strategies and principal risks previously described, the fund may employ other, non-principal investment strategies and may be subject to other risks, which are described in the following paragraphs.
The fund may, to a limited extent, use derivatives such as futures contracts and forward currency exchange contracts. Any investments in futures would typically serve as an efficient means of gaining exposure to certain markets or as a cash management tool to maintain liquidity while being invested in the market. Forward currency exchange contracts would primarily be used to settle trades in a foreign currency or to help protect the fund’s holdings from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, although other currency hedging techniques may be used from time to time. To the extent the fund uses futures and forward currency exchange contracts, it is exposed to potential volatility and losses greater than direct investments in the contracts’ underlying assets, and the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted.
Derivatives Derivatives typically involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the assets on which the derivative is based. Certain derivatives can be highly volatile, lack liquidity, and be difficult to value. Changes in the value of a derivative may not properly correlate with changes in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The fund could be exposed to significant losses if it is unable to close a derivative position due to the lack of a liquid trading market. Derivatives involve the risk that a counterparty to the derivatives agreement will fail to make required payments or comply with the terms of the agreement. There is also the possibility that limitations or trading restrictions may be imposed by an exchange or government regulation, which could adversely impact the value and liquidity of a derivatives contract subject to such regulation. Recent regulations have changed the requirements related to the use of certain derivatives. Some of these new regulations have limited the availability of certain derivatives and made their use by funds more costly. It is expected that additional changes to the regulatory framework will occur, but the extent and impact of additional new regulations are not certain at this time.
Cybersecurity breaches The fund may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity breaches may involve deliberate attacks and unauthorized access to the digital information systems (for example, through “hacking” or malicious software coding) used by the fund or its third-party service providers but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks. These breaches may, among other things, result in financial losses to the fund and its shareholders, cause the fund to lose proprietary information, disrupt business operations, or result in the unauthorized release of confidential information. Further, cybersecurity breaches involving the fund’s third-party service providers, trading counterparties, or issuers in which the fund invests could subject the fund to many of the same risks associated with direct breaches.
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This section provides a more detailed description of the various types of portfolio holdings and investment practices that may be used by the fund to execute its overall investment program. Some of these holdings and investment practices are considered to be principal investment strategies of the fund and have already been described earlier in this prospectus while others are considered non-principal. Any of the following holdings and investment practices that were not already described in Section 1 of this prospectus are considered non-principal investment practices, but they may be used by the fund from time-to-time to help achieve its investment objective. The fund’s investments may be subject to further restrictions and risks described in the Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ prior notice of a change in the fund’s policy requiring it to normally invest at least 80% of its net assets in African and Middle Eastern companies.
The fund’s holdings in certain kinds of investments cannot exceed maximum percentages as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. For instance, there are limitations regarding the fund’s investments in certain types of derivatives. While these restrictions provide a useful level of detail about the fund’s investments, investors should not view them as an accurate gauge of the potential risk of such investments. For example, in a given period, a 5% investment in derivatives could have a significantly greater impact on the fund’s share price than its weighting in the portfolio. The net effect of a particular investment depends on its volatility and the size of its overall return in relation to the performance of all of the fund’s investments.
Certain investment restrictions, such as a required minimum or maximum investment in a particular type of security, are measured at the time the fund purchases a security. The status, market value, maturity, duration, credit quality, or other characteristics of the fund’s securities may change after they are purchased, and this may cause the amount of the fund’s assets invested in such securities to exceed the stated maximum restriction or fall below the stated minimum restriction. If any of these changes occur, it would not be considered a violation of the investment restriction and will not require the sale of an investment if it was proper at the time the investment was made (this exception does not apply to the fund’s borrowing policy). However, certain changes will require holdings to be sold or purchased by the fund during the time it is above or below the stated percentage restriction in order for the fund to be in compliance with applicable restrictions.
The fund relies on the country assigned to a security by MSCI Inc., a third-party provider of benchmark indexes and data services, or another unaffiliated data provider. The fund also relies on MSCI Inc. or another unaffiliated data provider to determine which countries are considered emerging markets. The data providers use various criteria to determine the country to which a security is economically tied. Examples include the following: (1) the country under which the issuer is organized; (2) the location of the issuer’s principal place of business or principal office; (3) where the issuer’s securities are listed or traded principally on an exchange
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or over-the-counter market; and (4) where the issuer conducts the predominant part of its business activities or derives a significant portion (e.g., at least 50%) of its revenues or profits.
Changes in the fund’s holdings, the fund’s performance, and the contribution of various investments to the fund’s performance are discussed in the shareholder reports.
Portfolio managers have considerable discretion in choosing investment strategies and selecting securities they believe will help achieve the fund’s objective.
Types of Portfolio Securities
In seeking to meet its investment objective, the fund may invest in any type of security or instrument (including certain potentially high-risk derivatives described in this section) whose investment characteristics are consistent with its investment program. The following pages describe various types of the fund’s holdings and investment management practices, some of which are also described as part of the fund’s principal investment strategies.
The fund’s investments are primarily in common stocks and, to a lesser degree, other types of securities as follows:
Common and Preferred Stocks
Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Generally, preferred stocks have a specified dividend rate and rank after bonds and before common stocks in their claim on income for dividend payments and on assets should the company be liquidated. After other claims are satisfied, common stockholders participate in company profits on a pro-rata basis and profits may be paid out in dividends or reinvested in the company to help it grow. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price, so common stocks generally have the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities. Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. While most preferred stocks pay a dividend, the fund may decide to purchase preferred stock where the issuer has suspended, or is in danger of suspending, payment of its dividend. The fund may purchase American Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts, which are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. American Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts trade on established markets and are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their local markets and currencies. Such investments are subject to many of the same risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary receipts are deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. For example, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
Convertible Securities and Warrants
The fund may invest in debt instruments or preferred equity securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities at specified times in the future and according to a certain exchange ratio. Convertible bonds are typically callable by the issuer, which could in effect force conversion before the holder would otherwise choose. Traditionally, convertible securities have paid dividends or interest at rates higher than common stocks but lower than
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nonconvertible securities. They generally participate in the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying stock into which they are convertible, but to a lesser degree than common stock. Some convertible securities combine higher or lower current income with options and other features. Warrants are options to buy, directly from the issuer, a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime during the life of the warrants (generally, two or more years). Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and can be highly volatile. In some cases, the redemption value of a warrant could be zero.
Participation Notes (P-notes)
The fund may gain exposure to securities traded in foreign markets through investments in P-notes. P-notes are generally issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to an underlying common stock or other security. An investment in a P-note involves additional risks beyond the risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying security. While the holder of a P-note is entitled to receive from the broker-dealer or bank any dividends paid by the underlying security, the holder is not entitled to the same rights (e.g., voting rights) as a direct owner of the underlying security. P-notes are considered general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them as the counterparty. As such, the fund must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty for its investment returns on the P-notes, and could lose the entire value of its investment in the event of default by a counterparty. Additionally, there is no assurance that there will be a secondary trading market for a P-note or that the trading price of a P-note will equal the value of the underlying security.
Fixed Income Securities
From time to time, the fund may invest in corporate and government fixed income securities as well as below investment-grade bonds, commonly referred to as “junk” bonds. Corporate fixed income securities would be purchased in companies that meet the fund’s investment criteria. The price of a fixed income security fluctuates with changes in interest rates, generally rising when interest rates fall and falling when interest rates rise. Below investment-grade bonds, or “junk” bonds, can be more volatile and have greater risk of default than investment-grade bonds, and should be considered speculative.
Futures and Options
Futures are often used to establish exposures or manage or hedge risk because they enable the investor to buy or sell an asset in the future at an agreed-upon price. Options may be used to generate additional income, to enhance returns, or as a defensive technique to protect against anticipated declines in the value of an asset. Call options give the investor the right to purchase (when the investor purchases the option), or the obligation to sell (when the investor “writes” or sells the option), an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Put options give the purchaser of the option the right to sell, or the seller (or “writer”) of the option the obligation to buy, an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Futures and options contracts may be bought or sold for any number of reasons, including to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, bond prices, foreign currencies, and credit quality; as an efficient means of increasing or decreasing the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income; to improve
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risk-adjusted returns; to protect the value of portfolio securities; and to serve as a cash management tool. Call or put options may be purchased or sold on securities, futures, financial indexes, and foreign currencies. The fund may choose to continue a futures contract by “rolling over” an expiring futures contract into an identical contract with a later maturity date. This could increase the fund’s transaction costs and portfolio turnover rate.
Futures and options contracts may not always be successful investments or hedges; their prices can be highly volatile; using them could lower the fund’s total return; the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such contracts; and the losses from certain options written by the fund could be unlimited.
Currency Derivatives
The fund will normally conduct any foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. The fund will generally not enter into a forward contract with a term greater than one year. The fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of a security when it enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, and when the fund believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may move substantially against another currency, it may enter into a forward contract to sell or buy the former foreign currency.
A fund that invests in foreign securities may attempt to hedge its exposure to potentially unfavorable currency changes. The primary means of doing this is through the use of forward currency exchange contracts, which are contracts between two counterparties to exchange one currency for another on a future date at a specified exchange rate. The fund may also use these instruments to create a synthetic bond, which is issued in one currency with the currency component transformed into another currency. However, futures, swaps, and options on foreign currencies may also be used. In certain circumstances, the fund may use currency derivatives to substitute a different currency for the currency in which the investment is denominated, a strategy known as proxy hedging. If the fund were to engage in any of these foreign currency transactions, it could serve to protect its foreign securities from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar, although the fund may also use currency derivatives in an effort to gain exposure to a currency expected to appreciate in value versus other currencies. As a result, the fund could be invested in a currency without holding any securities denominated in that currency. Such transactions involve, among other risks, the risk that anticipated currency movements will not occur, which could reduce the fund’s total return. There are certain markets, including many emerging markets, where it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging.
Hedging may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by the fund and could affect whether dividends paid by the fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.
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Investments in Other Investment Companies
The fund may invest in other investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds.
The fund may purchase the securities of another investment company to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the market while awaiting the purchase of securities or as an efficient means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class. The fund might also purchase shares of another investment company, including shares of other mutual funds sponsored and managed by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”), to gain exposure to the securities in the investment company’s portfolio at times when the fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or as a means of gaining efficient and cost-effective exposure to certain asset classes. Any investment in another investment company would be consistent with the fund’s objective and investment program.
The risks of owning another investment company are generally similar to the risks of investing directly in the securities in which that investment company invests. However, an investment company may not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategy effectively, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance. In addition, because closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds trade on a secondary market, their shares may trade at a premium or discount to the actual net asset value of their portfolio securities and their shares may have greater volatility if an active trading market does not exist.
As a shareholder of another investment company, the fund must pay its pro-rata share of that investment company’s fees and expenses. The fund’s investments in non-T. Rowe Price investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to investments in other funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any applicable exemptive order.
Investments in other investment companies could allow the fund to obtain the benefits of a more diversified portfolio than might otherwise be available through direct investments in a particular asset class, and will subject the fund to the risks associated with the particular asset class or asset classes in which an underlying fund invests. Examples of asset classes in which other mutual funds (including T. Rowe Price Funds) focus their investments include high yield bonds, inflation-linked securities, floating rate loans, international bonds, emerging market bonds, stocks of companies involved in activities related to real assets, stocks of companies that focus on a particular industry or sector, and emerging market stocks. If the fund invests in another T. Rowe Price Fund, the management fee paid by the fund will be reduced to ensure that the fund does not incur duplicate management fees as a result of its investment.
Illiquid Investments
Some of the fund’s holdings may be considered illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The determination of liquidity involves a variety of factors. Illiquid investments may include private placements that are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings,
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such securities are not registered with the SEC. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold (for example, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) and therefore deemed liquid, others may have resale restrictions and be considered illiquid. The sale of illiquid investments may involve substantial delays and additional costs, and the fund may only be able to sell such investments at prices substantially lower than what it believes they are worth. In addition, the fund’s investments in illiquid investments may reduce the returns of the fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time, which could prevent the fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities.
Types of Investment Management Practices
Reserve Position
A certain portion of the fund’s assets may be held in reserves. The fund’s reserve positions will primarily consist of: (1) shares of a T. Rowe Price internal money market fund or short-term bond fund (which do not charge any management fees); (2) short-term, high-quality U.S. and foreign dollar-denominated money market securities, including repurchase agreements; and (3) U.S. dollar or non-U.S. dollar currencies. In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its principal investment objective(s) and/or strategies and may invest, without limitation, in reserves. If the fund has significant holdings in reserves, it could compromise its ability to achieve its objective(s). The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, and managing cash flows into the fund and can serve as a short-term defense during periods of unusual market volatility. Non-U.S. dollar reserves are subject to currency risk.
Borrowing Money and Transferring Assets
The fund may borrow from banks, other persons, and other T. Rowe Price Funds for temporary or emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the fund’s policies as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. Such borrowings may be collateralized with the fund’s assets, subject to certain restrictions.
Borrowings may not exceed 33⅓% of the fund’s total assets. This limitation includes any borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, applies at the time of the transaction, and continues to the extent required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Meeting Redemption Requests
We expect that the fund will hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The fund may also use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used in deteriorating or stressed market conditions. The fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds with securities from the fund’s portfolio rather than in cash (redemptions in-kind), as described under “Large Redemptions.” Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the fund and its remaining shareholders. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata
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distribution of the fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above and may also be used in stressed market conditions.
The fund, along with other T. Rowe Price Funds, is a party to an interfund lending exemptive order received from the SEC that permits the T. Rowe Price Funds to borrow money from and/or lend money to other T. Rowe Price Funds to help the funds meet short-term redemptions and liquidity needs.
During periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions, when an increased portion of the fund’s portfolio may be composed of holdings with reduced liquidity or lengthy settlement periods, or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances, the fund may be more likely to pay redemption proceeds with cash obtained through interfund lending or short-term borrowing arrangements (if available), or by redeeming a large redemption request in-kind.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The fund may lend its securities to broker-dealers, other institutions, or other persons to earn additional income. Risks include the potential insolvency of the broker-dealer or other borrower that could result in delays in recovering securities and capital losses. Additionally, losses could result from the reinvestment of collateral received on loaned securities in investments that decline in value, default, or do not perform as well as expected. Cash collateral from securities lending is invested in the T. Rowe Price Short-Term Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more detailed information about the fund and its investments, operations, and expenses.
Portfolio Turnover
Turnover is an indication of frequency of trading. Each time the fund purchases or sells a security, it incurs a cost. This cost is reflected in the fund’s net asset value but not in its operating expenses. The higher the turnover rate, the higher the transaction costs and the greater the impact on the fund’s total return. Higher turnover can also increase the possibility of taxable capital gain distributions. The fund’s portfolio turnover rates are shown in the Financial Highlights tables.
The Financial Highlights tables, which provide information about each class’ financial history, are based on a single share outstanding throughout the periods shown. The tables are part of the fund’s financial statements, which are included in its annual report and are incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information (available upon request). The financial statements in the annual report were audited by the fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 25 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 10/31/18 |
| 10/31/17 |
| 10/31/16 |
| 10/31/15 |
| ||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period | $ | 8.55 | $ | 8.73 | $ | 7.85 | $ | 8.50 | $ | 10.57 |
| |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities Net investment | 0.49 | 0.17 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.14 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | (0.22 | ) | (0.22 | ) | 0.89 | (0.57 | ) | (2.08 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Total from investment | 0.27 | (0.05 | ) | 1.03 | (0.39 | ) | (1.94 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.17 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.13 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | – | – | (0.11 | ) | – | ||||||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.17 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.13 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
End of period | $ | 8.65 | $ | 8.55 | $ | 8.73 | $ | 7.85 | $ | 8.50 |
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 10/31/18 |
| 10/31/17 |
| 10/31/16 |
| 10/31/15 |
| ||||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(2) (3) | 3.20 | % | (0.68 | )% | 13.38 | % | (4.42 | )% | (18.41 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 1.49 | % | 1.52 | % | 1.54 | % | 1.56 | % | 1.47 | % | ||||||||||||||
Net expenses after | 1.31 | % | 1.36 | % | 1.42 | % | 1.56 | % | 1.47 | % | ||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 5.38 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.69 | % | 2.42 | % | 1.40 | % | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 48.0 | % | 51.6 | % | 60.2 | % | 82.5 | % | 60.4 | % | ||||||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 105 | $ | 115 | $ | 132 | $ | 121 | $ | 157 |
|
(1) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 27 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| Year 10/31/19 |
| 10/31/18 |
| 3/6/17(1) Through 10/31/17 |
|
| |||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period | $ | 8.56 | $ | 8.74 | $ | 8.18 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities Net investment income(2) (3) | 0.52 | 0.18 | 0.10 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss | (0.23 | ) | (0.21 | ) | 0.46 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total from investment activities | 0.29 | (0.03 | ) | 0.56 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.19 | ) | (0.15 | ) | – | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
End of period | $ | 8.66 | $ | 8.56 | $ | 8.74 |
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| Year 10/31/19 |
| 10/31/18 |
| 3/6/17(1) Through 10/31/17 |
|
| |||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(3) (4) | 3.43 | % | (0.47 | )% | 6.85 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 1.28 | % | 1.30 | % | 1.31 | %(5) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses after waivers/payments | 1.09 | % | 1.13 | % | 1.13 | %(5) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 5.81 | % | 1.91 | % | 1.81 | %(5) | ||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 48.0 | % | 51.6 | % | 60.2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 9,472 | $ | 8,721 | $ | 7,016 |
(1) Inception date
(2) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(3) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(4) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(5) Annualized.
Most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their calendar quarter-end portfolio holdings on troweprice.com 15 calendar days after each quarter. At the discretion of the investment adviser, these holdings reports may exclude the issuer name and other information relating to a holding in order to protect the fund’s interests and prevent harm to the fund or its shareholders. In addition, most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their 10 largest holdings, along with the percentage of the relevant fund’s total assets that each of the 10 holdings represents, on troweprice.com on the seventh business day after each month-end. These holdings are listed in numerical order based on such percentages of the fund’s assets. A description of T. Rowe Price’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio information is available in the Statement of Additional Information.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 3 | |
The following policies and procedures generally apply to Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds. The front cover and Section 1 of this prospectus indicate which share classes are available for the fund.
This section of the prospectus explains the basics of investing with T. Rowe Price and describes some of the different share classes that may be available. Certain share classes can be held directly with T. Rowe Price, while other share classes must typically be held through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, broker, retirement plan recordkeeper, or investment advisor. The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services.
Each class of a fund’s shares represents an interest in the same fund with the same investment program and investment policies. However, each class is designed for a different type of investor and has a different cost structure primarily due to shareholder services or distribution arrangements that may apply only to that class. For example, certain classes may make payments to financial intermediaries for various administrative services they provide (commonly referred to as administrative fee payments, or AFP) and/or make payments to certain financial intermediaries for distribution of the fund’s shares (commonly referred to as 12b-1 fee payments). Determining the most appropriate share class depends on many factors, including how much you plan to invest, whether you are investing directly in the fund or through a financial intermediary, and whether you are investing on behalf of a person or an organization.
This section generally describes the differences between Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class shares. This section does not describe the policies that apply to accounts in T. Rowe Price institutional funds and certain other types of funds. Policies for these other funds are described in their respective prospectuses, and all available share classes for the T. Rowe Price Funds are described more fully in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information. While many T. Rowe Price Funds are offered in more than one share class, not all funds offer all of the share classes described in this section.
Investor Class
A T. Rowe Price Fund that does not include the term “institutional” or indicate a specific share class as part of its name is considered to be the Investor Class of that fund. The Investor Class is
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available to individual investors, institutions, and a wide variety of other types of investors. The Investor Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a retirement plan or financial intermediary. The Investor Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries but may make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. In addition, you may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling Investor Class shares through a financial intermediary. For investors holding the Investor Class through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable.
I Class
The I Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a financial intermediary. The I Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries. However, you may incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling I Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The I Class requires a $1 million initial investment minimum, although the minimum generally is waived for retirement plans, financial intermediaries, certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority, and certain other accounts. For investors eligible for the I Class through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable. Accounts that are not eligible for the I Class may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Advisor Class
The Advisor Class is designed to be sold through various financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and financial advisors. The Advisor Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The Advisor Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The Advisor Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of Advisor Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the Advisor Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 31 |
R Class
The R Class is designed to be sold through financial intermediaries for employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans and certain other retirement accounts. The R Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The R Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The R Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of R Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the R Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class or Advisor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Z Class
The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases. The Z Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries.
Administrative Fee Payments (Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class)
Certain financial intermediaries perform recordkeeping and administrative services for their clients that would otherwise be performed by the funds’ transfer agent. T. Rowe Price Funds (other than I Class or Z Class shares) may make administrative fee payments to retirement plan recordkeepers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries (at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the fund’s average daily net assets) for transfer agency, recordkeeping, and other administrative services that they provide on behalf of the funds. These administrative services may include maintaining account records for each customer; transmitting purchase and redemption orders; delivering shareholder confirmations, statements, and tax forms; and providing support to respond to customers’ questions regarding their accounts. Except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, these separate administrative fee payments are reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
T. ROWE PRICE | 32 |
12b-1 Fee Payments (Advisor Class and R Class)
Mutual funds are permitted to adopt a 12b-1 plan to pay certain expenses associated with the distribution of the fund’s shares out of the fund’s assets. Each fund offering Advisor and/or R Class shares has adopted a 12b-1 plan under which those classes may make payments (for the Advisor Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets, and for the R Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets) to various financial intermediaries, such as brokers, banks, insurance companies, investment advisers, and retirement plan recordkeepers for distribution and/or shareholder servicing of the Advisor and R Class shares. The 12b-1 plans provide for the class to pay such fees to the fund’s distributor and for the distributor to then pay such fees to the financial intermediaries that provide services for the class and/or make the class available to investors.
For the Advisor Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the Advisor Class shares available to their customers (for example, providing the fund with “shelf space” or inclusion on a “preferred list” or “supermarket” platform). For the R Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the R Class shares available as investment options to retirement plans and retirement plan participants, assisting plan sponsors in conducting searches for investment options, and providing ongoing monitoring of investment options.
Shareholder servicing payments under the plans may include payments to financial intermediaries for providing shareholder support services to existing shareholders of the Advisor and R Class. These payments may be more or less than the costs incurred by the financial intermediaries. Because the fees are paid from the Advisor Class or R Class net assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time. In addition, payments of 12b-1 fees may influence your financial advisor’s recommendation of the fund or of any particular share class of the fund. Payments of 12b-1 fees are reflected in the “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
In addition to the AFP payments made by certain funds and the 12b-1 payments made by the Advisor and R Class, T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor will, at their own expense, provide compensation to certain financial intermediaries that have sold shares of or provide shareholder or other services to the T. Rowe Price Funds, commonly referred to as revenue sharing. These payments may be in the form of asset-based, transaction-based, or flat payments. These payments are used to compensate third parties for distribution and shareholder servicing activities, including sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, or other services. Some of these payments may include expense reimbursements and meeting and marketing support payments (out of T. Rowe Price’s or the fund’s distributor’s own resources and not as an expense of the funds) to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, banks, insurance companies, and retirement plan recordkeepers, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing, and/or servicing of the
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 33 |
T. Rowe Price Funds. The Statement of Additional Information provides more information about these payment arrangements.
The receipt of, or the prospect of receiving, these payments and expense reimbursements from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor may influence intermediaries, plan sponsors, and other third parties to offer or recommend T. Rowe Price Funds over other investment options for which an intermediary does not receive additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). In addition, financial intermediaries that receive these payments and/or expense reimbursements may elevate the prominence of the T. Rowe Price Funds by, for example, placing the T. Rowe Price Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or provide preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the T. Rowe Price Funds in various ways. Since these additional payments are not paid by a fund directly, these arrangements do not increase fund expenses and will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the T. Rowe Price Funds or the amount that is invested in a T. Rowe Price Fund on behalf of an investor. You may ask your financial intermediary for more information about any payments they receive from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor.
Comparison of Fees
The following table summarizes the distribution and service (12b-1) fee and administrative fee arrangements applicable to each class.
Class | 12b-1 Fee Payments | Administrative Fee Payments |
Investor Class | None | Up to 0.15% per year |
I Class | None | None |
Advisor Class | Up to 0.25% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
R Class | Up to 0.50% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
Z Class | None | None |
Investor Class
In an effort to help offset the disproportionately high costs incurred by the funds in connection with servicing lower-balance accounts that are held directly with the T. Rowe Price Funds’ transfer agent, an annual $20 account service fee (paid to T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., or one of its affiliates) is charged to certain Investor Class accounts with a balance below $10,000. The determination of whether a fund account is subject to the account service fee is based on account balances and services selected for accounts as of the last business day of August of each calendar year. The fee may be charged to an account with a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation and recent redemptions. The fee, which is automatically deducted from an account by redeeming fund shares, is typically charged to accounts in early September each calendar year. Such redemption may result in a taxable gain or loss to you.
The account service fee generally does not apply to fund accounts that are held through a financial intermediary, participant accounts in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which
T. ROWE PRICE | 34 |
T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services, accounts held through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, or money market funds that are used as a T. Rowe Price brokerage sweep account. Regardless of a particular fund account’s balance on the last business day of August, the account service fee is automatically waived for accounts that satisfy any of the following conditions:
· Any accounts for which the shareholder has elected to receive electronic delivery of all of the following: account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports (paper copies of fund documents are available, free of charge, upon request, to any shareholder regardless of whether the shareholder has elected electronic delivery);
· Any accounts of a shareholder with at least $50,000 in total assets with T. Rowe Price (for this purpose, total assets include investments through T. Rowe Price Brokerage and investments in T. Rowe Price Funds, except for those held through a retirement plan for which T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services); or
· Any accounts of a shareholder who is a T. Rowe Price Select Client Services client—visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-332-6161 for more information.
T. Rowe Price reserves the right to authorize additional waivers for other types of accounts or to modify the conditions for assessment of the account service fee. Fund shares held in a T. Rowe Price IRA, Education Savings Account, or small business retirement plan account (including certain 403(b) plan accounts) are subject to the account service fee and may be subject to additional administrative fees when distributing all fund shares from such accounts.
Investor and I Class shares may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through various financial intermediaries. Advisor and R Class shares must be purchased through a financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly at T. Rowe Price). If you are opening an account through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or other financial intermediary, you should contact the retirement plan or financial intermediary for information regarding its policies on opening an account, including the policies relating to purchasing, exchanging, and redeeming shares, and the applicable initial and subsequent investment minimums.
Tax Identification Number
Investors must provide T. Rowe Price with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number on a signed new account form or Form W-9, and financial intermediaries must provide T. Rowe Price with their certified taxpayer identification number. Otherwise, federal law requires the funds to withhold a percentage of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemptions and may subject you or the financial intermediary to an Internal Revenue Service fine. If this information is not received within 60 days of the account being established, the account may be redeemed at the fund’s then-current net asset value.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 35 |
Important Information Required to Open a New Account
Pursuant to federal law, all financial institutions must obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. This information is needed not only for the account owner and any other person who opens the account, but also for any person who has authority to act on behalf of the account.
When you open an account, you will be asked for the name, U.S. street address (post office boxes are not acceptable), date of birth, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for each account owner and person(s) opening an account on behalf of others, such as custodians, agents, trustees, or other authorized signers. When opening an entity account, you will be asked to identify and provide personal information for: (i) any individual who, either directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the equity interest of the entity and (ii) a single individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity. Corporate and other institutional accounts require documents showing the existence of the entity (such as articles of incorporation or partnership agreements) to open an account. Certain other fiduciary accounts (such as trusts or power of attorney arrangements) require documentation, which may include an original or certified copy of the trust agreement or power of attorney, to open an account.
T. Rowe Price will use this information to verify the identity of the person(s)/entity opening the account. An account cannot be opened until all of this information is received. If the identity of the account holder cannot be verified, T. Rowe Price is authorized to take any action permitted by law, including but not limited to restricting additional purchases, freezing the account, or involuntarily redeeming the shares in the account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed.
Institutional investors and financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services at 1-800-638-8790 for more information on these requirements, as well as to be assigned an account number and instructions for opening an account. Other investors should call Investor Services at 1-800-638-5660 for more information about these requirements.
The funds are generally available only to investors residing in the United States. In addition, nongovernment money market funds that operate as “retail money market funds” pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons. An investor in a retail money market fund is required to demonstrate eligibility (for example, by providing a valid Social Security number) before an account can be opened.
How and When Shares Are Priced
The trade date for your transaction request depends on the day and time that T. Rowe Price receives your request and will normally be executed using the next share price calculated after your order is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent (or by your financial
T. ROWE PRICE | 36 |
intermediary if it has the authority to accept transaction orders on behalf of the fund). The share price, also called the net asset value, for each share class of a fund is calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which is normally 4 p.m. ET, on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Net asset values are not calculated for the funds on days when the NYSE is scheduled to be closed for trading (for example, weekends and certain U.S. national holidays). If the NYSE is unexpectedly closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or if the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
To calculate the net asset value, a fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and each class’ proportionate share of the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class. Market values are used to price portfolio holdings for which market quotations are readily available. Market values generally reflect the prices at which securities actually trade or represent prices that have been adjusted based on evaluations and information provided by the fund’s pricing services. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of the mutual fund on the day of valuation. If a market value for a portfolio holding is not available or normal valuation procedures are deemed to be inappropriate, the fund will make a good faith effort to assign a fair value to the holding by taking into account various factors and methodologies that have been approved by the fund’s Board. This value may differ from the value the fund receives upon sale of the securities.
Amortized cost is used to price securities held by money market funds and certain short-term debt securities held by other funds. The retail and government money market funds, which seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00, use the amortized cost method of valuation to calculate their net asset value. Amortized cost allows the money market funds to value a holding at the fund’s acquisition cost with adjustments for any premiums or discounts and then round the net asset value per share to the nearest whole cent. The amortized cost method of valuation enables the money market funds to maintain a $1.00 net asset value, but it may also result in periods during which the stated value of a security held by the funds differs from the market-based price the funds would receive if they sold that holding. The current market-based net asset value per share for each business day in the preceding six months is available for the retail and government money market funds through troweprice.com. These market-based net asset values are for informational purposes only and are not used to price transactions.
The funds use various pricing services to provide closing market prices, as well as information used to adjust those prices and to value most fixed income securities. A fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices or how often it will adjust those prices. As a means of evaluating its fair value process, the fund routinely compares closing market prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
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Non-U.S. equity securities are valued on the basis of their most recent closing market prices at 4 p.m. ET, except under the following circumstances. Most foreign markets close before 4 p.m. ET. For example, the most recent closing prices for securities traded in certain Asian markets may be as much as 15 hours old at 4 p.m. ET. If a fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will affect the value of some or all of the fund’s securities, the fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of 4 p.m. ET. In deciding whether to make these adjustments, the fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities.
A fund may also fair value certain securities or a group of securities in other situations—for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. For a fund that has investments in securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the fund does not price its shares, the fund’s net asset value may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the fund’s shares. If an event occurs that affects the value of a security after the close of the market, such as a default of a commercial paper issuer or a significant move in short-term interest rates, a fund may make a price adjustment depending on the nature and significance of the event. The funds also evaluate a variety of factors when assigning fair values to private placements and other restricted securities. Other mutual funds may adjust the prices of their securities by different amounts or assign different fair values than the fair value that the fund assigns to the same security.
The various ways you can purchase, sell, and exchange shares are explained throughout this section. These procedures differ based on whether you hold your account directly with T. Rowe Price or through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or financial intermediary.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held directly with T. Rowe Price and not through a financial intermediary.
Options for Opening Your Account
If you own other T. Rowe Price Funds, you should consider registering any new account identically to your existing accounts so you can exchange shares among them easily (the name(s) of the account owner(s) and the account type must be identical).
For joint accounts or other types of accounts owned or controlled by more than one party, either owner/party has complete authority to act on behalf of all and give instructions concerning the account without notice to the other party. T. Rowe Price may, in its sole discretion, require written authorization from all owners/parties to act on the account for
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certain transactions (for example, to transfer ownership). There are multiple ways to establish a new account directly with T. Rowe Price.
Online You can open a new Investor Class account online. (I Class accounts currently must be opened either by telephone or in writing.) Go to troweprice.com/newaccount to choose the type of account you wish to open.
You can exchange shares online from an existing account in one fund to open a new account in another fund. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging, and any services (other than systematic purchase and systematic distribution arrangements) that you have preauthorized will carry over from the existing account to the new account.
To open an account online for the first time or with a different account registration, you must be a U.S. citizen residing in the U.S. or a resident alien and not subject to Internal Revenue Service backup withholding. Additionally, you must provide consent to receive certain documents electronically. You will have the option of providing your bank account information, which will enable you to make electronic funds transfers to and from your bank account. To set up this banking service online, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity.
By Mail If you are sending a check, please make your check payable to T. Rowe Price Funds (otherwise it may be returned) and send the check, together with the applicable new account form, to the appropriate address. (Please refer to the appropriate address under “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section to avoid a delay in opening your new account.) T. Rowe Price does not accept third-party checks for initial purchases; however, third-party checks are typically accepted for additional purchases to an existing account. In addition, T. Rowe Price does not accept purchases by cash, traveler’s checks, money orders, or credit card checks. For exchanges from an identically registered account, be sure to specify the fund(s) and account number(s) that you are exchanging out of and the fund(s) you wish to exchange into.
By Telephone Direct investors can call Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-5132 (institutional investors should call 1-800-638-8790) to exchange from an existing fund account to open a new identically registered account in another fund. You may also be eligible to open a new account by telephone and provide your bank account information in order to make an initial purchase. To set up the account and banking service by telephone, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity and the authenticity of your bank account. Although the account may be opened and the purchase made, services may not be established and an Internal Revenue Service penalty withholding may occur until we receive the necessary signed form to certify your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
How Your Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest directly with T. Rowe Price and your request to purchase, sell, or exchange shares is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your
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transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value. Systematic transactions that are scheduled to occur on a date the NYSE is closed will normally be processed the next business day (except for certain retirement plan payroll deduction orders generated by T. Rowe Price where the orders are processed the day before the day the NYSE is closed).
Note: There may be times when you are unable to contact us by telephone or access your account online due to extreme market activity, the unavailability of the T. Rowe Price website, or other circumstances. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value. The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET.
Transaction Confirmations
T. Rowe Price sends immediate confirmations for most of your fund transactions. However, certain transactions, such as systematic purchases and systematic redemptions, dividend reinvestments, checkwriting redemptions from money market funds, and transactions in money market funds used as a brokerage sweep account, do not receive an immediate transaction confirmation but are reported on your account statement. Please review transaction confirmations and account statements as soon as you receive them, and promptly report any discrepancies to Shareholder Services.
Telephone and Online Account Transactions
You may access your accounts and conduct transactions involving Investor Class accounts using the telephone or the T. Rowe Price website at troweprice.com. You can only conduct transactions involving the I Class over the telephone or in writing.
Preventing Unauthorized Transactions
The T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents use reasonably designed procedures to verify that telephone, electronic, and other instructions are genuine. These procedures include, among other things, recording telephone calls; requiring personalized security codes or other information online and certain identifying information for telephone calls; requiring Medallion signature guarantees for certain transactions and account changes; and promptly sending confirmations of transactions and address changes. For transactions conducted online, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser.
T. Rowe Price Account Protection Program Shareholders who invest in the T. Rowe Price Funds directly are eligible for the Account Protection Program. The Account Protection Program restores eligible losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent activity, provided that you follow all security best practices when you access and maintain your account(s). T. Rowe Price reserves the right to modify or withdraw the Account Protection Program at any time. The Account Protection Program security best practices and additional information may be
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accessed online at https://www.troweprice.com/personal-investing/help/policies-and-security/account-protection-program.html.
If our verification procedures are followed, and the losses are not eligible to be restored under the Account Protection Program, the funds and their agents are not liable for any losses that may occur from acting on unauthorized instructions.
If you suspect any unauthorized account activity, notice errors or discrepancies in your T. Rowe Price account, or are not receiving your T. Rowe Price account statements, please contact T. Rowe Price immediately. Telephone conversations are recorded.
Trusted Contacts Investors who hold shares of a T. Rowe Price Fund directly or through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account have the option to add one or more trusted contacts to their brokerage and mutual fund accounts. Trusted contacts are intended to be a resource to help protect client assets. Any individuals designated as a trusted contact will be authorized to serve as a primary contact if T. Rowe Price has questions or concerns related to potentially fraudulent account activity, suspected financial exploitation, or to confirm your contact information if we are unable to reach you (but are not authorized to act on your account). For more information or to add trusted contacts to your account, visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-225-5132.
If you are age 65 or older, or if you are age 18 or older and we have reason to believe you have a mental or physical impairment that renders you unable to protect your own interest, we may place a temporary hold on the disbursement of redemption proceeds from your account in an effort to protect you if we reasonably believe that you have been or will be the victim of actual or attempted financial exploitation. You will receive notice of this temporary delay, and it will be for no more than 15 business days while we conduct an internal review of the suspected financial exploitation (including contacting your trusted contact if one is on file). We may delay an additional 10 business days if T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that actual or attempted financial exploitation has occurred or will occur. At the expiration of the hold time, if we have not confirmed that exploitation has occurred, the proceeds will be released to you.
Purchasing Shares
Shares may be purchased in a variety of ways.
By Check Please make your check payable to the T. Rowe Price Funds. Include a new account form if establishing a new account, and include either a fund investment slip or a letter indicating the fund and your account number if adding to an existing account. Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (not the day the request is received at the post office box).
By Electronic Transfer Shares may be purchased using the Automated Clearing House system if you have established the service on your account, which allows T. Rowe Price to request payment for your shares directly from your bank account or other financial institution account. You may also arrange for a wire to be sent to T. Rowe Price (wire transfer instructions
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can be found at troweprice.com/wireinstructions or by calling Shareholder Services). T. Rowe Price must receive the wire by the close of the NYSE to receive that day’s share price. There is no assurance that you will receive the share price for the same day you initiated the wire from your financial institution.
By Exchange You may purchase shares of a fund using the proceeds from the redemption of shares from another fund. The redemption and purchase will receive the same trade date, and if you are establishing a new account, it will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging. The purchase must still generally meet the applicable minimum investment requirement.
Systematic Purchases (Automatic Asset Builder) You can instruct T. Rowe Price to automatically transfer money from your account at your bank or other financial institution at least once per month, or you can instruct your employer to send all or a portion of your paycheck to the fund or funds that you designate. Each systematic purchase must be at least $100 per fund account to be eligible for the Automatic Asset Builder service. To automatically transfer money to your account from a bank account or through payroll deductions, complete the appropriate section of the new account form when opening a new account or complete an Account Services Form to add the service to an existing account. Prior to establishing payroll deductions, you must set up the service with T. Rowe Price so that the appropriate instructions can be provided to your employer.
Initial Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than the Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds, require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment for IRAs; certain small business retirement accounts; and custodial accounts for minors, known as Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act accounts). The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment. I Class accounts require a $1 million minimum initial investment, although the minimum generally is waived for certain types of accounts. If you request the I Class of a particular fund when you open a new account but the investment amount does not meet the applicable minimum, the purchase will be automatically invested in the Investor Class of the same fund.
Additional Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than Summit Funds, require a $100 minimum for additional purchases, including those made through Automatic Asset Builder. Summit Funds require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder and a $1,000 minimum for all other additional purchases. I Class accounts require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder but do not require a minimum amount for other additional purchases.
Exchanging and Redeeming Shares
Exchanges You can move money from one account to an existing, identically registered account or open a new identically registered account. For taxable accounts, an exchange from one fund to another will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as a sale for tax purposes.
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(Institutional investors are restricted from exchanging into a fund that operates as a retail money market fund.) You can set up systematic exchanges so that money is automatically moved from one fund account to another on a regular basis.
Receiving Redemption Proceeds Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address by check or sent electronically to your bank account by Automated Clearing House transfer or bank wire. You can set up systematic redemptions and have the proceeds automatically sent via check or Automated Clearing House on a regular basis. If your request is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent on a business day prior to the close of the NYSE, proceeds are usually sent on the next business day. However, if you request a redemption from a money market fund on a business day prior to noon ET and request to have proceeds sent via bank wire, proceeds are normally sent later that same day.
Proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House transfer are usually credited to your account the second business day after the sale, and there are typically no fees associated with such payments. Proceeds sent by bank wire are usually credited to your account the next business day after the sale (except for wire redemptions from money market funds received prior to noon ET). A $5 fee will be charged for an outgoing wire of less than $5,000, in addition to any fees your financial institution may charge for an incoming wire.
If for some reason your request to exchange or redeem shares cannot be processed because it is not received in correct form, we will attempt to contact you.
If you request to redeem a specific dollar amount and the market value of your account is less than the amount of your request and we are unable to contact you, your redemption will not be processed and you must submit a new redemption request in correct form.
If you change your address on an account, proceeds may not be mailed to the new address for 15 calendar days after the address change, unless we receive a letter of instruction with a Medallion signature guarantee.
Please note that large purchase and redemption requests initiated through the Automated Clearing House may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by calling Shareholder Services.
Checkwriting You may write an unlimited number of free checks on any money market fund and certain bond funds, with a minimum of $500 per check. Keep in mind, however, that a check results in a sale of fund shares; a check written on a bond fund will create a taxable event that must be reported by T. Rowe Price to the Internal Revenue Service as a redemption.
Converting to Another Share Class
You may convert from one share class of a fund to another share class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Although the conversion has no effect on the dollar value of your investment in the fund, the number of shares owned after the conversion may be greater or less than the number of shares owned before the conversion, depending on the net asset values of the two share classes. A conversion between share classes of the same fund is a
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nontaxable event. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are converting.
T. Rowe Price may conduct periodic reviews of account balances. If your account balance in a fund exceeds the minimum amount required for the I Class, T. Rowe Price may, but is not required to, automatically convert your Investor Class shares to I Class shares with advance notice. However, if T. Rowe Price has investment discretion, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares without advance notice.
Maintaining Your Account Balance
Investor Class Due to the relatively high cost to a fund of maintaining small accounts, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1,000 ($10,000 for Summit Funds). If, for any reason, your balance is below this amount for three months or longer, we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance.
I Class To keep operating expenses lower, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1 million. If your investment falls below $1 million (even if due to market depreciation), we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance or convert your account to a different share class in the same fund (if available) with a higher expense ratio with advance notice. However, if T. Rowe Price has investment discretion, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares without advance notice.
The redemption of your account could result in a taxable gain or loss.
Investors holding the fund through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program will be subject to the minimum account balance requirements of the program, which may differ from the minimum account balance requirements listed above.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held through a financial intermediary.
Accounts in Investor Class and I Class shares are not required to be held through a financial intermediary, but accounts in Advisor Class and R Class shares must be held through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). It is important that you contact your retirement plan or financial intermediary to determine the policies, procedures, and transaction deadlines that apply to your account. The financial intermediary may charge a fee, such as transaction fees or brokerage commissions, for its services.
Opening an Account
The financial intermediary must provide T. Rowe Price with its certified taxpayer identification number. Financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services for an account number and wire transfer instructions. In order to obtain an account number, the financial
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intermediary must supply the name, taxpayer identification number, and business street address for the account. (Please refer to “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section for the appropriate telephone number and mailing address.) Financial intermediaries must also enter into a separate agreement with the fund or its agent.
How the Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest through a financial intermediary and your transaction request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value unless the fund has an agreement with your financial intermediary for orders to be priced at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the financial intermediary.
The funds have authorized certain financial intermediaries or their designees to accept orders to buy or sell fund shares on their behalf. When authorized financial intermediaries receive an order in correct form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund and shares will be bought or sold at the net asset value next calculated after the order is received by the authorized financial intermediary. The financial intermediary must transmit the order to T. Rowe Price and pay for such shares in accordance with the agreement with T. Rowe Price or the order may be canceled and the financial intermediary could be held liable for the losses. If the fund does not have such an agreement in place with your financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price or its agent must receive the request in correct form from your financial intermediary by the close of the NYSE in order for your transaction to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted by the fund or a financial intermediary may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price (or by the financial intermediary in accordance with its agreement with T. Rowe Price) prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Purchasing Shares
All initial and subsequent investments by financial intermediaries should be made by bank wire or electronic payment. There is no assurance that the share price for the purchase will be the same day the wire was initiated. Purchases by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Financial Institution Services.
Investment Minimums
You should check with your financial intermediary to determine what minimum applies to your initial and additional investments.
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The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment, and other funds generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment, although the minimum is generally waived or modified for any retirement plans and financial intermediaries establishing accounts in the Investor Class, Advisor Class, or R Class. I Class accounts require a $1 million minimum initial investment, although the minimum generally is waived for certain types of accounts.
Investments through a financial intermediary generally do not require a minimum amount for additional purchases.
Redeeming Shares
Unless otherwise indicated, redemption proceeds will be sent via bank wire to the financial intermediary’s designated bank. Redemptions by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Financial Institution Services. Normally, the fund transmits proceeds to financial intermediaries for redemption orders received in correct form on either the next business day or second business day after receipt of the order, depending on the arrangement with the financial intermediary. Proceeds for redemption orders received prior to noon ET for a money market fund may be sent via wire the same business day. You must contact your financial intermediary about procedures for receiving your redemption proceeds.
Please note that certain purchase and redemption requests initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by contacting Financial Institution Services.
The following policies and requirements apply generally to accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, regardless of whether the account is held directly or indirectly with T. Rowe Price.
The funds generally do not accept orders that request a particular day or price for a transaction or any other special conditions. However, when authorized by the fund, certain institutions, financial intermediaries, or retirement plans purchasing fund shares directly with T. Rowe Price may place a purchase order unaccompanied by payment. Payment for these shares must be received by the time designated by the fund (not to exceed the period established for settlement under applicable regulations). If payment is not received by this time, the order may be canceled. The institution, financial intermediary, or retirement plan is responsible for any costs or losses incurred by the fund or T. Rowe Price if payment is delayed or not received.
U.S. Dollars All purchases must be paid for in U.S. dollars; checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any purchase of $5 million or more.
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Nonpayment If a check or Automated Clearing House transfer does not clear or payment for an order is not received in a timely manner, your purchase may be canceled. You (or the financial intermediary) may be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the fund or its transfer agent, and the fund can redeem shares in your account or another identically registered T. Rowe Price account as reimbursement. The funds and their agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase, exchange, or redemption due to nonpayment.
Retail Money Market Funds The retail money market funds have implemented policies and procedures designed to limit purchases to accounts beneficially owned by a natural person. Purchases of a retail money market fund may be rejected from an investor who has not demonstrated sufficient eligibility to purchase shares of the fund or from a financial intermediary that has not demonstrated adequate procedures to limit investments to natural persons. In addition, purchases may be prohibited or subject to certain conditions during periods where a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in effect.
Liquidity Fees and Redemption Gates—Retail Money Market Funds
A money market fund that operates as a retail money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 has the ability to impose liquidity fees of up to 2% of the value of the shares redeemed if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A retail money market fund also has the ability to impose a redemption gate, which enables the fund to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 days within a 90-day period if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below a certain threshold, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A money market fund’s Board has ultimate discretion to determine whether or not a liquidity fee or redemption gate would be in the best interests of the fund’s shareholders and should be imposed.
A money market fund that operates as a government money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 is not required to impose a liquidity fee or redemption gate upon the sale of your shares. The Boards of the T. Rowe Price money market funds that operate as government money market funds have determined that the funds do not currently intend to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates. However, the Board of a T. Rowe Price government money market fund reserves the right to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates in the future, at which point shareholders would be provided with at least 60 days’ notice prior to such a change.
If a liquidity fee is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be subject to the liquidity fee, and if a redemption gate is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be suspended. When a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in place, the fund may elect to not permit the purchase of shares or to subject the purchase of shares to certain conditions, which may include affirmation of the purchaser’s knowledge that a liquidity fee or a redemption gate is in effect.
Omnibus Accounts If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price may rely on the financial intermediary to assess any applicable liquidity fees or impose redemption gates on underlying shareholder accounts. In certain situations, T. Rowe Price enters into agreements with financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts that
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require the financial intermediary to assess liquidity fees or redemption gates. There are no assurances that T. Rowe Price will be successful in ensuring that all financial intermediaries will properly assess the fees.
Please refer to Sections 1 and 2 of the retail money market fund prospectuses for more information regarding liquidity fees and redemption gates.
Large Redemptions
Large redemptions (for example, $250,000 or more) can adversely affect a portfolio manager’s ability to implement a fund’s investment strategy by causing the premature sale of securities that would otherwise be held longer. Therefore, the fund reserves the right (without prior notice) to redeem in-kind. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of a fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. The redeeming shareholder will be responsible for disposing of the securities, and the shareholder will be subject to the risks that the value of the securities could decline prior to their sale, the securities could be difficult to sell, and brokerage fees could be incurred. If you continue to hold the securities, you may be subject to any ownership restrictions imposed by the issuers. For example, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) often impose ownership restrictions on their equity securities. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any redemption of $5 million or more.
Delays in Sending Redemption Proceeds
The T. Rowe Price Funds typically expect that redemption requests will be paid out to redeeming shareholders by the business day following the receipt of a redemption request that is in correct form, regardless of the method the fund uses to make such payment (for example, check, wire, or Automated Clearing House transfer). Checks are typically mailed on the business day after the redemption, proceeds sent by wire are typically credited to your financial institution the business day after the redemption, and proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House are typically credited to your financial institution on the second business day after the redemption. However, under certain circumstances, and when deemed to be in a fund’s best interests, proceeds may not be sent for up to seven calendar days after receipt of a valid redemption order (for example, during periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances).
In addition, if shares are sold that were just purchased and paid for by check or Automated Clearing House transfer, the fund will process your redemption but will generally delay sending the proceeds for up to seven calendar days to allow the check or Automated Clearing House transfer to clear. If, during the clearing period, we receive a check drawn against your newly purchased shares, it will be returned and marked “uncollected.” (The seven-day hold does not apply to purchases paid for by bank wire or automatic purchases through payroll deduction.)
The Board of a retail money market fund may temporarily suspend redemptions from the fund for up to 10 business days during any 90-day period (i.e., a “redemption gate”) and elect to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 business days in a 90-day period if the fund’s
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weekly liquid assets fall below 30% of its total assets and the fund’s Board determines that imposing a redemption gate is in the fund’s best interests. In addition, under certain limited circumstances, the Board of a money market fund may elect to permanently suspend redemptions in order to facilitate an orderly liquidation of the fund (subject to any additional liquidation requirements).
Involuntary Redemptions and Share Class Conversions
Since nongovernment money market funds that operate as retail money market funds are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons, shares held directly by an investor or through a financial intermediary in these funds that are not eligible to invest in a retail money market fund are subject to involuntary redemption at any time without prior notice.
Shares held by any investors or financial intermediaries that are no longer eligible to invest in the I Class or who fail to meet or maintain their account(s) at the investment minimum are subject to involuntary redemption or conversion to the Investor Class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Investments in Advisor Class shares that are no longer held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder. Investments in R Class shares that are no longer held on behalf of an employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plan or other eligible R Class account or that are not held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class or Advisor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder.
Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy
Excessive transactions and short-term trading can be harmful to fund shareholders in various ways, such as disrupting a fund’s portfolio management strategies, increasing a fund’s trading and other costs, and negatively affecting its performance. Short-term traders in funds that invest in foreign securities may seek to take advantage of developments overseas that could lead to an anticipated difference between the price of the funds’ shares and price movements in foreign markets. While there is no assurance that T. Rowe Price can prevent all excessive and short-term trading, the Boards of the T. Rowe Price Funds have adopted the following trading limits that are designed to deter such activity and protect the funds’ shareholders. The funds may revise their trading limits and procedures at any time as the Boards deem necessary or appropriate to better detect short-term trading that may adversely affect the funds, to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, or to impose additional or alternative restrictions.
Subject to certain exceptions, each T. Rowe Price Fund restricts a shareholder’s purchases (including through exchanges) into a fund account for a period of 30 calendar days after the shareholder has redeemed or exchanged out of that same fund account (the “30-Day Purchase Block”). The calendar day after the date of redemption is considered Day 1 for purposes of computing the period before another purchase may be made.
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General Exceptions As of the date of this prospectus, the following types of transactions generally are not subject to the funds’ excessive and short-term trading policy:
· Shares purchased or redeemed in money market funds and ultra-short-term bond funds;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through a systematic purchase or withdrawal plan;
· Checkwriting redemptions from bond funds and money market funds;
· Shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions;
· Shares redeemed automatically by a fund to pay fund fees or shareholder account fees;
· Transfers and changes of account registration within the same fund;
· Shares purchased by asset transfer or direct rollover;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through IRA conversions and recharacterizations;
· Shares redeemed to return an excess contribution from a retirement account;
· Transactions in Section 529 college savings plans;
· Certain transactions in defined benefit and nonqualified plans, subject to prior approval by T. Rowe Price;
· Shares converted from one share class to another share class in the same fund;
· Shares of T. Rowe Price Funds that are purchased by another T. Rowe Price Fund, including shares purchased by T. Rowe Price fund-of-funds products, and shares purchased by discretionary accounts managed by T. Rowe Price or one of its affiliates (please note that shareholders of the investing T. Rowe Price Fund are still subject to the policy);
· Transactions initiated by the trustee or adviser to a donor-advised charitable gift fund as approved by T. Rowe Price; and
· Transactions having a value of $5,000 or less (retirement plans, including those for which T. Rowe Price serves as recordkeeper, and other financial intermediaries may apply the excessive and short-term trading policy to transactions of any amount).
Transactions in certain rebalancing, asset allocation, wrap programs, and other advisory programs (including the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program), as well as non-T. Rowe Price fund-of-funds products, may also be exempt from the 30-Day Purchase Block, subject to prior written approval by T. Rowe Price.
In addition to restricting transactions in accordance with the 30-Day Purchase Block, T. Rowe Price may, in its discretion, reject (or instruct a financial intermediary to reject) any purchase or exchange into a fund from a person (which includes individuals and entities) whose trading activity could disrupt the management of the fund or dilute the value of the fund’s shares, including trading by persons acting collectively (for example, following the advice of a newsletter). Such persons may be barred, without prior notice, from further purchases of T. Rowe Price Funds for a period longer than 30 calendar days, or permanently.
Financial Intermediary and Retirement Plan Accounts If you invest in T. Rowe Price Funds through a financial intermediary, including a retirement plan, you should review the financial intermediary’s or retirement plan’s materials carefully or consult with the financial intermediary or plan sponsor directly to determine the trading policy that will apply to your trades in the T. Rowe Price Funds as well as any other rules or conditions on transactions that may apply. If T. Rowe Price is unable to identify a transaction placed through a financial
T. ROWE PRICE | 50 |
intermediary as exempt from the excessive trading policy, the 30-Day Purchase Block may apply.
Financial intermediaries, including retirement plans, may maintain their underlying accounts directly with the fund, although they often establish an omnibus account (one account with the fund that represents multiple underlying shareholder accounts) on behalf of their customers. When financial intermediaries establish omnibus accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, T. Rowe Price is not able to monitor the trading activity of the underlying shareholders. However, T. Rowe Price monitors aggregate trading activity at the financial intermediary (omnibus account) level in an attempt to identify activity that indicates potential excessive or short-term trading. If it detects such trading activity, T. Rowe Price may contact the financial intermediary to request personal identifying information and transaction histories for some or all underlying shareholders (including plan participants, if applicable) pursuant to a written agreement that T. Rowe Price has entered into with each financial intermediary. Any nonpublic personal information provided to the fund (for example, a shareholder’s taxpayer identification number or transaction records) is subject to the fund’s privacy policy. If T. Rowe Price believes that excessive or short-term trading has occurred and there is no exception for such trades under the funds’ Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy previously described, it will instruct the financial intermediary to impose restrictions to discourage such practices and take appropriate action with respect to the underlying shareholder, including restricting purchases for 30 calendar days or longer. Each financial intermediary has agreed to execute such instructions pursuant to a written agreement. There is no assurance that T. Rowe Price will be able to properly enforce its excessive trading policies for omnibus accounts. Because T. Rowe Price generally relies on financial intermediaries to provide information and impose restrictions for omnibus accounts, its ability to monitor and deter excessive trading will be dependent upon the intermediaries’ timely performance of their responsibilities.
For shares that are held in a retirement plan, generally the 30-Day Purchase Block applies only to shares redeemed by a participant-directed exchange to another fund. However, the 30-Day Purchase Block may apply to transactions other than exchanges depending on how shares of the plan are held at T. Rowe Price or the excessive trading policy applied by your plan’s recordkeeper.
T. Rowe Price may allow a financial intermediary, including a retirement plan, to maintain restrictions on trading in the T. Rowe Price Funds that differ from the 30-Day Purchase Block. An alternative excessive trading policy would be acceptable to T. Rowe Price if it believes that the policy would provide sufficient protection to the T. Rowe Price Funds and their shareholders that is consistent with the excessive trading policy adopted by the funds’ Boards.
There is no guarantee that T. Rowe Price will be able to identify or prevent all excessive or short-term trades or trading practices.
Unclaimed Accounts and Uncashed Checks
If your account has no activity for a certain period of time and/or mail sent to you from T. Rowe Price is deemed undeliverable, T. Rowe Price may be required to transfer (i.e., escheat)
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 51 |
your account assets, including any assets related to uncashed checks to the appropriate state under its abandoned property laws. For IRA accounts escheated to a state under these abandoned property laws, the escheatment will be treated as a taxable distribution to you and federal and any applicable state income tax will be withheld. This may also apply to your Roth IRA as well (see the T. Rowe Price Traditional and Roth IRA Disclosure and Custodial Agreement and/or the T. Rowe Price SIMPLE IRA Disclosure Statement and Custodial Agreement for more information). To avoid such action, it is important to keep your account address up to date and periodically communicate with T. Rowe Price by contacting us or logging in to your account at least once every two years.
Delivery of Shareholder Documents
If two or more accounts own the same fund, share the same address, and T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that the two accounts are part of the same household or institution, we may economize on fund expenses by mailing only one shareholder report and prospectus for the fund. If you need additional copies or do not want your mailings to be “householded,” please call Shareholder Services.
T. Rowe Price can deliver account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of troweprice.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging in and changing your mailing preferences. You can revoke your consent at any time through troweprice.com, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within a reasonable time after receiving your revocation.
Signature Guarantees
A Medallion signature guarantee is designed to protect you and the T. Rowe Price Funds from fraud by verifying your signature.
A shareholder or financial intermediary may need to obtain a Medallion signature guarantee in certain situations, such as:
· Requests to wire redemption proceeds when bank account information is not already authorized and on file for an account;
· Remitting redemption proceeds to any person, address, or bank account not on file;
· Establishing certain services after an account is opened; or
· Changing the account registration or broker-dealer of record for an account.
Financial intermediaries should contact T. Rowe Price Financial Institution Services for specific requirements.
The signature guarantee must be obtained from a financial institution that is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program. You can obtain a Medallion signature guarantee from certain banks, savings institutions, broker-dealers, and other guarantors acceptable to T. Rowe Price. When obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee, please discuss with the guarantor the dollar amount of your proposed transaction. It is important that the level of coverage provided by the guarantor’s stamp covers the dollar amount of the transaction or it may be rejected. We
T. ROWE PRICE | 52 |
cannot accept guarantees from notaries public or organizations that do not provide reimbursement in the case of fraud.
Fund Operations and Shareholder Services
T. Rowe Price and The Bank of New York Mellon, subject to the oversight of T. Rowe Price, each provide certain accounting services to the T. Rowe Price Funds. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., acts as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent and provides shareholder and administrative services to the funds. T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., provides recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency, and administrative services for certain types of retirement plans investing in the funds. These companies receive compensation from the funds for their services. The funds may also pay financial intermediaries for performing shareholder and administrative services for underlying shareholders in omnibus accounts. In addition, certain funds serve as an underlying fund in which some fund-of-funds products, the T. Rowe Price Spectrum and Retirement Funds, invest. Subject to approval by each applicable fund’s Board, each underlying fund bears its proportionate share of the direct operating expenses of the T. Rowe Price Spectrum and Retirement Funds. All of the fees previously discussed are included in a fund’s financial statements and, except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, are also reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
If you hold shares of a fund through a financial intermediary, you must contact your financial intermediary to determine the requirements for opening a new account and placing transactions. Otherwise, please contact T. Rowe Price as follows:
Web | |||
troweprice.com | For
the most complete source of T. Rowe Price news | ||
troweprice.com/paperless | To sign-up for e-delivery of your statements, confirmations, prospectuses, reports, or proxies | ||
Phone | |||
Shareholder Services: 1-800-225-5132 | To make a transaction, or for fund, account, and service information (for IRAs and nonretirement accounts) | ||
Investor Services: 1-800-638-5660 | To open an account (for IRAs and nonretirement accounts) | ||
Financial Institution Services: 1-800-638-8790 | For information and services for large institutional investors and financial intermediaries | ||
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Retirement Client Services: 1-800-492-7670 | For information and services for small business retirement plans (or consult your plan administrator) |
Select Client Services: 1-800-332-6161 | Complimentary services and resources designed
to help investors make informed investment decisions |
Brokerage: 1-800-225-7720 | If you hold your shares through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account |
Tele*Access®: 1-800-638-2587 | To access information on fund performance, prices, account balances,
and your latest transactions 24 hours a day |
Hearing Impaired | Call the applicable number with a relay operator. Inquires may also be directed to info@troweprice.com. |
T. Rowe Price Addresses
Please be sure to use the correct address to avoid a delay in opening your account or processing your transaction. These addresses are subject to change at any time, so please check troweprice.com/contactus or call the appropriate telephone number to ensure that you use the correct mailing address.
Investors (IRAs and nonretirement accounts) opening a new account or making additional purchases by check should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Account Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Account Services |
Investors (IRAs and nonretirement accounts) requesting an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Account Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Account Services |
Investors in a small business retirement plan opening a new account, making a purchase by check, or placing an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Retirement Client Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price |
Institutional investors (including financial intermediaries) opening a new account, making a
T. ROWE PRICE | 54 |
purchase by check, or placing an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Financial Institution Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Financial Institution Services |
Note: Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), which could differ from the day that the request is received at the post office box.
Each fund intends to qualify to be treated each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In order to qualify, a fund must satisfy certain income, diversification, and distribution requirements. A regulated investment company is not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the portfolio level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, if a fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company and was ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure, the result would be fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to the fund’s shareholders.
To the extent possible, all net investment income and realized capital gains are distributed to shareholders.
Dividends and Other Distributions
Except for the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, dividend and capital gain distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares in your account unless you select another option. For the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, subject to certain exceptions, regularly scheduled monthly dividends may generally not be reinvested. Reinvesting distributions results in compounding, which allows you to receive dividends and capital gain distributions on an increasing number of shares.
Distributions not reinvested may be paid by check or transmitted to your bank account via Automated Clearing House or may be automatically invested into another fund account. For the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, regularly scheduled monthly dividends are generally not paid by check. If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check or if your check remains uncashed for six months, the fund reserves the right to reinvest your distribution check in your account at the net asset value on the day of the reinvestment and to reinvest all subsequent distributions in additional shares of the fund. Interest will not accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distributions or redemption checks.
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The following table provides details on dividend payments:
Dividend Payment Schedule | |
Fund | Dividends |
Money market funds | · Shares purchased via wire that are received by T. Rowe Price by noon ET begin to earn dividends on that day. Shares purchased via a wire received after noon ET and through other methods normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
Bond funds | · Shares normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
These stock funds only: · Balanced · Dividend Growth · Equity Income · Equity Index 500 · Global Real Estate · Growth & Income · Spectrum Moderate Allocation · Spectrum Conservative Allocation · Real Estate | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid quarterly, in March, June, September, and December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
Other stock funds | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid annually, generally in December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
Retirement Income 2020 | · Dividends are declared and normally paid in the middle of each month. |
Retirement
Balanced, Retirement I Balanced—I Class, and | · Shares normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
All other Retirement, Retirement I, Spectrum, and Target Funds | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid annually, generally in December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
For funds that declare dividends daily, shares earn dividends through the date of a redemption (for redemptions from money market funds where the request is received prior to noon ET and proceeds are sent via wire, shares only earn dividends through the calendar day prior to the date of redemption). Shares redeemed on a Friday or prior to a holiday will continue to earn dividends until the next business day. Generally, if you redeem all of your shares at any time during the month, you will also receive all dividends earned through the date of redemption in the same check. When you redeem only a portion of your shares, all dividends accrued on those shares will be reinvested, or paid in cash, on the next dividend payment date. The funds
T. ROWE PRICE | 56 |
do not pay dividends in fractional cents. Any dividend amount earned for a particular day on all shares held that is one-half of one cent or greater (for example, $0.016) will be rounded up to the next whole cent ($0.02), and any amount that is less than one-half of one cent (for example, $0.014) will be rounded down to the nearest whole cent ($0.01). Please note that if the dividend payable on all shares held is less than one-half of one cent for a particular day, no dividend will be earned for that day.
If you purchase and redeem your shares through a financial intermediary, consult your financial intermediary to determine when your shares begin and stop accruing dividends as the information previously described may vary.
Capital Gain Payments
A capital gain or loss is the difference between the purchase and sale price of a security. If a fund has net capital gains for the year (after subtracting any capital losses), they are usually declared and paid in December to shareholders of record on a specified date that month. If a second distribution is necessary, it is generally paid the following year. A fund may have to make additional capital gain distributions, if necessary, to comply with the applicable tax law. Capital gains are not expected from government or retail money market funds since they are managed to maintain a stable share price. However, if a money market fund unexpectedly has net capital gains for the year (after subtracting any capital losses), the capital gain may be declared and paid in December to shareholders of record.
Tax Information
In most cases, you will be provided information for your tax filing needs no later than mid-February.
If you invest in the fund through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan, you will not be subject to tax on dividends and distributions from the fund or the sale of fund shares if those amounts remain in the tax-deferred account. You may receive a Form 1099-R or other Internal Revenue Service forms, as applicable, if any portion of the account is distributed to you.
If you invest in the fund through a taxable account, you generally will be subject to tax when:
· You sell fund shares, including an exchange from one fund to another.
· The fund makes dividend or capital gain distributions.
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Additional information about the taxation of dividends for certain T. Rowe Price Funds is listed below:
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds |
· Regular monthly dividends (including those from the state-specific tax-free funds) are expected to be exempt from federal income taxes. |
· Exemption is not guaranteed since the fund has the right under certain conditions to invest in nonexempt securities. |
· Tax-exempt dividends paid to Social Security recipients may increase the portion of benefits that is subject to tax. |
· For state-specific funds, the monthly dividends you receive are expected to be exempt from state and local income tax of that particular state. For other funds, a small portion of your income dividend may be exempt from state and local income taxes. |
· If a fund invests in certain “private activity” bonds that are not exempt from the alternative minimum tax, shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax must include income generated by those bonds in their alternative minimum tax calculation. The portion of a fund’s income dividend that should be included in your alternative minimum tax calculation, if any, will be reported to you by mid-February on Form 1099-DIV. |
For individual shareholders, a portion of ordinary dividends representing “qualified dividend income” received by the fund may be subject to tax at the lower rates applicable to long-term capital gains rather than ordinary income. You may report it as “qualified dividend income” in computing your taxes, provided you have held the fund shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date. Ordinary dividends that do not qualify for this lower rate are generally taxable at the investor’s marginal income tax rate. This includes the portion of ordinary dividends derived from interest, short-term capital gains, income and gains from derivatives, distributions from nonqualified foreign corporations, distributions from real estate investment trusts, and dividends received by the fund from stocks that were on loan. Little, if any, of the ordinary dividends paid by the bond funds or money market funds is expected to qualify for this lower rate.
For corporate shareholders, a portion of ordinary dividends may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations to the extent the fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations. Little, if any, of the ordinary dividends paid by the international stock funds, bond funds, or money market funds is expected to qualify for this deduction.
A 3.8% net investment income tax is imposed on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gains of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.
If you hold your fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary is responsible for providing you with any necessary tax forms. You should contact your financial intermediary for the tax information that will be sent to you and reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
T. ROWE PRICE | 58 |
Taxes on Fund Redemptions
When you sell shares in any fund, you may realize a gain or loss. An exchange from one fund to another fund in a taxable account is also a sale for tax purposes. As long as a money market fund maintains a stable share price of $1.00, a redemption or exchange to another fund will not result in a gain or loss for tax purposes. However, an exchange from one fund into a money market fund may result in a gain or loss on the fund from which shares were redeemed.
All or a portion of the loss realized from a sale or exchange of your fund shares may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rule if you purchase substantially identical shares within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date on which the shares are sold or exchanged. Shares of the same fund you acquire through dividend reinvestment are shares purchased for the purpose of the wash sale rule and may trigger a disallowance of the loss for shares sold or exchanged within the 61-day period of the dividend reinvestment. Any loss disallowed under the wash sale rule is added to the cost basis of the purchased shares.
T. Rowe Price (or your financial intermediary) will make available to you Form 1099-B, if applicable, no later than mid-February, providing certain information for each sale you made in the fund during the prior year. Unless otherwise indicated on your Form 1099-B, this information will also be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For mutual fund shares acquired prior to 2012 in most accounts established or opened by exchange in 1984 or later, our Form 1099-B will provide you with the gain or loss on the shares you sold during the year based on the average cost single category method. This information on average cost and gain or loss from sale is not reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For these mutual fund shares acquired prior to 2012, you may calculate the cost basis using other methods acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service, such as specific identification.
For mutual fund shares acquired after 2011, federal income tax regulations require us to report the cost basis information on Form 1099-B using a cost basis method selected by the shareholder in compliance with such regulations or, in the absence of such selected method, our default method if you acquire your shares directly from T. Rowe Price. Our default method is average cost. For any fund shares acquired through a financial intermediary after 2011, you should check with your financial intermediary regarding the applicable cost basis method. You should note that the cost basis information reported to you may not always be the same as what you should report on your tax return because the rules applicable to the determination of cost basis on Form 1099-B may be different from the rules applicable to the determination of cost basis for reporting on your tax return. Therefore, you should save your transaction records to make sure the information reported on your tax return is accurate. T. Rowe Price and financial intermediaries are not required to issue a Form 1099-B to report sales of money market fund shares.
To help you maintain accurate records, T. Rowe Price will make available to you a confirmation promptly following each transaction you make (except for systematic purchases and systematic redemptions) and a year-end statement detailing all of your transactions in each fund account during the year. If you hold your fund through a financial intermediary, the
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 59 |
financial intermediary is responsible for providing you with transaction confirmations and statements.
Taxes on Fund Distributions
T. Rowe Price (or your financial intermediary) will make available to you, as applicable, generally no later than mid-February, a Form 1099-DIV, or other Internal Revenue Service forms, as required, indicating the tax status of any income dividends, dividends exempt from federal income taxes, and capital gain distributions made to you. This information will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Taxable distributions are generally taxable to you in the year in which they are paid. A dividend declared in October, November, or December and paid in the following January is generally treated as taxable to you as if you received the distribution in December. Dividends from tax-free funds are generally expected to be tax-exempt for federal income tax purposes. Your bond fund and money market fund dividends for each calendar year will include dividends accrued up to the first business day of the next calendar year. Ordinary dividends and capital gain dividends may also be subject to state and local taxes. You will be sent any additional information you need to determine your taxes on fund distributions, such as the portion of your dividends, if any, that may be exempt from state and local income taxes.
Taxable distributions are subject to tax whether reinvested in additional shares or received in cash.
The tax treatment of a capital gain distribution is determined by how long the fund held the portfolio securities, not how long you held the shares in the fund. Short-term (one year or less) capital gain distributions are taxable at the same rate as ordinary income, and gains on securities held for more than one year are taxed at the lower rates applicable to long-term capital gains. If you realized a loss on the sale or exchange of fund shares that you held for six months or less, your short-term capital loss must be reclassified as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received during the period you held the shares. For funds investing in foreign instruments, distributions resulting from the sale of certain foreign currencies, currency contracts, and the foreign currency portion of gains on debt instruments are taxed as ordinary income. Net foreign currency losses may cause monthly or quarterly dividends to be reclassified as returns of capital.
A fund’s distributions that have exceeded the fund’s earnings and profits for the relevant tax year may be treated as a return of capital to its shareholders. A return of capital distribution is generally nontaxable but reduces the shareholder’s cost basis in the fund, and any return of capital in excess of the cost basis will result in a capital gain.
The tax status of certain distributions may be recharacterized on year-end tax forms, such as your Form 1099-DIV. Distributions made by a fund may later be recharacterized for federal income tax purposes—for example, from taxable ordinary income dividends to returns of capital. A recharacterization of distributions may occur for a number of reasons, including the recharacterization of income received from underlying investments, such as REITs, and distributions that exceed taxable income due to losses from foreign currency transactions or
T. ROWE PRICE | 60 |
other investment transactions. Certain funds, including international bond funds and funds that invest significantly in REITs, are more likely to recharacterize a portion of their distributions as a result of their investments. The Retirement Income 2020 Fund is also more likely to have some or all of its distributions recharacterized as returns of capital because of the predetermined monthly distribution amount.
If the fund qualifies and elects to pass through nonrefundable foreign income taxes paid to foreign governments during the year, your portion of such taxes will be reported to you as taxable income. However, you may be able to claim an offsetting credit or deduction on your tax return for those amounts. There can be no assurance that a fund will meet the requirements to pass through foreign income taxes paid.
If you are subject to backup withholding, we will have to withhold a 24% backup withholding tax on distributions and, in some cases, redemption payments. You may be subject to backup withholding if we are notified by the Internal Revenue Service to withhold, you have failed one or more tax certification requirements, or our records indicate that your tax identification number is missing or incorrect. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and is generally available to credit against your federal income tax liability with any excess refunded to you by the Internal Revenue Service.
The following table provides additional details on distributions for certain funds:
Taxes on Fund Distributions |
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds |
· Gains realized on the sale of market discount bonds with maturities beyond one year may be treated as ordinary income and cannot be offset by other capital losses. · Payments received or gains realized on certain derivative transactions may result in taxable ordinary income or capital gains. · To the extent the fund makes such investments, the likelihood of a taxable distribution will be increased. |
Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond and Inflation Protected Bond Funds |
· Inflation adjustments on Treasury inflation protected securities that exceed deflation adjustments for the year will be distributed as a short-term capital gain, resulting in ordinary income. · In computing the distribution amount, the funds cannot reduce inflation adjustments by short- or long-term capital losses from the sales of securities. · Net deflation adjustments for a year may result in all or a portion of dividends paid earlier in the year being treated as a return of capital. |
Retirement, Retirement I, Spectrum, and Target Funds |
· Distributions by the underlying funds and changes in asset allocations may result in taxable distributions of ordinary income or capital gains. |
Tax Consequences of Liquidity Fees
It is currently anticipated that shareholders of retail money market funds that impose a liquidity fee may generally treat the liquidity fee as offsetting the shareholder’s amount realized on the redemption (thereby decreasing the shareholder’s gain, or increasing the shareholder’s
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 61 |
loss, on the redeemed amount). A fund that imposes a liquidity fee anticipates using 100% of the fee to help repair a market-based net asset value per share that was below $1.00.
Because the retail money market funds use amortized cost to maintain a stable share price of $1.00, in the event that a liquidity fee is imposed, a fund may need to distribute to its remaining shareholders sufficient value to prevent the fund from breaking the buck on the upside (i.e., by rounding up to $1.01 in pricing its shares) if the imposition of a liquidity fee causes the fund’s market-based net asset value to reach $1.0050. To the extent that a fund has sufficient earnings and profits to support the distribution, the additional dividends would be taxable as ordinary income to shareholders and would be eligible for deduction by the fund. Any distribution in excess of the fund’s earnings and profits would be treated as a return of capital, which would reduce your cost basis in the fund shares.
Tax Consequences of Hedging
Entering into certain transactions involving options, futures, swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in a fund being required to distribute gains on such transactions even though it did not close the contracts during the year or receive cash to pay such distributions. The fund may not be able to reduce its distributions for losses on such transactions to the extent of unrealized gains in offsetting positions.
Tax Effect of Buying Shares Before an Income Dividend or Capital Gain Distribution
If you buy shares shortly before or on the record date—the date that establishes you as the person to receive the upcoming distribution—you may receive a portion of the money you just invested in the form of a taxable distribution. Therefore, you may wish to find out a fund’s record date before investing. In addition, a fund’s share price may, at any time, reflect undistributed capital gains or income and unrealized appreciation, which may result in future taxable distributions. Such distributions can occur even in a year when the fund has a negative return.
T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents, in their sole discretion, reserve the following rights: (1) to waive or lower investment minimums; (2) to accept initial purchases by telephone; (3) to refuse any purchase or exchange order; (4) to cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order placed through a financial intermediary no later than the business day after the order is received by the financial intermediary (including, but not limited to, orders deemed to result in excessive trading, market timing, or 5% ownership); (5) to cease offering fund shares at any time to all or certain groups of investors; (6) to freeze any account and suspend account services when notice has been received of a dispute regarding the ownership of the account, or a legal claim against an account, upon initial notification to T. Rowe Price of a shareholder’s death until T. Rowe Price receives required documentation in correct form, or if there is reason
T. ROWE PRICE | 62 |
to believe a fraudulent transaction may occur; (7) to otherwise modify the conditions of purchase and modify or terminate any services at any time; (8) to waive any wire, small account, maintenance, or fiduciary fees charged to a group of shareholders; (9) to act on instructions reasonably believed to be genuine; (10) to involuntarily redeem an account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed when permitted by law, including in cases of threatening conduct, or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, or if the fund or its agent is unable, through its procedures, to verify the identity of the person(s) or entity opening an account; and (11) for money market funds, to suspend redemptions to facilitate an orderly liquidation.
The fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which contains a more detailed description of the fund’s operations, investment restrictions, policies and practices, has been filed with the SEC. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means that it is legally part of this prospectus even if you do not request a copy. Further information about the fund’s investments, including a review of market conditions and the manager’s recent investment strategies and their impact on performance during the past fiscal year, is available in the annual and semiannual shareholder reports. These documents and updated performance information are available through troweprice.com. For inquiries about the fund and to obtain free copies of any of these documents, call 1-800-638-5660. If you invest in the fund through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary for copies of these documents.
Fund reports and other fund information are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
1940 Act File No. 811-2958 | F168-040 3/1/20 |
PROSPECTUS March 1, 2020 | ||||
T. ROWE PRICE | ||||
Asia Opportunities Fund | ||||
TRAOX TRASX PAAOX | Investor Class I Class Advisor Class | |||
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by SEC regulations, paper copies of the T. Rowe Price funds’ annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be mailed, unless you specifically request them. Instead, shareholder reports will be made available on the funds’ website (troweprice.com/prospectus), and you will be notified by mail with a website link to access the reports each time a report is posted to the site. If you already elected to receive reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and need not take any action. At any time, shareholders who invest directly in T. Rowe Price funds may generally elect to receive reports or other communications electronically by enrolling at troweprice.com/paperless or, if you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the funds through a financial intermediary (such as an investment advisor, broker-dealer, insurance company, or bank), by contacting your representative or your financial intermediary. You may elect to continue receiving paper copies of future shareholder reports free of charge. To do so, if you invest directly with T. Rowe Price, please call T. Rowe Price as follows: IRA, nonretirement account holders, and institutional investors, 1-800-225-5132; small business retirement accounts, 1-800-492-7670. If you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the T. Rowe Price funds through a financial intermediary, please contact your representative or financial intermediary, or follow additional instructions if included with this document. Your election to receive paper copies of reports will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly in the T. Rowe Price funds, with T. Rowe Price. Your election can be changed at any time in the future. | ||||
Table of Contents
1 | SUMMARY | ||
2 | MORE ABOUT THE FUND | ||
More Information About the Fund’s | |||
3 | INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS | ||
Investing with T. Rowe Price 31 Distribution and Shareholder Policies for Opening an Account 36 Pricing of Shares and Transactions 37 Investing Directly with T. Rowe Price 39 Investing Through a Financial General Policies Relating to Transactions 47 |
SUMMARY | 1 | |
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling shares of the Investor Class or I Class, which are not reflected in the table.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Investor | I | Advisor | ||||
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||
Maximum account fee | $20 | a | — | — | ||
Annual
fund operating expenses | ||||||
Management fees | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % | 0.79 | % |
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees | — | — | 0.25 | |||
Other expenses | 0.51 | 0.28 | c | 0.60 | ||
Total annual fund operating expenses | 1.30 | 1.07 | 1.64 | |||
Fee waiver/expense reimbursement | (0.15 | )b | (0.23 | )c | (0.39 | )d |
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement | 1.15 | b | 0.84 | c | 1.25 | d |
a Subject to certain exceptions, accounts with a balance of less than $10,000 are charged an annual $20 fee.
b T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2021) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to exceed 1.15% of the class' average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2021, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 1.15%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 1.15%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
c T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2021) to pay the operating expenses of the fund’s I Class excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses (“I Class Operating Expenses”), to the extent the I Class Operating Expenses exceed 0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2021, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 0.05%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.05%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the
T. ROWE PRICE | 2 |
I Class Operating Expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the limitation on I Class Operating Expenses in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses.
d T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2021) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to exceed 1.25% of the class' average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2021, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 1.25%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 1.25%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example also assumes that any current expense limitation arrangement remains in place for the period noted in the table above; therefore, the figures have been adjusted to reflect fee waivers or expense reimbursements only in the periods for which the expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
Investor Class | $117 | $397 | $699 | $1,555 |
I Class | 86 | 317 | 568 | 1,285 |
Advisor Class | 127 | 479 | 855 | 1,911 |
Portfolio Turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 73.0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks, and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in stocks issued by companies that are located in, or that have economic ties to, Asia (excluding Japan). For purposes of determining whether the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in Asian companies, the fund relies on the country assigned to a security by MSCI Inc. or another unaffiliated data provider. The Asian countries in which the fund normally invests include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Primary Emphasis: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.
SUMMARY | 3 |
· Others: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
The fund is “nondiversified,” meaning it may invest a greater portion of its assets in a single company and own more of the company’s voting securities than is permissible for a “diversified” fund. The fund may purchase stocks issued by companies of any size, but typically focuses its investments on large- and mid-cap stocks. The fund may at times invest significantly in certain sectors, such as the financials sector.
While the adviser invests with an awareness of the outlook for certain industry sectors and individual countries within the region, the adviser’s decision-making process focuses on bottom-up stock selection. Country allocation is driven largely by stock selection, though the adviser may limit investments in markets or industries that appear to have poor overall prospects.
The fund does not normally emphasize either a growth or value bias in selecting investments. The fund relies on a global team of investment analysts dedicated to in-depth fundamental research in an effort to identify high quality companies that we believe will reliably compound earnings and sustain strong cash flows over time. The adviser seeks stocks of companies at reasonable prices in relation to present or anticipated earnings, cash flow, or book value, and selects those stocks that the adviser believes have the most favorable combination of company fundamentals, earnings potential, and relative valuation.
In selecting investments for the fund, the adviser generally favors companies with one or more of the following characteristics:
· well-established companies with leading market positions;
· attractive business niche with the potential to sustain earnings even during times of slow economic growth;
· competitive advantages in an attractive industry;
· proven management with high governance standards;
· demonstrated ability to consistently increase revenues, earnings, and/or cash flows; and
· prudent capital allocation and balance sheet management.
The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.
Principal Risks
As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective(s). The fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the fund. The principal risks of investing in this fund, which may be even greater during periods of market disruption or volatility, are summarized as follows.
Investing in Asia Many Asian economies have at various times been negatively affected by inflation, currency devaluations, an over-reliance on international trade and exports, political and social instability, and less developed financial systems and securities trading markets. Trade restrictions, unexpected decreases in exports, changes in government policies, or natural disasters could have a significant impact on companies doing business in Asia. The Asian
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region may be significantly affected by political unrest, military conflict, economic sanctions, and less demand for Asian products and services.
Investing in China The Chinese government has historically exercised significant control over China’s economy and its financial markets through, among other things, its monetary policies and allocation of resources, management of currency exchange rates, preferential treatment or restrictions relating to industries deemed sensitive to national interests, and limitations on foreign ownership of Chinese securities. Although economic reforms have liberalized trade policy and reduced government control, changes in these policies or increased government intervention could adversely impact affected industries or companies. China’s currency, which historically has been managed in a tight range relative to the U.S. dollar, may in the future be subject to greater uncertainty as Chinese authorities change the policies that determine the official currency exchange rate. Additionally, the Chinese economy is highly dependent on the exportation of products and services, and could experience a significant slowdown due to a reduction in global demand for Chinese exports, contraction in spending on domestic goods by Chinese consumers, trade or political disputes with China’s major trading partners, natural disasters, or public health threats. The U.S. and China have been imposing tariffs on certain goods traded between the countries. Heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and the institution of additional tariffs or trade barriers between China and any of its key trading partners, including the U.S., could have a significant adverse impact on the Chinese economy.
Geographic concentration Because the fund focuses its investments on a particular geographic area, the fund’s performance is closely tied to the social, political, and economic conditions of that area. Political developments and changes in regulatory, tax, or economic policy could significantly affect the markets in which the fund invests. As a result, the fund is likely to be more volatile than more geographically diverse international funds.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging market countries are subject to greater risk and overall volatility than investments in the U.S. and developed markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. In addition to the risks associated with investing outside the U.S., emerging markets are more susceptible to governmental interference, political and economic uncertainty, local taxes and restrictions on the fund’s investments, less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity, and more volatile currency exchange rates.
Frontier markets Frontier markets generally have smaller economies and less mature capital markets than emerging markets. As a result, the risks associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. Frontier markets are more susceptible to abrupt changes in currency values, have less mature markets and settlement practices, and can have lower trading volumes that could lead to greater price volatility and illiquidity. Investor protections in frontier market countries may be limited and settlement procedures and custody services may prove inadequate in certain markets.
SUMMARY | 5 |
International investing Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. Non-U.S. securities tend to be more volatile and have lower overall liquidity than investments in U.S. securities and may lose value because of adverse local, political, social, or economic developments overseas, or due to changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. In addition, investments outside the U.S. are subject to settlement practices and regulatory and financial reporting standards that differ from those of the U.S. The risks of investing outside the U.S. are heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are susceptible to greater volatility than investments in developed markets.
Sector exposure At times, the fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of issuers conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within the same economic sector. Issuers in the same economic sector may be similarly affected by economic or market events, making the fund more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly. Investments in the financials sector are susceptible to adverse developments relating to regulatory changes, interest rate movements, the availability of capital and cost to borrow, and the rate of debt defaults.
Nondiversification As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, poor performance by a single issuer could adversely affect fund performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers. The fund’s share price can be expected to fluctuate more than that of a similar fund that is more broadly diversified.
Liquidity A particular investment or an entire market segment may become less liquid or even illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which could limit the fund’s ability to purchase or sell holdings in a timely manner at a desired price. An inability to sell a portfolio holding can adversely affect the fund’s overall value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of substantial market volatility and unexpected episodes of illiquidity may limit the fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds without selling holdings at an unfavorable time or at a suitable price. Large redemptions may also have a negative impact on the fund’s overall liquidity.
Large- and mid-cap stocks Securities issued by large-cap and mid-cap companies tend to be less volatile than securities issued by smaller companies. However, larger companies may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies, especially during strong economic periods, and may be unable to respond as quickly to competitive challenges. The fund’s share price could fluctuate more than the share price of a fund that invests only in large companies as stocks of mid-cap companies entail greater risk and are usually more volatile than stocks of large-cap companies.
Stock investing Stocks generally fluctuate in value more than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is a chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. The value of stocks held by the fund may decline due to general weakness or volatility in the stock
T. ROWE PRICE | 6 |
markets in which the fund invests or because of factors that affect a particular company or industry.
Active management The fund’s overall investment program and holdings selected by the fund’s investment adviser may underperform the broad markets, relevant indices, or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
Performance
The following performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and is not necessarily an indication of future results.
The following bar chart illustrates how much returns can differ from year to year by showing calendar year returns and the best and worst calendar quarter returns during those years for the fund’s Investor Class. Returns for other share classes vary since they have different expenses.
The following table shows the average annual total returns for each class of the fund that has been in operation for at least one full calendar year, and also compares the returns with the returns of a relevant broad-based market index, as well as with the returns of one or more comparative indexes that have investment characteristics similar to those of the fund, if applicable.
In addition, the table shows hypothetical after-tax returns to demonstrate how taxes paid by a shareholder may influence returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those
SUMMARY | 7 |
shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or an IRA. After-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Class and will differ for other share classes.
Average Annual Total Returns |
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| 05/21/2014 |
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| Returns before taxes | 25.08 | % |
| 10.61 | % |
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| 10.12 | % |
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| Returns after taxes on distributions | 24.99 |
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| 10.42 |
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| 9.94 |
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| and sale of fund shares | 15.07 |
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| 8.44 |
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| 8.09 |
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| 03/06/2017 |
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| Returns before taxes | 25.41 |
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| 14.85 |
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| 05/21/2014 |
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| Returns before taxes | 24.85 |
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| 9.95 |
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| MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index Net (reflects no deduction for fees or expenses) |
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| 6.09 | a |
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| 18.17 |
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| 6.55 |
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| 10.15 | b |
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| 5.23 | c |
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| 20.65 |
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| 5.92 |
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| 9.68 | d |
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a Return since 5/21/14.
b Return since 3/6/17.
c Return since 5/31/14.
d Return since 2/28/17.
Updated performance information is available through troweprice.com.
Management
Investment Adviser T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price or Price Associates)
Investment Subadviser T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Limited (Price Hong Kong)
Portfolio Manager | Title | Managed | Joined |
Eric C. Moffett | Chairman of Investment Advisory Committee | 2014 | 2007 |
T. ROWE PRICE | 8 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Investor and Advisor Classes generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment if opening an IRA, a custodial account for a minor, or a small business retirement plan account). Additional purchases generally require a $100 minimum. These investment minimums generally are waived for financial intermediaries and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans submitting orders on behalf of their customers. Advisor Class shares may generally only be purchased through a financial intermediary or retirement plan.
The I Class requires a $1 million minimum initial investment and there is no minimum for additional purchases, although the initial investment minimum generally is waived for financial intermediaries, retirement plans, and certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority.
For investors holding shares of the fund directly with T. Rowe Price, you may purchase, redeem, or exchange fund shares by mail; by telephone (1-800-225-5132 for IRAs and nonretirement accounts; 1-800-492-7670 for small business retirement plans; and 1-800-638-8790 for institutional investors and financial intermediaries); or, for certain accounts, by accessing your account online through troweprice.com.
If you hold shares through a financial intermediary or retirement plan, you must purchase, redeem, and exchange shares of the fund through your intermediary or retirement plan. You should check with your intermediary or retirement plan to determine the investment minimums that apply to your account.
Tax Information
Any dividends or capital gains are declared and paid annually, usually in December. Redemptions or exchanges of fund shares and distributions by the fund, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional fund shares, generally may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains unless you invest through a tax-deferred account (in which case you will be taxed upon withdrawal from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 2 | |
Investment Adviser(s)
T. Rowe Price is the fund’s investment adviser and oversees the selection of the fund’s investments and management of the fund’s portfolio pursuant to an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and the fund. T. Rowe Price is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides investment management services to individual and institutional investors, and sponsors and serves as adviser and subadviser to registered investment companies, institutional separate accounts, and common trust funds. The address for T. Rowe Price is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. As of December 31, 2019, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates (the “Firm”) had approximately $1.21 trillion in assets under management and provided investment management services for more than 7 million individual and institutional investor accounts.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Price Hong Kong under which Price Hong Kong is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of the fund. Price Hong Kong is licensed with the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. Price Hong Kong serves as a subadviser to registered investment companies and provides investment management services for clients who seek to primarily invest in the Asia-Pacific securities markets. Price Hong Kong is a subsidiary of T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price International Ltd, and its address is 6/F Chater House, 8 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Portfolio Management
T. Rowe Price has established an Investment Advisory Committee with respect to the fund. The committee chairman is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio and works with the committee in developing and executing the fund’s investment program. The members of the committee are as follows: Eric C. Moffett, Chairman, R. Scott Berg, Richard de los Reyes, Christopher J. Kushlis, Anh Lu, Raymond A. Mills, Sridhar Nishtala, Gonzalo Pangaro, Ernest C. Yeung, Alison M.L. Yip, and Wenli Zheng. The following information provides the year that the chairman (portfolio manager) first joined the Firm and the chairman’s specific business experience during the past five years (although the chairman may have had portfolio management responsibilities for a longer period). Mr. Moffett has been chairman of the committee since the fund’s inception in 2014. He joined the Firm in 2007 and his investment experience dates from 2000. He has served as a portfolio manager with the Firm throughout the past five years. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of the fund’s shares.
T. ROWE PRICE | 10 |
The Management Fee
The management fee consists of two components—an “individual fund fee,” which reflects the fund’s particular characteristics, and a “group fee.” The group fee, which is designed to reflect the benefits of the shared resources of the Firm, is calculated daily based on the combined net assets of all mutual funds sponsored and advised by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”) (except the funds-of-funds, TRP Reserve Funds, Multi-Sector Account Portfolios, and any index or private-label mutual funds). The group fee schedule (in the following table) is graduated, declining as the combined assets of the T. Rowe Price Funds rise, so shareholders benefit from the overall growth in mutual fund assets.
Group Fee Schedule
0.334%* | First $50 billion |
0.305% | Next $30 billion |
0.300% | Next $40 billion |
0.295% | Next $40 billion |
0.290% | Next $60 billion |
0.285% | Next $80 billion |
0.280% | Next $100 billion |
0.275% | Next $100 billion |
0.270% | Next $150 billion |
0.265% | Thereafter |
* Represents a blended group fee rate containing various breakpoints.
The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. On October 31, 2019, the annual group fee rate was 0.29%. The individual fund fee, also applied to the fund’s average daily net assets, is 0.50%.
A discussion about the factors considered by the fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and its conclusions in approving the fund’s investment management agreement (and any subadvisory agreement, if applicable) appear in the fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ended April 30.
Investment Objective(s)
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
The investment objective is a fundamental policy and shareholder approval is required to substantially change it. As with any fund, there is no guarantee the fund will achieve its objective.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 11 |
Principal Investment Strategies
Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and your tolerance for risk. The fund may be appropriate for you if you are seeking diversification for your equity investments and can accept the risks that accompany foreign investments. Your decision should take into account whether you have any other foreign stock investments. If you do not, you may want to consider investing in a more widely diversified fund to gain the broadest exposure to global opportunities. The fund may be appropriate if you seek to supplement a diversified international portfolio with a more concentrated investment and are comfortable with the potentially significant volatility associated with investing in emerging Asian markets.
The fund seeks stocks of established, high-quality companies with a variety of characteristics, such as overall financial strength, seasoned management, and reliability of earnings and cash flows. As a result, the fund will be exposed at times to both growth- and value-oriented stocks.
The market may reward growth stocks with price increases when earnings expectations are met or exceeded. Funds that employ a growth-oriented approach to stock selection rely on the premise that by investing in companies that increase their earnings faster than both inflation and the overall economy, the market will eventually reward those companies with a higher stock price. The fund’s successful implementation of a growth-oriented strategy may lead to long-term growth of capital over time.
Funds that employ a value-oriented approach to stock selection seek to invest in companies whose stock prices are low in relation to the value of their assets or future prospects. By identifying companies whose stocks are currently out of favor or undervalued, value funds attempt to realize significant appreciation as other investors recognize the stock’s intrinsic value and the price rises accordingly. Generally, careful selection of stocks having value characteristics can, over time, limit the downside risk of a value-oriented portfolio compared with the broad market. In addition, stocks whose prices are below a company’s intrinsic value may offer the potential for substantial capital appreciation.
Investing a portion of your overall portfolio in stock funds with foreign holdings can enhance your diversification and increase your available investment opportunities.
The fund invests significantly in Asian countries, other than Japan, and typically has substantial investments in China. Investing in Asian countries provides the fund with the opportunity to seek superior growth in the areas the fund views as most promising, but with commensurately higher risks.
Portfolio managers closely monitor the fund’s investments as well as political and economic trends in the countries and regions in which the fund invests. Holdings are adjusted according to the portfolio manager’s analysis and outlook. The impact of unfavorable developments in a particular country may be reduced when investments are spread among many countries. However, the economies and financial markets of countries in a certain region may be heavily influenced by one another.
T. ROWE PRICE | 12 |
The Firm integrates environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) factors into its investment research process. We focus on the ESG factors we consider most likely to have a material impact on the performance of the holdings in the fund’s portfolio.
Principal Risks
Some of the principal tools the adviser uses to try to reduce overall risk include intensive research when evaluating a company’s prospects and limiting exposure to certain industries, asset classes, or investment styles when appropriate.
The principal risks associated with the fund’s principal investment strategies include the following:
Risks of stock investing As with all stock funds, the fund’s share price can fall because of weakness in one or more of its primary equity markets, a particular industry, or specific holdings. Stock markets can decline for many reasons, such as adverse local, political, social, or economic developments; changes in investor psychology; or heavy institutional selling. The prospects for an industry or company may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings or changes in the competitive environment. In addition, the adviser’s assessment of companies whose stocks are held by the fund may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor performance, even in rising markets. Funds that invest overseas generally carry more risk than funds that invest strictly in U.S. assets.
Investing in Asia Certain Asian economies have experienced high inflation, high unemployment, currency devaluations and restrictions, and overextension of credit. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization, and there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Adverse events in any one Asian country, such as a currency devaluation, may have a significant economic effect on the entire Asian region, as well as on major trading partners outside Asia. In addition, some Asian countries are subject to social and labor risks associated with demands for improved political, economic, and social conditions. Increased political and social unrest, economic sanctions, military conflicts, and reduced spending on products and services produced in Asia could cause significant economic uncertainty and declines in the region. The Asian region, and particularly China and South Korea, may be adversely affected by political, military, economic, and other factors related to North Korea.
Investing in China The Chinese economy may experience a significant slowdown as a result of the institution of additional tariffs or trade barriers, as well as a deterioration in global demand for Chinese exports or a reduction in spending on domestic goods by Chinese consumers. Under China’s political and economic system, the central government historically has exercised substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership. The Chinese government has been, and is expected to continue, reforming its economic policies, which has resulted in less direct central and local government control over the business and production activities of Chinese enterprises and companies. Notwithstanding the economic reforms instituted by the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, actions of the Chinese central and local
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government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China, which could affect the public and private sector companies in which the fund invests. In the past, the Chinese government has from time to time taken actions that influence the prices at which certain goods may be sold, encourage companies to invest or concentrate in particular industries, induce mergers between companies in certain industries, and compel private companies to publicly offer their securities in an effort to increase or continue the rate of economic growth, control the rate of inflation, or otherwise regulate economic expansion. Such actions and a variety of other centrally planned activities by the Chinese government could have a significant adverse effect on economic conditions in China; the economic prospects for, and the market prices and liquidity of, the securities of Chinese companies; and the payments of dividends and interest by Chinese companies. In addition, expropriation, including nationalization; confiscatory taxation; political, economic, or social instability; environmental issues; natural disasters; public health threats and travel restrictions; or other developments could adversely affect the Chinese economy and significantly diminish the values of the Chinese companies in which the fund invests.
Geographic concentration Funds that are less diversified across geographic regions, countries, industries, or individual companies are generally riskier than more diversified funds. The performance of a fund that is less diversified will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries, regions, or industries in which the fund invests and may be more volatile than the performance of a more diversified fund. The economies and financial markets of certain regions—such as Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa—can be interdependent and may all decline at the same time.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging markets are subject to the risk of abrupt and severe price declines. The economic and political structures of emerging market countries, in most cases, do not compare favorably with the U.S. or other developed countries in terms of wealth and stability, and their financial markets often lack liquidity. These economies are less developed, can be overly reliant on particular industries, and are more vulnerable to the ebb and flow of international trade, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets. As a result, foreign investments may be restricted and subject to greater government control, including repatriation of sales proceeds. Emerging market securities exchanges are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the custody of holdings by local banks, agents, and depositories. In addition, the accounting standards in emerging market countries may be unreliable and could present an inaccurate picture of a company’s finances. Some countries have histories of instability and upheaval that could cause their governments to act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. Investments in countries or regions that have recently begun moving away from central planning and state-owned industries toward free markets should be regarded as speculative.
While some countries have made progress in economic growth, liberalization, fiscal discipline, and political and social stability, there is no assurance these trends will continue. Significant
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risks, such as war and terrorism, currently affect some emerging market countries. The fund’s performance will likely be hurt by exposure to nations in the midst of hyperinflation, currency devaluation, trade disagreements, sudden political upheaval, or interventionist government policies. The volatility of emerging markets may be heightened by the actions (such as significant buying or selling) of a few major investors. For example, substantial increases or decreases in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local securities prices and, therefore, could cause fund share prices to decline.
Frontier markets Frontier market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of emerging market or developed market countries. In addition to the risks of investing in international emerging markets, frontier markets tend to have less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity and are more susceptible to governmental interference, local taxes being imposed on international investments, and restrictions on gaining access to sales proceeds. The possibility of a securities exchange closing unexpectedly for a long period of time is much greater in a frontier market. Frontier markets generally have smaller economies or less mature capital markets than emerging markets and, as a result, the risks typically associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries. Certain frontier market countries may impose restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of investment income and capital.
Adverse changes in currency values of frontier market countries may be severe and settlement procedures and custody services may prove inadequate in certain markets. The markets of frontier countries typically have low trading volumes and the potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity. This volatility may be further increased by the actions of a few major investors. For example, a substantial increase or decrease in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local stock prices and, therefore, the net asset value of the fund. In addition, frontier market securities may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Custody services in many frontier market countries remain undeveloped and, although the fund’s custodian will seek to establish control mechanisms, including the selection of appropriate sub-custodians to hold securities on behalf of the fund, there is greater transaction and custody risk in dealing in securities of frontier market countries. Overall, the laws and market practices of frontier market countries carry fewer safeguards than more mature markets, including, for example, the protection against claims from general creditors in the event of the insolvency of an agent selected to hold securities on behalf of the fund.
International investing Investments outside the U.S. may lose value because of declining foreign currencies or adverse political or economic events overseas, among other things. Securities of non-U.S. issuers (including depositary receipts and other instruments that represent interests in a non-U.S. issuer) tend to be more volatile than U.S. securities and are subject to trading markets with lower overall liquidity, governmental interference, and regulatory and accounting standards and settlement practices that differ from the U.S. The fund could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies in which the
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fund’s holdings are denominated versus the U.S. dollar, and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar. Risks can result from differing regulatory environments, less stringent investor protections, uncertain tax laws, and higher transaction costs compared to U.S. markets. Investments outside the U.S. could be subject to governmental actions such as capital or currency controls, nationalization of a company or industry, expropriation of assets, or imposition of high taxes.
A trading market may close for national holidays or without warning for extended time periods, preventing the fund from buying or selling securities in that market. Trading securities in which the fund invests may take place in various foreign markets on certain days when the fund is not open for business and does not calculate its net asset value. For example, the fund may invest in securities that trade in various foreign markets that are open on weekends. As the securities trade, their value may substantially change. As a result, the fund’s net asset value may be significantly affected on days when shareholders cannot make transactions. In addition, market volatility may significantly limit the liquidity of securities of certain issuers in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the fund’s obligations.
Sector exposure At times, the fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of issuers conducting business in a related group of industries within the same economic sector. Issuers within the same economic sector may be similarly affected by specific market events impacting that sector. As a result, the fund is more susceptible to adverse developments affecting an economic sector in which the fund has significant investments and may perform poorly during a downturn in one or more of the industries within that economic sector. To the extent the fund has significant investments in the financials sector, it is more susceptible to adverse developments affecting banks and other financial companies, which could include, among other things, regulatory changes and government intervention, interest rate movements, the availability of capital and cost to borrow, the rate of debt defaults, and price competition.
Nondiversification Because the fund is nondiversified and thus can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers, it is more exposed to the risks associated with an individual issuer than a fund that invests more broadly across many issuers. For example, poor performance by a single large holding of the fund would adversely affect the fund’s performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers.
Liquidity A particular investment or an entire market segment may become less liquid or even illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the fund’s overall value and its ability to limit losses. Less liquid or illiquid investments can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is an increased risk that the investment may not be sold for the price at which the fund is valuing it. Market prices of holdings with reduced liquidity may be volatile and an inability to sell a portfolio holding can adversely affect the fund’s value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of substantial market volatility due to higher
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than normal redemption rates. Unexpected episodes of illiquidity may limit the fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. Large redemptions by one or more shareholders owning a significant percentage of the fund’s assets may also have a negative impact on the fund’s overall liquidity. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Large- and mid-cap stocks Although stocks issued by large-cap and mid-cap companies tend to have less overall volatility than stocks issued by smaller companies, larger companies may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies, especially during strong economic periods. In addition, larger companies may be less capable of responding quickly to competitive challenges and industry changes, and may suffer sharper price declines as a result of earnings disappointments. Mid-cap companies typically have less experienced management, narrower product lines, and more limited financial resources than large-cap companies. However, by being more focused in their business activities, mid-cap companies may be more responsive and better able to adapt to the changing needs of their markets than large-cap companies during certain market conditions.
Stock investing The fund’s share price can fall because of weakness in the overall stock markets, a particular industry, or specific holdings. Stock markets as a whole can be volatile and decline for many reasons, such as adverse local, political, regulatory, or economic developments; changes in investor psychology; or heavy institutional selling at the same time by major institutional investors in the market, such as mutual funds, pension funds, and banks. The prospects for an industry or company may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings or changes in the competitive environment. In addition, the adviser’s assessment of companies whose stocks are held by the fund may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor performance, even in rising markets. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
Active management The investment adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. The fund could underperform other funds with a similar benchmark or similar investment program if the fund’s investment selections or overall strategies fail to produce the intended results.
Additional Strategies and Risks
In addition to the principal investment strategies and principal risks previously described, the fund may employ other, non-principal investment strategies and may be subject to other risks, which are described in the following paragraphs.
The fund may, to a limited extent, use derivatives such as futures contracts and forward currency exchange contracts. Any investments in futures would typically serve as an efficient means of gaining exposure to certain markets or as a cash management tool to maintain liquidity while being invested in the market. Forward currency exchange contracts would primarily be used to settle trades in a foreign currency or to help protect the fund’s holdings
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from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, although other currency hedging techniques may be used from time to time. To the extent the fund uses futures and forward currency exchange contracts, it is exposed to potential volatility and losses greater than direct investments in the contracts’ underlying assets, and the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted.
Derivatives Derivatives typically involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the assets on which the derivative is based. Certain derivatives can be highly volatile, lack liquidity, and be difficult to value. Changes in the value of a derivative may not properly correlate with changes in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The fund could be exposed to significant losses if it is unable to close a derivative position due to the lack of a liquid trading market. Derivatives involve the risk that a counterparty to the derivatives agreement will fail to make required payments or comply with the terms of the agreement. There is also the possibility that limitations or trading restrictions may be imposed by an exchange or government regulation, which could adversely impact the value and liquidity of a derivatives contract subject to such regulation. Recent regulations have changed the requirements related to the use of certain derivatives. Some of these new regulations have limited the availability of certain derivatives and made their use by funds more costly. It is expected that additional changes to the regulatory framework will occur, but the extent and impact of additional new regulations are not certain at this time.
Cybersecurity breaches The fund may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity breaches may involve deliberate attacks and unauthorized access to the digital information systems (for example, through “hacking” or malicious software coding) used by the fund or its third-party service providers but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks. These breaches may, among other things, result in financial losses to the fund and its shareholders, cause the fund to lose proprietary information, disrupt business operations, or result in the unauthorized release of confidential information. Further, cybersecurity breaches involving the fund’s third-party service providers, trading counterparties, or issuers in which the fund invests could subject the fund to many of the same risks associated with direct breaches.
This section provides a more detailed description of the various types of portfolio holdings and investment practices that may be used by the fund to execute its overall investment program. Some of these holdings and investment practices are considered to be principal investment strategies of the fund and have already been described earlier in this prospectus while others are considered non-principal. Any of the following holdings and investment practices that were not already described in Section 1 of this prospectus are considered non-principal investment practices, but they may be used by the fund from time-to-time to help achieve its investment objective. The fund’s investments may be subject to further restrictions and risks
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described in the Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ prior notice of a change in the fund’s policy requiring it to normally invest at least 80% of its net assets in stocks issued by companies that are located in, or that have economic ties to, Asia (excluding Japan).
The fund’s holdings in certain kinds of investments cannot exceed maximum percentages as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. For instance, there are limitations regarding the fund’s investments in certain types of derivatives. While these restrictions provide a useful level of detail about the fund’s investments, investors should not view them as an accurate gauge of the potential risk of such investments. For example, in a given period, a 5% investment in derivatives could have a significantly greater impact on the fund’s share price than its weighting in the portfolio. The net effect of a particular investment depends on its volatility and the size of its overall return in relation to the performance of all of the fund’s investments.
Certain investment restrictions, such as a required minimum or maximum investment in a particular type of security, are measured at the time the fund purchases a security. The status, market value, maturity, duration, credit quality, or other characteristics of the fund’s securities may change after they are purchased, and this may cause the amount of the fund’s assets invested in such securities to exceed the stated maximum restriction or fall below the stated minimum restriction. If any of these changes occur, it would not be considered a violation of the investment restriction and will not require the sale of an investment if it was proper at the time the investment was made (this exception does not apply to the fund’s borrowing policy). However, certain changes will require holdings to be sold or purchased by the fund during the time it is above or below the stated percentage restriction in order for the fund to be in compliance with applicable restrictions.
The fund relies on the country assigned to a security by MSCI Inc., a third-party provider of benchmark indexes and data services, or another unaffiliated data provider. The fund also relies on MSCI Inc. or another unaffiliated data provider to determine which countries are considered emerging markets. The data providers use various criteria to determine the country to which a security is economically tied. Examples include the following: (1) the country under which the issuer is organized; (2) the location of the issuer’s principal place of business or principal office; (3) where the issuer’s securities are listed or traded principally on an exchange or over-the-counter market; and (4) where the issuer conducts the predominant part of its business activities or derives a significant portion (e.g., at least 50%) of its revenues or profits.
Changes in the fund’s holdings, the fund’s performance, and the contribution of various investments to the fund’s performance are discussed in the shareholder reports.
Portfolio managers have considerable discretion in choosing investment strategies and selecting securities they believe will help achieve the fund’s objective.
Types of Portfolio Securities
In seeking to meet its investment objective, the fund may invest in any type of security or instrument (including certain potentially high-risk derivatives described in this section) whose
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investment characteristics are consistent with its investment program. The following pages describe various types of the fund’s holdings and investment management practices, some of which are also described as part of the fund’s principal investment strategies.
The fund’s investments are primarily in common stocks and, to a lesser degree, other types of securities as follows:
Common and Preferred Stocks
Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Generally, preferred stocks have a specified dividend rate and rank after bonds and before common stocks in their claim on income for dividend payments and on assets should the company be liquidated. After other claims are satisfied, common stockholders participate in company profits on a pro-rata basis and profits may be paid out in dividends or reinvested in the company to help it grow. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price, so common stocks generally have the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities. Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. While most preferred stocks pay a dividend, the fund may decide to purchase preferred stock where the issuer has suspended, or is in danger of suspending, payment of its dividend. The fund may purchase American Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts, which are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. American Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts trade on established markets and are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their local markets and currencies. Such investments are subject to many of the same risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary receipts are deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. For example, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
Convertible Securities and Warrants
The fund may invest in debt instruments or preferred equity securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities at specified times in the future and according to a certain exchange ratio. Convertible bonds are typically callable by the issuer, which could in effect force conversion before the holder would otherwise choose. Traditionally, convertible securities have paid dividends or interest at rates higher than common stocks but lower than nonconvertible securities. They generally participate in the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying stock into which they are convertible, but to a lesser degree than common stock. Some convertible securities combine higher or lower current income with options and other features. Warrants are options to buy, directly from the issuer, a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime during the life of the warrants (generally, two or more years). Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and can be highly volatile. In some cases, the redemption value of a warrant could be zero.
Participation Notes (P-notes)
The fund may gain exposure to securities traded in foreign markets through investments in P-notes. P-notes are generally issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to an underlying common stock or other security. An investment in a P-note
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involves additional risks beyond the risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying security. While the holder of a P-note is entitled to receive from the broker-dealer or bank any dividends paid by the underlying security, the holder is not entitled to the same rights (e.g., voting rights) as a direct owner of the underlying security. P-notes are considered general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them as the counterparty. As such, the fund must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty for its investment returns on the P-notes, and could lose the entire value of its investment in the event of default by a counterparty. Additionally, there is no assurance that there will be a secondary trading market for a P-note or that the trading price of a P-note will equal the value of the underlying security.
Fixed Income Securities
From time to time, the fund may invest in corporate and government fixed income securities as well as below investment-grade bonds, commonly referred to as “junk” bonds. Corporate fixed income securities would be purchased in companies that meet the fund’s investment criteria. The price of a fixed income security fluctuates with changes in interest rates, generally rising when interest rates fall and falling when interest rates rise. Below investment-grade bonds, or “junk” bonds, can be more volatile and have greater risk of default than investment-grade bonds, and should be considered speculative.
Futures and Options
Futures are often used to establish exposures or manage or hedge risk because they enable the investor to buy or sell an asset in the future at an agreed-upon price. Options may be used to generate additional income, to enhance returns, or as a defensive technique to protect against anticipated declines in the value of an asset. Call options give the investor the right to purchase (when the investor purchases the option), or the obligation to sell (when the investor “writes” or sells the option), an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Put options give the purchaser of the option the right to sell, or the seller (or “writer”) of the option the obligation to buy, an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Futures and options contracts may be bought or sold for any number of reasons, including to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, bond prices, foreign currencies, and credit quality; as an efficient means of increasing or decreasing the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income; to improve risk-adjusted returns; to protect the value of portfolio securities; and to serve as a cash management tool. Call or put options may be purchased or sold on securities, futures, financial indexes, and foreign currencies. The fund may choose to continue a futures contract by “rolling over” an expiring futures contract into an identical contract with a later maturity date. This could increase the fund’s transaction costs and portfolio turnover rate.
Futures and options contracts may not always be successful investments or hedges; their prices can be highly volatile; using them could lower the fund’s total return; the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such contracts; and the losses from certain options written by the fund could be unlimited.
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Currency Derivatives
The fund will normally conduct any foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. The fund will generally not enter into a forward contract with a term greater than one year. The fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of a security when it enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, and when the fund believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may move substantially against another currency, it may enter into a forward contract to sell or buy the former foreign currency.
A fund that invests in foreign securities may attempt to hedge its exposure to potentially unfavorable currency changes. The primary means of doing this is through the use of forward currency exchange contracts, which are contracts between two counterparties to exchange one currency for another on a future date at a specified exchange rate. The fund may also use these instruments to create a synthetic bond, which is issued in one currency with the currency component transformed into another currency. However, futures, swaps, and options on foreign currencies may also be used. In certain circumstances, the fund may use currency derivatives to substitute a different currency for the currency in which the investment is denominated, a strategy known as proxy hedging. If the fund were to engage in any of these foreign currency transactions, it could serve to protect its foreign securities from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar, although the fund may also use currency derivatives in an effort to gain exposure to a currency expected to appreciate in value versus other currencies. As a result, the fund could be invested in a currency without holding any securities denominated in that currency. Such transactions involve, among other risks, the risk that anticipated currency movements will not occur, which could reduce the fund’s total return. There are certain markets, including many emerging markets, where it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging.
Hedging may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by the fund and could affect whether dividends paid by the fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.
Investments in Other Investment Companies
The fund may invest in other investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds.
The fund may purchase the securities of another investment company to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the market while awaiting the purchase of securities or as an efficient means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class. The fund might also purchase shares of another investment company, including shares of other mutual funds sponsored and managed by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”), to gain exposure to the securities in the investment company’s portfolio at times when the fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or as a means of gaining efficient and cost-effective exposure to certain asset classes. Any
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investment in another investment company would be consistent with the fund’s objective and investment program.
The risks of owning another investment company are generally similar to the risks of investing directly in the securities in which that investment company invests. However, an investment company may not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategy effectively, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance. In addition, because closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds trade on a secondary market, their shares may trade at a premium or discount to the actual net asset value of their portfolio securities and their shares may have greater volatility if an active trading market does not exist.
As a shareholder of another investment company, the fund must pay its pro-rata share of that investment company’s fees and expenses. The fund’s investments in non-T. Rowe Price investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to investments in other funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any applicable exemptive order.
Investments in other investment companies could allow the fund to obtain the benefits of a more diversified portfolio than might otherwise be available through direct investments in a particular asset class, and will subject the fund to the risks associated with the particular asset class or asset classes in which an underlying fund invests. Examples of asset classes in which other mutual funds (including T. Rowe Price Funds) focus their investments include high yield bonds, inflation-linked securities, floating rate loans, international bonds, emerging market bonds, stocks of companies involved in activities related to real assets, stocks of companies that focus on a particular industry or sector, and emerging market stocks. If the fund invests in another T. Rowe Price Fund, the management fee paid by the fund will be reduced to ensure that the fund does not incur duplicate management fees as a result of its investment.
Illiquid Investments
Some of the fund’s holdings may be considered illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The determination of liquidity involves a variety of factors. Illiquid investments may include private placements that are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered with the SEC. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold (for example, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) and therefore deemed liquid, others may have resale restrictions and be considered illiquid. The sale of illiquid investments may involve substantial delays and additional costs, and the fund may only be able to sell such investments at prices substantially lower than what it believes they are worth. In addition, the fund’s investments in illiquid investments may reduce the returns of the fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time, which could prevent the fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities.
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Types of Investment Management Practices
Reserve Position
A certain portion of the fund’s assets may be held in reserves. The fund’s reserve positions will primarily consist of: (1) shares of a T. Rowe Price internal money market fund or short-term bond fund (which do not charge any management fees); (2) short-term, high-quality U.S. and foreign dollar-denominated money market securities, including repurchase agreements; and (3) U.S. dollar or non-U.S. dollar currencies. In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its principal investment objective(s) and/or strategies and may invest, without limitation, in reserves. If the fund has significant holdings in reserves, it could compromise its ability to achieve its objective(s). The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, and managing cash flows into the fund and can serve as a short-term defense during periods of unusual market volatility. Non-U.S. dollar reserves are subject to currency risk.
Borrowing Money and Transferring Assets
The fund may borrow from banks, other persons, and other T. Rowe Price Funds for temporary or emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the fund’s policies as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. Such borrowings may be collateralized with the fund’s assets, subject to certain restrictions.
Borrowings may not exceed 33⅓% of the fund’s total assets. This limitation includes any borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, applies at the time of the transaction, and continues to the extent required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Meeting Redemption Requests
We expect that the fund will hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The fund may also use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used in deteriorating or stressed market conditions. The fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds with securities from the fund’s portfolio rather than in cash (redemptions in-kind), as described under “Large Redemptions.” Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the fund and its remaining shareholders. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of the fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above and may also be used in stressed market conditions.
The fund, along with other T. Rowe Price Funds, is a party to an interfund lending exemptive order received from the SEC that permits the T. Rowe Price Funds to borrow money from and/or lend money to other T. Rowe Price Funds to help the funds meet short-term redemptions and liquidity needs.
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During periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions, when an increased portion of the fund’s portfolio may be composed of holdings with reduced liquidity or lengthy settlement periods, or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances, the fund may be more likely to pay redemption proceeds with cash obtained through interfund lending or short-term borrowing arrangements (if available), or by redeeming a large redemption request in-kind.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The fund may lend its securities to broker-dealers, other institutions, or other persons to earn additional income. Risks include the potential insolvency of the broker-dealer or other borrower that could result in delays in recovering securities and capital losses. Additionally, losses could result from the reinvestment of collateral received on loaned securities in investments that decline in value, default, or do not perform as well as expected. Cash collateral from securities lending is invested in the T. Rowe Price Short-Term Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information contains more detailed information about the fund and its investments, operations, and expenses.
Portfolio Turnover
Turnover is an indication of frequency of trading. Each time the fund purchases or sells a security, it incurs a cost. This cost is reflected in the fund’s net asset value but not in its operating expenses. The higher the turnover rate, the higher the transaction costs and the greater the impact on the fund’s total return. Higher turnover can also increase the possibility of taxable capital gain distributions. The fund’s portfolio turnover rates are shown in the Financial Highlights tables.
The Financial Highlights tables, which provide information about each class’ financial history, are based on a single share outstanding throughout the periods shown. The tables are part of the fund’s financial statements, which are included in its annual report and are incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information (available upon request). The financial statements in the annual report were audited by the fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 25 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class |
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Year | 10/31/18 | 10/31/17 | 10/31/16 | 10/31/15 | ||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
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Beginning of period | $ | 12.57 | $ | 14.52 | $ | 11.27 | $ | 10.26 | $ | 10.60 | ||||||||||
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Investment activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment | 0.10 | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.15 | 0.06 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | 2.75 | (2.02 | ) | 3.41 | 0.97 | (0.37 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment | 2.85 | (1.93 | ) | 3.46 | 1.12 | (0.31 | ) | |||||||||||||
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Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.09 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | (0.02 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.02 | ) | – | ||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.09 | ) | (0.04 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees added | – | (3) | 0.02 | 0.01 | – | (3) | 0.02 | |||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | $ | 15.33 | $ | 12.57 | $ | 14.52 | $ | 11.27 | $ | 10.26 |
T. ROWE PRICE | 26 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 10/31/18 |
| 10/31/17 |
| 10/31/16 |
| 10/31/15 | |||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total return(1) (5) | 22.80 | % | (13.19 | )% | 31.53 | % | 11.04 | % | (2.73 | )% | ||||||||||
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Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 1.30 | % | 1.32 | % | 1.72 | % | 2.10 | % | 2.29 | % | ||||||||||
Net expenses after | 1.15 | % | 1.15 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.15 | % | 1.16 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 0.68 | % | 0.58 | % | 0.43 | % | 1.49 | % | 0.59 | % | ||||||||||
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Portfolio turnover rate | 73.0 | % | 78.7 | % | 52.0 | % | 52.4 | % | 93.0 | % | ||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 92,167 | $ | 71,497 | $ | 75,186 | $ | 29,445 | $ | 28,232 |
(1) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(2) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(3) Amounts round to less than $0.01 per share.
(4) The fund charged redemption fees through March 31, 2019.
(5) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 27 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class |
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Year | 10/31/18 | 3/6/17(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
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Beginning of period |
| $ | 12.60 | $ | 14.54 | $ | 11.28 | |||||||||||||
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Investment activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.05 | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | 2.75 | (2.07 | ) | 3.21 | ||||||||||||||||
Total from investment | 2.90 | (1.89 | ) | 3.26 | ||||||||||||||||
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Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.14 | ) | (0.03 | ) | – | |||||||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | (0.02 | ) | – | ||||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.14 | ) | (0.05 | ) | – | |||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | $ | 15.36 | $ | 12.60 | $ | 14.54 |
T. ROWE PRICE | 28 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Year |
| 10/31/18 |
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Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total return(2) (4) |
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| 23.22 | % | (13.05 | )% | 28.90 | % | ||||||||||||
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Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 1.07 | % | 1.10 | % | 1.35 | %(5) | ||||||||||||||
Net expenses
after | 0.84 | % | 0.84 | % | 0.85 | %(5) | ||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 1.02 | % | 1.27 | % | 0.65 | %(5) | ||||||||||||||
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Portfolio turnover rate | 73.0 | % | 78.7 | % | 52.0 | % | ||||||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 36,723 | $ | 18,385 | $ | 4,451 |
(1) Inception date
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(4) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(5) Annualized
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 29 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Advisor Class |
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Year | 10/31/18 | 10/31/17 | 10/31/16 | 10/31/15 | ||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
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Beginning of period | $ | 12.51 | $ | 14.47 | $ | 11.25 | $ | 10.23 | $ | 10.59 | ||||||||||
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Investment activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.15 | 0.04 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | 2.77 | (2.02 | ) | 3.40 | 0.96 | (0.35 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment | 2.83 | (1.95 | ) | 3.44 | 1.11 | (0.31 | ) | |||||||||||||
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Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.08 | ) | – | (0.14 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (0.05 | ) | |||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | (0.02 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.02 | ) | – | ||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.08 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.05 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees added | – | 0.01 | – | (3) | – | (3) | – | (3) | ||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | $ | 15.26 | $ | 12.51 | $ | 14.47 | $ | 11.25 | $ | 10.23 |
T. ROWE PRICE | 30 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 10/31/18 |
| 10/31/17 |
| 10/31/16 |
| 10/31/15 | |||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total return(2) (5) | 22.73 | % | (13.43 | )% | 31.32 | % | 10.95 | % | (2.92 | )% | ||||||||||
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Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 1.64 | % | 1.61 | % | 2.22 | % | 2.63 | % | 2.91 | % | ||||||||||
Net expenses after | 1.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.26 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.26 | % | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 0.44 | % | 0.48 | % | 0.34 | % | 1.41 | % | 0.36 | % | ||||||||||
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Portfolio turnover rate | 73.0 | % | 78.7 | % | 52.0 | % | 52.4 | % | 93.0 | % | ||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 484 | $ | 491 | $ | 470 | $ | 286 | $ | 264 |
(1) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Amounts round to less than $0.01 per share.
(4) The fund charged redemption fees through March 31, 2019.
(5) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
Most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their calendar quarter-end portfolio holdings on troweprice.com 15 calendar days after each quarter. At the discretion of the investment adviser, these holdings reports may exclude the issuer name and other information relating to a holding in order to protect the fund’s interests and prevent harm to the fund or its shareholders. In addition, most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their 10 largest holdings, along with the percentage of the relevant fund’s total assets that each of the 10 holdings represents, on troweprice.com on the seventh business day after each month-end. These holdings are listed in numerical order based on such percentages of the fund’s assets. A description of T. Rowe Price’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio information is available in the Statement of Additional Information.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 3 | |
The following policies and procedures generally apply to Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds. The front cover and Section 1 of this prospectus indicate which share classes are available for the fund.
This section of the prospectus explains the basics of investing with T. Rowe Price and describes some of the different share classes that may be available. Certain share classes can be held directly with T. Rowe Price, while other share classes must typically be held through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, broker, retirement plan recordkeeper, or investment advisor. The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services.
Each class of a fund’s shares represents an interest in the same fund with the same investment program and investment policies. However, each class is designed for a different type of investor and has a different cost structure primarily due to shareholder services or distribution arrangements that may apply only to that class. For example, certain classes may make payments to financial intermediaries for various administrative services they provide (commonly referred to as administrative fee payments, or AFP) and/or make payments to certain financial intermediaries for distribution of the fund’s shares (commonly referred to as 12b-1 fee payments). Determining the most appropriate share class depends on many factors, including how much you plan to invest, whether you are investing directly in the fund or through a financial intermediary, and whether you are investing on behalf of a person or an organization.
This section generally describes the differences between Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class shares. This section does not describe the policies that apply to accounts in T. Rowe Price institutional funds and certain other types of funds. Policies for these other funds are described in their respective prospectuses, and all available share classes for the T. Rowe Price Funds are described more fully in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information. While many T. Rowe Price Funds are offered in more than one share class, not all funds offer all of the share classes described in this section.
Investor Class
A T. Rowe Price Fund that does not include the term “institutional” or indicate a specific share class as part of its name is considered to be the Investor Class of that fund. The Investor Class is
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available to individual investors, institutions, and a wide variety of other types of investors. The Investor Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a retirement plan or financial intermediary. The Investor Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries but may make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. In addition, you may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling Investor Class shares through a financial intermediary. For investors holding the Investor Class through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable.
I Class
The I Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a financial intermediary. The I Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries. However, you may incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling I Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The I Class requires a $1 million initial investment minimum, although the minimum generally is waived for retirement plans, financial intermediaries, certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority, and certain other accounts. For investors eligible for the I Class through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable. Accounts that are not eligible for the I Class may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Advisor Class
The Advisor Class is designed to be sold through various financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and financial advisors. The Advisor Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The Advisor Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The Advisor Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of Advisor Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the Advisor Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
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R Class
The R Class is designed to be sold through financial intermediaries for employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans and certain other retirement accounts. The R Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The R Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The R Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of R Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the R Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class or Advisor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Z Class
The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases. The Z Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries.
Administrative Fee Payments (Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class)
Certain financial intermediaries perform recordkeeping and administrative services for their clients that would otherwise be performed by the funds’ transfer agent. T. Rowe Price Funds (other than I Class or Z Class shares) may make administrative fee payments to retirement plan recordkeepers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries (at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the fund’s average daily net assets) for transfer agency, recordkeeping, and other administrative services that they provide on behalf of the funds. These administrative services may include maintaining account records for each customer; transmitting purchase and redemption orders; delivering shareholder confirmations, statements, and tax forms; and providing support to respond to customers’ questions regarding their accounts. Except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, these separate administrative fee payments are reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
T. ROWE PRICE | 34 |
12b-1 Fee Payments (Advisor Class and R Class)
Mutual funds are permitted to adopt a 12b-1 plan to pay certain expenses associated with the distribution of the fund’s shares out of the fund’s assets. Each fund offering Advisor and/or R Class shares has adopted a 12b-1 plan under which those classes may make payments (for the Advisor Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets, and for the R Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets) to various financial intermediaries, such as brokers, banks, insurance companies, investment advisers, and retirement plan recordkeepers for distribution and/or shareholder servicing of the Advisor and R Class shares. The 12b-1 plans provide for the class to pay such fees to the fund’s distributor and for the distributor to then pay such fees to the financial intermediaries that provide services for the class and/or make the class available to investors.
For the Advisor Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the Advisor Class shares available to their customers (for example, providing the fund with “shelf space” or inclusion on a “preferred list” or “supermarket” platform). For the R Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the R Class shares available as investment options to retirement plans and retirement plan participants, assisting plan sponsors in conducting searches for investment options, and providing ongoing monitoring of investment options.
Shareholder servicing payments under the plans may include payments to financial intermediaries for providing shareholder support services to existing shareholders of the Advisor and R Class. These payments may be more or less than the costs incurred by the financial intermediaries. Because the fees are paid from the Advisor Class or R Class net assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time. In addition, payments of 12b-1 fees may influence your financial advisor’s recommendation of the fund or of any particular share class of the fund. Payments of 12b-1 fees are reflected in the “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
In addition to the AFP payments made by certain funds and the 12b-1 payments made by the Advisor and R Class, T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor will, at their own expense, provide compensation to certain financial intermediaries that have sold shares of or provide shareholder or other services to the T. Rowe Price Funds, commonly referred to as revenue sharing. These payments may be in the form of asset-based, transaction-based, or flat payments. These payments are used to compensate third parties for distribution and shareholder servicing activities, including sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, or other services. Some of these payments may include expense reimbursements and meeting and marketing support payments (out of T. Rowe Price’s or the fund’s distributor’s own resources and not as an expense of the funds) to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, banks, insurance companies, and retirement plan recordkeepers, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing, and/or servicing of the
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 35 |
T. Rowe Price Funds. The Statement of Additional Information provides more information about these payment arrangements.
The receipt of, or the prospect of receiving, these payments and expense reimbursements from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor may influence intermediaries, plan sponsors, and other third parties to offer or recommend T. Rowe Price Funds over other investment options for which an intermediary does not receive additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). In addition, financial intermediaries that receive these payments and/or expense reimbursements may elevate the prominence of the T. Rowe Price Funds by, for example, placing the T. Rowe Price Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or provide preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the T. Rowe Price Funds in various ways. Since these additional payments are not paid by a fund directly, these arrangements do not increase fund expenses and will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the T. Rowe Price Funds or the amount that is invested in a T. Rowe Price Fund on behalf of an investor. You may ask your financial intermediary for more information about any payments they receive from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor.
Comparison of Fees
The following table summarizes the distribution and service (12b-1) fee and administrative fee arrangements applicable to each class.
Class | 12b-1 Fee Payments | Administrative Fee Payments |
Investor Class | None | Up to 0.15% per year |
I Class | None | None |
Advisor Class | Up to 0.25% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
R Class | Up to 0.50% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
Z Class | None | None |
Investor Class
In an effort to help offset the disproportionately high costs incurred by the funds in connection with servicing lower-balance accounts that are held directly with the T. Rowe Price Funds’ transfer agent, an annual $20 account service fee (paid to T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., or one of its affiliates) is charged to certain Investor Class accounts with a balance below $10,000. The determination of whether a fund account is subject to the account service fee is based on account balances and services selected for accounts as of the last business day of August of each calendar year. The fee may be charged to an account with a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation and recent redemptions. The fee, which is automatically deducted from an account by redeeming fund shares, is typically charged to accounts in early September each calendar year. Such redemption may result in a taxable gain or loss to you.
The account service fee generally does not apply to fund accounts that are held through a financial intermediary, participant accounts in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which
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T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services, accounts held through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, or money market funds that are used as a T. Rowe Price brokerage sweep account. Regardless of a particular fund account’s balance on the last business day of August, the account service fee is automatically waived for accounts that satisfy any of the following conditions:
· Any accounts for which the shareholder has elected to receive electronic delivery of all of the following: account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports (paper copies of fund documents are available, free of charge, upon request, to any shareholder regardless of whether the shareholder has elected electronic delivery);
· Any accounts of a shareholder with at least $50,000 in total assets with T. Rowe Price (for this purpose, total assets include investments through T. Rowe Price Brokerage and investments in T. Rowe Price Funds, except for those held through a retirement plan for which T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services); or
· Any accounts of a shareholder who is a T. Rowe Price Select Client Services client—visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-332-6161 for more information.
T. Rowe Price reserves the right to authorize additional waivers for other types of accounts or to modify the conditions for assessment of the account service fee. Fund shares held in a T. Rowe Price IRA, Education Savings Account, or small business retirement plan account (including certain 403(b) plan accounts) are subject to the account service fee and may be subject to additional administrative fees when distributing all fund shares from such accounts.
Investor and I Class shares may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through various financial intermediaries. Advisor and R Class shares must be purchased through a financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly at T. Rowe Price). If you are opening an account through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or other financial intermediary, you should contact the retirement plan or financial intermediary for information regarding its policies on opening an account, including the policies relating to purchasing, exchanging, and redeeming shares, and the applicable initial and subsequent investment minimums.
Tax Identification Number
Investors must provide T. Rowe Price with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number on a signed new account form or Form W-9, and financial intermediaries must provide T. Rowe Price with their certified taxpayer identification number. Otherwise, federal law requires the funds to withhold a percentage of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemptions and may subject you or the financial intermediary to an Internal Revenue Service fine. If this information is not received within 60 days of the account being established, the account may be redeemed at the fund’s then-current net asset value.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 37 |
Important Information Required to Open a New Account
Pursuant to federal law, all financial institutions must obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. This information is needed not only for the account owner and any other person who opens the account, but also for any person who has authority to act on behalf of the account.
When you open an account, you will be asked for the name, U.S. street address (post office boxes are not acceptable), date of birth, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for each account owner and person(s) opening an account on behalf of others, such as custodians, agents, trustees, or other authorized signers. When opening an entity account, you will be asked to identify and provide personal information for: (i) any individual who, either directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the equity interest of the entity and (ii) a single individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity. Corporate and other institutional accounts require documents showing the existence of the entity (such as articles of incorporation or partnership agreements) to open an account. Certain other fiduciary accounts (such as trusts or power of attorney arrangements) require documentation, which may include an original or certified copy of the trust agreement or power of attorney, to open an account.
T. Rowe Price will use this information to verify the identity of the person(s)/entity opening the account. An account cannot be opened until all of this information is received. If the identity of the account holder cannot be verified, T. Rowe Price is authorized to take any action permitted by law, including but not limited to restricting additional purchases, freezing the account, or involuntarily redeeming the shares in the account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed.
Institutional investors and financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services at 1-800-638-8790 for more information on these requirements, as well as to be assigned an account number and instructions for opening an account. Other investors should call Investor Services at 1-800-638-5660 for more information about these requirements.
The funds are generally available only to investors residing in the United States. In addition, nongovernment money market funds that operate as “retail money market funds” pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons. An investor in a retail money market fund is required to demonstrate eligibility (for example, by providing a valid Social Security number) before an account can be opened.
How and When Shares Are Priced
The trade date for your transaction request depends on the day and time that T. Rowe Price receives your request and will normally be executed using the next share price calculated after your order is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent (or by your financial
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intermediary if it has the authority to accept transaction orders on behalf of the fund). The share price, also called the net asset value, for each share class of a fund is calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which is normally 4 p.m. ET, on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Net asset values are not calculated for the funds on days when the NYSE is scheduled to be closed for trading (for example, weekends and certain U.S. national holidays). If the NYSE is unexpectedly closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or if the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
To calculate the net asset value, a fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and each class’ proportionate share of the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class. Market values are used to price portfolio holdings for which market quotations are readily available. Market values generally reflect the prices at which securities actually trade or represent prices that have been adjusted based on evaluations and information provided by the fund’s pricing services. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of the mutual fund on the day of valuation. If a market value for a portfolio holding is not available or normal valuation procedures are deemed to be inappropriate, the fund will make a good faith effort to assign a fair value to the holding by taking into account various factors and methodologies that have been approved by the fund’s Board. This value may differ from the value the fund receives upon sale of the securities.
Amortized cost is used to price securities held by money market funds and certain short-term debt securities held by other funds. The retail and government money market funds, which seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00, use the amortized cost method of valuation to calculate their net asset value. Amortized cost allows the money market funds to value a holding at the fund’s acquisition cost with adjustments for any premiums or discounts and then round the net asset value per share to the nearest whole cent. The amortized cost method of valuation enables the money market funds to maintain a $1.00 net asset value, but it may also result in periods during which the stated value of a security held by the funds differs from the market-based price the funds would receive if they sold that holding. The current market-based net asset value per share for each business day in the preceding six months is available for the retail and government money market funds through troweprice.com. These market-based net asset values are for informational purposes only and are not used to price transactions.
The funds use various pricing services to provide closing market prices, as well as information used to adjust those prices and to value most fixed income securities. A fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices or how often it will adjust those prices. As a means of evaluating its fair value process, the fund routinely compares closing market prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
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Non-U.S. equity securities are valued on the basis of their most recent closing market prices at 4 p.m. ET, except under the following circumstances. Most foreign markets close before 4 p.m. ET. For example, the most recent closing prices for securities traded in certain Asian markets may be as much as 15 hours old at 4 p.m. ET. If a fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will affect the value of some or all of the fund’s securities, the fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of 4 p.m. ET. In deciding whether to make these adjustments, the fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities.
A fund may also fair value certain securities or a group of securities in other situations—for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. For a fund that has investments in securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the fund does not price its shares, the fund’s net asset value may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the fund’s shares. If an event occurs that affects the value of a security after the close of the market, such as a default of a commercial paper issuer or a significant move in short-term interest rates, a fund may make a price adjustment depending on the nature and significance of the event. The funds also evaluate a variety of factors when assigning fair values to private placements and other restricted securities. Other mutual funds may adjust the prices of their securities by different amounts or assign different fair values than the fair value that the fund assigns to the same security.
The various ways you can purchase, sell, and exchange shares are explained throughout this section. These procedures differ based on whether you hold your account directly with T. Rowe Price or through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or financial intermediary.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held directly with T. Rowe Price and not through a financial intermediary.
Options for Opening Your Account
If you own other T. Rowe Price Funds, you should consider registering any new account identically to your existing accounts so you can exchange shares among them easily (the name(s) of the account owner(s) and the account type must be identical).
For joint accounts or other types of accounts owned or controlled by more than one party, either owner/party has complete authority to act on behalf of all and give instructions concerning the account without notice to the other party. T. Rowe Price may, in its sole discretion, require written authorization from all owners/parties to act on the account for
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certain transactions (for example, to transfer ownership). There are multiple ways to establish a new account directly with T. Rowe Price.
Online You can open a new Investor Class account online. (I Class accounts currently must be opened either by telephone or in writing.) Go to troweprice.com/newaccount to choose the type of account you wish to open.
You can exchange shares online from an existing account in one fund to open a new account in another fund. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging, and any services (other than systematic purchase and systematic distribution arrangements) that you have preauthorized will carry over from the existing account to the new account.
To open an account online for the first time or with a different account registration, you must be a U.S. citizen residing in the U.S. or a resident alien and not subject to Internal Revenue Service backup withholding. Additionally, you must provide consent to receive certain documents electronically. You will have the option of providing your bank account information, which will enable you to make electronic funds transfers to and from your bank account. To set up this banking service online, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity.
By Mail If you are sending a check, please make your check payable to T. Rowe Price Funds (otherwise it may be returned) and send the check, together with the applicable new account form, to the appropriate address. (Please refer to the appropriate address under “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section to avoid a delay in opening your new account.) T. Rowe Price does not accept third-party checks for initial purchases; however, third-party checks are typically accepted for additional purchases to an existing account. In addition, T. Rowe Price does not accept purchases by cash, traveler’s checks, money orders, or credit card checks. For exchanges from an identically registered account, be sure to specify the fund(s) and account number(s) that you are exchanging out of and the fund(s) you wish to exchange into.
By Telephone Direct investors can call Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-5132 (institutional investors should call 1-800-638-8790) to exchange from an existing fund account to open a new identically registered account in another fund. You may also be eligible to open a new account by telephone and provide your bank account information in order to make an initial purchase. To set up the account and banking service by telephone, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity and the authenticity of your bank account. Although the account may be opened and the purchase made, services may not be established and an Internal Revenue Service penalty withholding may occur until we receive the necessary signed form to certify your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
How Your Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest directly with T. Rowe Price and your request to purchase, sell, or exchange shares is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your
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transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value. Systematic transactions that are scheduled to occur on a date the NYSE is closed will normally be processed the next business day (except for certain retirement plan payroll deduction orders generated by T. Rowe Price where the orders are processed the day before the day the NYSE is closed).
Note: There may be times when you are unable to contact us by telephone or access your account online due to extreme market activity, the unavailability of the T. Rowe Price website, or other circumstances. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value. The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET.
Transaction Confirmations
T. Rowe Price sends immediate confirmations for most of your fund transactions. However, certain transactions, such as systematic purchases and systematic redemptions, dividend reinvestments, checkwriting redemptions from money market funds, and transactions in money market funds used as a brokerage sweep account, do not receive an immediate transaction confirmation but are reported on your account statement. Please review transaction confirmations and account statements as soon as you receive them, and promptly report any discrepancies to Shareholder Services.
Telephone and Online Account Transactions
You may access your accounts and conduct transactions involving Investor Class accounts using the telephone or the T. Rowe Price website at troweprice.com. You can only conduct transactions involving the I Class over the telephone or in writing.
Preventing Unauthorized Transactions
The T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents use reasonably designed procedures to verify that telephone, electronic, and other instructions are genuine. These procedures include, among other things, recording telephone calls; requiring personalized security codes or other information online and certain identifying information for telephone calls; requiring Medallion signature guarantees for certain transactions and account changes; and promptly sending confirmations of transactions and address changes. For transactions conducted online, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser.
T. Rowe Price Account Protection Program Shareholders who invest in the T. Rowe Price Funds directly are eligible for the Account Protection Program. The Account Protection Program restores eligible losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent activity, provided that you follow all security best practices when you access and maintain your account(s). T. Rowe Price reserves the right to modify or withdraw the Account Protection Program at any time. The Account Protection Program security best practices and additional information may be
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accessed online at https://www.troweprice.com/personal-investing/help/policies-and-security/account-protection-program.html.
If our verification procedures are followed, and the losses are not eligible to be restored under the Account Protection Program, the funds and their agents are not liable for any losses that may occur from acting on unauthorized instructions.
If you suspect any unauthorized account activity, notice errors or discrepancies in your T. Rowe Price account, or are not receiving your T. Rowe Price account statements, please contact T. Rowe Price immediately. Telephone conversations are recorded.
Trusted Contacts Investors who hold shares of a T. Rowe Price Fund directly or through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account have the option to add one or more trusted contacts to their brokerage and mutual fund accounts. Trusted contacts are intended to be a resource to help protect client assets. Any individuals designated as a trusted contact will be authorized to serve as a primary contact if T. Rowe Price has questions or concerns related to potentially fraudulent account activity, suspected financial exploitation, or to confirm your contact information if we are unable to reach you (but are not authorized to act on your account). For more information or to add trusted contacts to your account, visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-225-5132.
If you are age 65 or older, or if you are age 18 or older and we have reason to believe you have a mental or physical impairment that renders you unable to protect your own interest, we may place a temporary hold on the disbursement of redemption proceeds from your account in an effort to protect you if we reasonably believe that you have been or will be the victim of actual or attempted financial exploitation. You will receive notice of this temporary delay, and it will be for no more than 15 business days while we conduct an internal review of the suspected financial exploitation (including contacting your trusted contact if one is on file). We may delay an additional 10 business days if T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that actual or attempted financial exploitation has occurred or will occur. At the expiration of the hold time, if we have not confirmed that exploitation has occurred, the proceeds will be released to you.
Purchasing Shares
Shares may be purchased in a variety of ways.
By Check Please make your check payable to the T. Rowe Price Funds. Include a new account form if establishing a new account, and include either a fund investment slip or a letter indicating the fund and your account number if adding to an existing account. Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (not the day the request is received at the post office box).
By Electronic Transfer Shares may be purchased using the Automated Clearing House system if you have established the service on your account, which allows T. Rowe Price to request payment for your shares directly from your bank account or other financial institution account. You may also arrange for a wire to be sent to T. Rowe Price (wire transfer instructions
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can be found at troweprice.com/wireinstructions or by calling Shareholder Services). T. Rowe Price must receive the wire by the close of the NYSE to receive that day’s share price. There is no assurance that you will receive the share price for the same day you initiated the wire from your financial institution.
By Exchange You may purchase shares of a fund using the proceeds from the redemption of shares from another fund. The redemption and purchase will receive the same trade date, and if you are establishing a new account, it will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging. The purchase must still generally meet the applicable minimum investment requirement.
Systematic Purchases (Automatic Asset Builder) You can instruct T. Rowe Price to automatically transfer money from your account at your bank or other financial institution at least once per month, or you can instruct your employer to send all or a portion of your paycheck to the fund or funds that you designate. Each systematic purchase must be at least $100 per fund account to be eligible for the Automatic Asset Builder service. To automatically transfer money to your account from a bank account or through payroll deductions, complete the appropriate section of the new account form when opening a new account or complete an Account Services Form to add the service to an existing account. Prior to establishing payroll deductions, you must set up the service with T. Rowe Price so that the appropriate instructions can be provided to your employer.
Initial Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than the Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds, require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment for IRAs; certain small business retirement accounts; and custodial accounts for minors, known as Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act accounts). The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment. I Class accounts require a $1 million minimum initial investment, although the minimum generally is waived for certain types of accounts. If you request the I Class of a particular fund when you open a new account but the investment amount does not meet the applicable minimum, the purchase will be automatically invested in the Investor Class of the same fund.
Additional Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than Summit Funds, require a $100 minimum for additional purchases, including those made through Automatic Asset Builder. Summit Funds require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder and a $1,000 minimum for all other additional purchases. I Class accounts require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder but do not require a minimum amount for other additional purchases.
Exchanging and Redeeming Shares
Exchanges You can move money from one account to an existing, identically registered account or open a new identically registered account. For taxable accounts, an exchange from one fund to another will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as a sale for tax purposes.
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(Institutional investors are restricted from exchanging into a fund that operates as a retail money market fund.) You can set up systematic exchanges so that money is automatically moved from one fund account to another on a regular basis.
Receiving Redemption Proceeds Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address by check or sent electronically to your bank account by Automated Clearing House transfer or bank wire. You can set up systematic redemptions and have the proceeds automatically sent via check or Automated Clearing House on a regular basis. If your request is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent on a business day prior to the close of the NYSE, proceeds are usually sent on the next business day. However, if you request a redemption from a money market fund on a business day prior to noon ET and request to have proceeds sent via bank wire, proceeds are normally sent later that same day.
Proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House transfer are usually credited to your account the second business day after the sale, and there are typically no fees associated with such payments. Proceeds sent by bank wire are usually credited to your account the next business day after the sale (except for wire redemptions from money market funds received prior to noon ET). A $5 fee will be charged for an outgoing wire of less than $5,000, in addition to any fees your financial institution may charge for an incoming wire.
If for some reason your request to exchange or redeem shares cannot be processed because it is not received in correct form, we will attempt to contact you.
If you request to redeem a specific dollar amount and the market value of your account is less than the amount of your request and we are unable to contact you, your redemption will not be processed and you must submit a new redemption request in correct form.
If you change your address on an account, proceeds may not be mailed to the new address for 15 calendar days after the address change, unless we receive a letter of instruction with a Medallion signature guarantee.
Please note that large purchase and redemption requests initiated through the Automated Clearing House may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by calling Shareholder Services.
Checkwriting You may write an unlimited number of free checks on any money market fund and certain bond funds, with a minimum of $500 per check. Keep in mind, however, that a check results in a sale of fund shares; a check written on a bond fund will create a taxable event that must be reported by T. Rowe Price to the Internal Revenue Service as a redemption.
Converting to Another Share Class
You may convert from one share class of a fund to another share class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Although the conversion has no effect on the dollar value of your investment in the fund, the number of shares owned after the conversion may be greater or less than the number of shares owned before the conversion, depending on the net asset values of the two share classes. A conversion between share classes of the same fund is a
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nontaxable event. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are converting.
T. Rowe Price may conduct periodic reviews of account balances. If your account balance in a fund exceeds the minimum amount required for the I Class, T. Rowe Price may, but is not required to, automatically convert your Investor Class shares to I Class shares with advance notice. However, if T. Rowe Price has investment discretion, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares without advance notice.
Maintaining Your Account Balance
Investor Class Due to the relatively high cost to a fund of maintaining small accounts, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1,000 ($10,000 for Summit Funds). If, for any reason, your balance is below this amount for three months or longer, we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance.
I Class To keep operating expenses lower, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1 million. If your investment falls below $1 million (even if due to market depreciation), we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance or convert your account to a different share class in the same fund (if available) with a higher expense ratio with advance notice. However, if T. Rowe Price has investment discretion, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares without advance notice.
The redemption of your account could result in a taxable gain or loss.
Investors holding the fund through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program will be subject to the minimum account balance requirements of the program, which may differ from the minimum account balance requirements listed above.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held through a financial intermediary.
Accounts in Investor Class and I Class shares are not required to be held through a financial intermediary, but accounts in Advisor Class and R Class shares must be held through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). It is important that you contact your retirement plan or financial intermediary to determine the policies, procedures, and transaction deadlines that apply to your account. The financial intermediary may charge a fee, such as transaction fees or brokerage commissions, for its services.
Opening an Account
The financial intermediary must provide T. Rowe Price with its certified taxpayer identification number. Financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services for an account number and wire transfer instructions. In order to obtain an account number, the financial
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intermediary must supply the name, taxpayer identification number, and business street address for the account. (Please refer to “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section for the appropriate telephone number and mailing address.) Financial intermediaries must also enter into a separate agreement with the fund or its agent.
How the Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest through a financial intermediary and your transaction request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value unless the fund has an agreement with your financial intermediary for orders to be priced at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the financial intermediary.
The funds have authorized certain financial intermediaries or their designees to accept orders to buy or sell fund shares on their behalf. When authorized financial intermediaries receive an order in correct form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund and shares will be bought or sold at the net asset value next calculated after the order is received by the authorized financial intermediary. The financial intermediary must transmit the order to T. Rowe Price and pay for such shares in accordance with the agreement with T. Rowe Price or the order may be canceled and the financial intermediary could be held liable for the losses. If the fund does not have such an agreement in place with your financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price or its agent must receive the request in correct form from your financial intermediary by the close of the NYSE in order for your transaction to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted by the fund or a financial intermediary may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price (or by the financial intermediary in accordance with its agreement with T. Rowe Price) prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Purchasing Shares
All initial and subsequent investments by financial intermediaries should be made by bank wire or electronic payment. There is no assurance that the share price for the purchase will be the same day the wire was initiated. Purchases by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Financial Institution Services.
Investment Minimums
You should check with your financial intermediary to determine what minimum applies to your initial and additional investments.
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The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment, and other funds generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment, although the minimum is generally waived or modified for any retirement plans and financial intermediaries establishing accounts in the Investor Class, Advisor Class, or R Class. I Class accounts require a $1 million minimum initial investment, although the minimum generally is waived for certain types of accounts.
Investments through a financial intermediary generally do not require a minimum amount for additional purchases.
Redeeming Shares
Unless otherwise indicated, redemption proceeds will be sent via bank wire to the financial intermediary’s designated bank. Redemptions by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Financial Institution Services. Normally, the fund transmits proceeds to financial intermediaries for redemption orders received in correct form on either the next business day or second business day after receipt of the order, depending on the arrangement with the financial intermediary. Proceeds for redemption orders received prior to noon ET for a money market fund may be sent via wire the same business day. You must contact your financial intermediary about procedures for receiving your redemption proceeds.
Please note that certain purchase and redemption requests initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by contacting Financial Institution Services.
The following policies and requirements apply generally to accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, regardless of whether the account is held directly or indirectly with T. Rowe Price.
The funds generally do not accept orders that request a particular day or price for a transaction or any other special conditions. However, when authorized by the fund, certain institutions, financial intermediaries, or retirement plans purchasing fund shares directly with T. Rowe Price may place a purchase order unaccompanied by payment. Payment for these shares must be received by the time designated by the fund (not to exceed the period established for settlement under applicable regulations). If payment is not received by this time, the order may be canceled. The institution, financial intermediary, or retirement plan is responsible for any costs or losses incurred by the fund or T. Rowe Price if payment is delayed or not received.
U.S. Dollars All purchases must be paid for in U.S. dollars; checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any purchase of $5 million or more.
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Nonpayment If a check or Automated Clearing House transfer does not clear or payment for an order is not received in a timely manner, your purchase may be canceled. You (or the financial intermediary) may be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the fund or its transfer agent, and the fund can redeem shares in your account or another identically registered T. Rowe Price account as reimbursement. The funds and their agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase, exchange, or redemption due to nonpayment.
Retail Money Market Funds The retail money market funds have implemented policies and procedures designed to limit purchases to accounts beneficially owned by a natural person. Purchases of a retail money market fund may be rejected from an investor who has not demonstrated sufficient eligibility to purchase shares of the fund or from a financial intermediary that has not demonstrated adequate procedures to limit investments to natural persons. In addition, purchases may be prohibited or subject to certain conditions during periods where a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in effect.
Liquidity Fees and Redemption Gates—Retail Money Market Funds
A money market fund that operates as a retail money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 has the ability to impose liquidity fees of up to 2% of the value of the shares redeemed if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A retail money market fund also has the ability to impose a redemption gate, which enables the fund to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 days within a 90-day period if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below a certain threshold, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A money market fund’s Board has ultimate discretion to determine whether or not a liquidity fee or redemption gate would be in the best interests of the fund’s shareholders and should be imposed.
A money market fund that operates as a government money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 is not required to impose a liquidity fee or redemption gate upon the sale of your shares. The Boards of the T. Rowe Price money market funds that operate as government money market funds have determined that the funds do not currently intend to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates. However, the Board of a T. Rowe Price government money market fund reserves the right to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates in the future, at which point shareholders would be provided with at least 60 days’ notice prior to such a change.
If a liquidity fee is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be subject to the liquidity fee, and if a redemption gate is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be suspended. When a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in place, the fund may elect to not permit the purchase of shares or to subject the purchase of shares to certain conditions, which may include affirmation of the purchaser’s knowledge that a liquidity fee or a redemption gate is in effect.
Omnibus Accounts If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price may rely on the financial intermediary to assess any applicable liquidity fees or impose redemption gates on underlying shareholder accounts. In certain situations, T. Rowe Price enters into agreements with financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts that
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require the financial intermediary to assess liquidity fees or redemption gates. There are no assurances that T. Rowe Price will be successful in ensuring that all financial intermediaries will properly assess the fees.
Please refer to Sections 1 and 2 of the retail money market fund prospectuses for more information regarding liquidity fees and redemption gates.
Large Redemptions
Large redemptions (for example, $250,000 or more) can adversely affect a portfolio manager’s ability to implement a fund’s investment strategy by causing the premature sale of securities that would otherwise be held longer. Therefore, the fund reserves the right (without prior notice) to redeem in-kind. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of a fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. The redeeming shareholder will be responsible for disposing of the securities, and the shareholder will be subject to the risks that the value of the securities could decline prior to their sale, the securities could be difficult to sell, and brokerage fees could be incurred. If you continue to hold the securities, you may be subject to any ownership restrictions imposed by the issuers. For example, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) often impose ownership restrictions on their equity securities. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any redemption of $5 million or more.
Delays in Sending Redemption Proceeds
The T. Rowe Price Funds typically expect that redemption requests will be paid out to redeeming shareholders by the business day following the receipt of a redemption request that is in correct form, regardless of the method the fund uses to make such payment (for example, check, wire, or Automated Clearing House transfer). Checks are typically mailed on the business day after the redemption, proceeds sent by wire are typically credited to your financial institution the business day after the redemption, and proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House are typically credited to your financial institution on the second business day after the redemption. However, under certain circumstances, and when deemed to be in a fund’s best interests, proceeds may not be sent for up to seven calendar days after receipt of a valid redemption order (for example, during periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances).
In addition, if shares are sold that were just purchased and paid for by check or Automated Clearing House transfer, the fund will process your redemption but will generally delay sending the proceeds for up to seven calendar days to allow the check or Automated Clearing House transfer to clear. If, during the clearing period, we receive a check drawn against your newly purchased shares, it will be returned and marked “uncollected.” (The seven-day hold does not apply to purchases paid for by bank wire or automatic purchases through payroll deduction.)
The Board of a retail money market fund may temporarily suspend redemptions from the fund for up to 10 business days during any 90-day period (i.e., a “redemption gate”) and elect to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 business days in a 90-day period if the fund’s
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weekly liquid assets fall below 30% of its total assets and the fund’s Board determines that imposing a redemption gate is in the fund’s best interests. In addition, under certain limited circumstances, the Board of a money market fund may elect to permanently suspend redemptions in order to facilitate an orderly liquidation of the fund (subject to any additional liquidation requirements).
Involuntary Redemptions and Share Class Conversions
Since nongovernment money market funds that operate as retail money market funds are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons, shares held directly by an investor or through a financial intermediary in these funds that are not eligible to invest in a retail money market fund are subject to involuntary redemption at any time without prior notice.
Shares held by any investors or financial intermediaries that are no longer eligible to invest in the I Class or who fail to meet or maintain their account(s) at the investment minimum are subject to involuntary redemption or conversion to the Investor Class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Investments in Advisor Class shares that are no longer held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder. Investments in R Class shares that are no longer held on behalf of an employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plan or other eligible R Class account or that are not held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class or Advisor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder.
Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy
Excessive transactions and short-term trading can be harmful to fund shareholders in various ways, such as disrupting a fund’s portfolio management strategies, increasing a fund’s trading and other costs, and negatively affecting its performance. Short-term traders in funds that invest in foreign securities may seek to take advantage of developments overseas that could lead to an anticipated difference between the price of the funds’ shares and price movements in foreign markets. While there is no assurance that T. Rowe Price can prevent all excessive and short-term trading, the Boards of the T. Rowe Price Funds have adopted the following trading limits that are designed to deter such activity and protect the funds’ shareholders. The funds may revise their trading limits and procedures at any time as the Boards deem necessary or appropriate to better detect short-term trading that may adversely affect the funds, to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, or to impose additional or alternative restrictions.
Subject to certain exceptions, each T. Rowe Price Fund restricts a shareholder’s purchases (including through exchanges) into a fund account for a period of 30 calendar days after the shareholder has redeemed or exchanged out of that same fund account (the “30-Day Purchase Block”). The calendar day after the date of redemption is considered Day 1 for purposes of computing the period before another purchase may be made.
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General Exceptions As of the date of this prospectus, the following types of transactions generally are not subject to the funds’ excessive and short-term trading policy:
· Shares purchased or redeemed in money market funds and ultra-short-term bond funds;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through a systematic purchase or withdrawal plan;
· Checkwriting redemptions from bond funds and money market funds;
· Shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions;
· Shares redeemed automatically by a fund to pay fund fees or shareholder account fees;
· Transfers and changes of account registration within the same fund;
· Shares purchased by asset transfer or direct rollover;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through IRA conversions and recharacterizations;
· Shares redeemed to return an excess contribution from a retirement account;
· Transactions in Section 529 college savings plans;
· Certain transactions in defined benefit and nonqualified plans, subject to prior approval by T. Rowe Price;
· Shares converted from one share class to another share class in the same fund;
· Shares of T. Rowe Price Funds that are purchased by another T. Rowe Price Fund, including shares purchased by T. Rowe Price fund-of-funds products, and shares purchased by discretionary accounts managed by T. Rowe Price or one of its affiliates (please note that shareholders of the investing T. Rowe Price Fund are still subject to the policy);
· Transactions initiated by the trustee or adviser to a donor-advised charitable gift fund as approved by T. Rowe Price; and
· Transactions having a value of $5,000 or less (retirement plans, including those for which T. Rowe Price serves as recordkeeper, and other financial intermediaries may apply the excessive and short-term trading policy to transactions of any amount).
Transactions in certain rebalancing, asset allocation, wrap programs, and other advisory programs (including the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program), as well as non-T. Rowe Price fund-of-funds products, may also be exempt from the 30-Day Purchase Block, subject to prior written approval by T. Rowe Price.
In addition to restricting transactions in accordance with the 30-Day Purchase Block, T. Rowe Price may, in its discretion, reject (or instruct a financial intermediary to reject) any purchase or exchange into a fund from a person (which includes individuals and entities) whose trading activity could disrupt the management of the fund or dilute the value of the fund’s shares, including trading by persons acting collectively (for example, following the advice of a newsletter). Such persons may be barred, without prior notice, from further purchases of T. Rowe Price Funds for a period longer than 30 calendar days, or permanently.
Financial Intermediary and Retirement Plan Accounts If you invest in T. Rowe Price Funds through a financial intermediary, including a retirement plan, you should review the financial intermediary’s or retirement plan’s materials carefully or consult with the financial intermediary or plan sponsor directly to determine the trading policy that will apply to your trades in the T. Rowe Price Funds as well as any other rules or conditions on transactions that may apply. If T. Rowe Price is unable to identify a transaction placed through a financial
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intermediary as exempt from the excessive trading policy, the 30-Day Purchase Block may apply.
Financial intermediaries, including retirement plans, may maintain their underlying accounts directly with the fund, although they often establish an omnibus account (one account with the fund that represents multiple underlying shareholder accounts) on behalf of their customers. When financial intermediaries establish omnibus accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, T. Rowe Price is not able to monitor the trading activity of the underlying shareholders. However, T. Rowe Price monitors aggregate trading activity at the financial intermediary (omnibus account) level in an attempt to identify activity that indicates potential excessive or short-term trading. If it detects such trading activity, T. Rowe Price may contact the financial intermediary to request personal identifying information and transaction histories for some or all underlying shareholders (including plan participants, if applicable) pursuant to a written agreement that T. Rowe Price has entered into with each financial intermediary. Any nonpublic personal information provided to the fund (for example, a shareholder’s taxpayer identification number or transaction records) is subject to the fund’s privacy policy. If T. Rowe Price believes that excessive or short-term trading has occurred and there is no exception for such trades under the funds’ Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy previously described, it will instruct the financial intermediary to impose restrictions to discourage such practices and take appropriate action with respect to the underlying shareholder, including restricting purchases for 30 calendar days or longer. Each financial intermediary has agreed to execute such instructions pursuant to a written agreement. There is no assurance that T. Rowe Price will be able to properly enforce its excessive trading policies for omnibus accounts. Because T. Rowe Price generally relies on financial intermediaries to provide information and impose restrictions for omnibus accounts, its ability to monitor and deter excessive trading will be dependent upon the intermediaries’ timely performance of their responsibilities.
For shares that are held in a retirement plan, generally the 30-Day Purchase Block applies only to shares redeemed by a participant-directed exchange to another fund. However, the 30-Day Purchase Block may apply to transactions other than exchanges depending on how shares of the plan are held at T. Rowe Price or the excessive trading policy applied by your plan’s recordkeeper.
T. Rowe Price may allow a financial intermediary, including a retirement plan, to maintain restrictions on trading in the T. Rowe Price Funds that differ from the 30-Day Purchase Block. An alternative excessive trading policy would be acceptable to T. Rowe Price if it believes that the policy would provide sufficient protection to the T. Rowe Price Funds and their shareholders that is consistent with the excessive trading policy adopted by the funds’ Boards.
There is no guarantee that T. Rowe Price will be able to identify or prevent all excessive or short-term trades or trading practices.
Unclaimed Accounts and Uncashed Checks
If your account has no activity for a certain period of time and/or mail sent to you from T. Rowe Price is deemed undeliverable, T. Rowe Price may be required to transfer (i.e., escheat)
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your account assets, including any assets related to uncashed checks to the appropriate state under its abandoned property laws. For IRA accounts escheated to a state under these abandoned property laws, the escheatment will be treated as a taxable distribution to you and federal and any applicable state income tax will be withheld. This may also apply to your Roth IRA as well (see the T. Rowe Price Traditional and Roth IRA Disclosure and Custodial Agreement and/or the T. Rowe Price SIMPLE IRA Disclosure Statement and Custodial Agreement for more information). To avoid such action, it is important to keep your account address up to date and periodically communicate with T. Rowe Price by contacting us or logging in to your account at least once every two years.
Delivery of Shareholder Documents
If two or more accounts own the same fund, share the same address, and T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that the two accounts are part of the same household or institution, we may economize on fund expenses by mailing only one shareholder report and prospectus for the fund. If you need additional copies or do not want your mailings to be “householded,” please call Shareholder Services.
T. Rowe Price can deliver account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of troweprice.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging in and changing your mailing preferences. You can revoke your consent at any time through troweprice.com, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within a reasonable time after receiving your revocation.
Signature Guarantees
A Medallion signature guarantee is designed to protect you and the T. Rowe Price Funds from fraud by verifying your signature.
A shareholder or financial intermediary may need to obtain a Medallion signature guarantee in certain situations, such as:
· Requests to wire redemption proceeds when bank account information is not already authorized and on file for an account;
· Remitting redemption proceeds to any person, address, or bank account not on file;
· Establishing certain services after an account is opened; or
· Changing the account registration or broker-dealer of record for an account.
Financial intermediaries should contact T. Rowe Price Financial Institution Services for specific requirements.
The signature guarantee must be obtained from a financial institution that is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program. You can obtain a Medallion signature guarantee from certain banks, savings institutions, broker-dealers, and other guarantors acceptable to T. Rowe Price. When obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee, please discuss with the guarantor the dollar amount of your proposed transaction. It is important that the level of coverage provided by the guarantor’s stamp covers the dollar amount of the transaction or it may be rejected. We
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cannot accept guarantees from notaries public or organizations that do not provide reimbursement in the case of fraud.
Fund Operations and Shareholder Services
T. Rowe Price and The Bank of New York Mellon, subject to the oversight of T. Rowe Price, each provide certain accounting services to the T. Rowe Price Funds. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., acts as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent and provides shareholder and administrative services to the funds. T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., provides recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency, and administrative services for certain types of retirement plans investing in the funds. These companies receive compensation from the funds for their services. The funds may also pay financial intermediaries for performing shareholder and administrative services for underlying shareholders in omnibus accounts. In addition, certain funds serve as an underlying fund in which some fund-of-funds products, the T. Rowe Price Spectrum and Retirement Funds, invest. Subject to approval by each applicable fund’s Board, each underlying fund bears its proportionate share of the direct operating expenses of the T. Rowe Price Spectrum and Retirement Funds. All of the fees previously discussed are included in a fund’s financial statements and, except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, are also reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
If you hold shares of a fund through a financial intermediary, you must contact your financial intermediary to determine the requirements for opening a new account and placing transactions. Otherwise, please contact T. Rowe Price as follows:
Web | |||
troweprice.com | For
the most complete source of T. Rowe Price news | ||
troweprice.com/paperless | To sign-up for e-delivery of your statements, confirmations, prospectuses, reports, or proxies | ||
Phone | |||
Shareholder Services: 1-800-225-5132 | To make a transaction, or for fund, account, and service information (for IRAs and nonretirement accounts) | ||
Investor Services: 1-800-638-5660 | To open an account (for IRAs and nonretirement accounts) | ||
Financial Institution Services: 1-800-638-8790 | For information and services for large institutional investors and financial intermediaries | ||
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Retirement Client Services: 1-800-492-7670 | For information and services for small business retirement plans (or consult your plan administrator) |
Select Client Services: 1-800-332-6161 | Complimentary services and resources designed
to help investors make informed investment decisions |
Brokerage: 1-800-225-7720 | If you hold your shares through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account |
Tele*Access®: 1-800-638-2587 | To access information on fund performance, prices, account balances,
and your latest transactions 24 hours a day |
Hearing Impaired | Call the applicable number with a relay operator. Inquires may also be directed to info@troweprice.com. |
T. Rowe Price Addresses
Please be sure to use the correct address to avoid a delay in opening your account or processing your transaction. These addresses are subject to change at any time, so please check troweprice.com/contactus or call the appropriate telephone number to ensure that you use the correct mailing address.
Investors (IRAs and nonretirement accounts) opening a new account or making additional purchases by check should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Account Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Account Services |
Investors (IRAs and nonretirement accounts) requesting an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Account Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Account Services |
Investors in a small business retirement plan opening a new account, making a purchase by check, or placing an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Retirement Client Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price |
Institutional investors (including financial intermediaries) opening a new account, making a
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purchase by check, or placing an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Financial Institution Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Financial Institution Services |
Note: Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), which could differ from the day that the request is received at the post office box.
Each fund intends to qualify to be treated each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In order to qualify, a fund must satisfy certain income, diversification, and distribution requirements. A regulated investment company is not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the portfolio level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, if a fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company and was ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure, the result would be fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to the fund’s shareholders.
To the extent possible, all net investment income and realized capital gains are distributed to shareholders.
Dividends and Other Distributions
Except for the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, dividend and capital gain distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares in your account unless you select another option. For the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, subject to certain exceptions, regularly scheduled monthly dividends may generally not be reinvested. Reinvesting distributions results in compounding, which allows you to receive dividends and capital gain distributions on an increasing number of shares.
Distributions not reinvested may be paid by check or transmitted to your bank account via Automated Clearing House or may be automatically invested into another fund account. For the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, regularly scheduled monthly dividends are generally not paid by check. If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check or if your check remains uncashed for six months, the fund reserves the right to reinvest your distribution check in your account at the net asset value on the day of the reinvestment and to reinvest all subsequent distributions in additional shares of the fund. Interest will not accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distributions or redemption checks.
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The following table provides details on dividend payments:
Dividend Payment Schedule | |
Fund | Dividends |
Money market funds | · Shares purchased via wire that are received by T. Rowe Price by noon ET begin to earn dividends on that day. Shares purchased via a wire received after noon ET and through other methods normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
Bond funds | · Shares normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
These stock funds only: · Balanced · Dividend Growth · Equity Income · Equity Index 500 · Global Real Estate · Growth & Income · Spectrum Moderate Allocation · Spectrum Conservative Allocation · Real Estate | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid quarterly, in March, June, September, and December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
Other stock funds | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid annually, generally in December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
Retirement Income 2020 | · Dividends are declared and normally paid in the middle of each month. |
Retirement
Balanced, Retirement I Balanced—I Class, and | · Shares normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
All other Retirement, Retirement I, Spectrum, and Target Funds | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid annually, generally in December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
For funds that declare dividends daily, shares earn dividends through the date of a redemption (for redemptions from money market funds where the request is received prior to noon ET and proceeds are sent via wire, shares only earn dividends through the calendar day prior to the date of redemption). Shares redeemed on a Friday or prior to a holiday will continue to earn dividends until the next business day. Generally, if you redeem all of your shares at any time during the month, you will also receive all dividends earned through the date of redemption in the same check. When you redeem only a portion of your shares, all dividends accrued on those shares will be reinvested, or paid in cash, on the next dividend payment date. The funds
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do not pay dividends in fractional cents. Any dividend amount earned for a particular day on all shares held that is one-half of one cent or greater (for example, $0.016) will be rounded up to the next whole cent ($0.02), and any amount that is less than one-half of one cent (for example, $0.014) will be rounded down to the nearest whole cent ($0.01). Please note that if the dividend payable on all shares held is less than one-half of one cent for a particular day, no dividend will be earned for that day.
If you purchase and redeem your shares through a financial intermediary, consult your financial intermediary to determine when your shares begin and stop accruing dividends as the information previously described may vary.
Capital Gain Payments
A capital gain or loss is the difference between the purchase and sale price of a security. If a fund has net capital gains for the year (after subtracting any capital losses), they are usually declared and paid in December to shareholders of record on a specified date that month. If a second distribution is necessary, it is generally paid the following year. A fund may have to make additional capital gain distributions, if necessary, to comply with the applicable tax law. Capital gains are not expected from government or retail money market funds since they are managed to maintain a stable share price. However, if a money market fund unexpectedly has net capital gains for the year (after subtracting any capital losses), the capital gain may be declared and paid in December to shareholders of record.
Tax Information
In most cases, you will be provided information for your tax filing needs no later than mid-February.
If you invest in the fund through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan, you will not be subject to tax on dividends and distributions from the fund or the sale of fund shares if those amounts remain in the tax-deferred account. You may receive a Form 1099-R or other Internal Revenue Service forms, as applicable, if any portion of the account is distributed to you.
If you invest in the fund through a taxable account, you generally will be subject to tax when:
· You sell fund shares, including an exchange from one fund to another.
· The fund makes dividend or capital gain distributions.
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Additional information about the taxation of dividends for certain T. Rowe Price Funds is listed below:
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds |
· Regular monthly dividends (including those from the state-specific tax-free funds) are expected to be exempt from federal income taxes. |
· Exemption is not guaranteed since the fund has the right under certain conditions to invest in nonexempt securities. |
· Tax-exempt dividends paid to Social Security recipients may increase the portion of benefits that is subject to tax. |
· For state-specific funds, the monthly dividends you receive are expected to be exempt from state and local income tax of that particular state. For other funds, a small portion of your income dividend may be exempt from state and local income taxes. |
· If a fund invests in certain “private activity” bonds that are not exempt from the alternative minimum tax, shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax must include income generated by those bonds in their alternative minimum tax calculation. The portion of a fund’s income dividend that should be included in your alternative minimum tax calculation, if any, will be reported to you by mid-February on Form 1099-DIV. |
For individual shareholders, a portion of ordinary dividends representing “qualified dividend income” received by the fund may be subject to tax at the lower rates applicable to long-term capital gains rather than ordinary income. You may report it as “qualified dividend income” in computing your taxes, provided you have held the fund shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date. Ordinary dividends that do not qualify for this lower rate are generally taxable at the investor’s marginal income tax rate. This includes the portion of ordinary dividends derived from interest, short-term capital gains, income and gains from derivatives, distributions from nonqualified foreign corporations, distributions from real estate investment trusts, and dividends received by the fund from stocks that were on loan. Little, if any, of the ordinary dividends paid by the bond funds or money market funds is expected to qualify for this lower rate.
For corporate shareholders, a portion of ordinary dividends may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations to the extent the fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations. Little, if any, of the ordinary dividends paid by the international stock funds, bond funds, or money market funds is expected to qualify for this deduction.
A 3.8% net investment income tax is imposed on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gains of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.
If you hold your fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary is responsible for providing you with any necessary tax forms. You should contact your financial intermediary for the tax information that will be sent to you and reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
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Taxes on Fund Redemptions
When you sell shares in any fund, you may realize a gain or loss. An exchange from one fund to another fund in a taxable account is also a sale for tax purposes. As long as a money market fund maintains a stable share price of $1.00, a redemption or exchange to another fund will not result in a gain or loss for tax purposes. However, an exchange from one fund into a money market fund may result in a gain or loss on the fund from which shares were redeemed.
All or a portion of the loss realized from a sale or exchange of your fund shares may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rule if you purchase substantially identical shares within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date on which the shares are sold or exchanged. Shares of the same fund you acquire through dividend reinvestment are shares purchased for the purpose of the wash sale rule and may trigger a disallowance of the loss for shares sold or exchanged within the 61-day period of the dividend reinvestment. Any loss disallowed under the wash sale rule is added to the cost basis of the purchased shares.
T. Rowe Price (or your financial intermediary) will make available to you Form 1099-B, if applicable, no later than mid-February, providing certain information for each sale you made in the fund during the prior year. Unless otherwise indicated on your Form 1099-B, this information will also be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For mutual fund shares acquired prior to 2012 in most accounts established or opened by exchange in 1984 or later, our Form 1099-B will provide you with the gain or loss on the shares you sold during the year based on the average cost single category method. This information on average cost and gain or loss from sale is not reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For these mutual fund shares acquired prior to 2012, you may calculate the cost basis using other methods acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service, such as specific identification.
For mutual fund shares acquired after 2011, federal income tax regulations require us to report the cost basis information on Form 1099-B using a cost basis method selected by the shareholder in compliance with such regulations or, in the absence of such selected method, our default method if you acquire your shares directly from T. Rowe Price. Our default method is average cost. For any fund shares acquired through a financial intermediary after 2011, you should check with your financial intermediary regarding the applicable cost basis method. You should note that the cost basis information reported to you may not always be the same as what you should report on your tax return because the rules applicable to the determination of cost basis on Form 1099-B may be different from the rules applicable to the determination of cost basis for reporting on your tax return. Therefore, you should save your transaction records to make sure the information reported on your tax return is accurate. T. Rowe Price and financial intermediaries are not required to issue a Form 1099-B to report sales of money market fund shares.
To help you maintain accurate records, T. Rowe Price will make available to you a confirmation promptly following each transaction you make (except for systematic purchases and systematic redemptions) and a year-end statement detailing all of your transactions in each fund account during the year. If you hold your fund through a financial intermediary, the
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financial intermediary is responsible for providing you with transaction confirmations and statements.
Taxes on Fund Distributions
T. Rowe Price (or your financial intermediary) will make available to you, as applicable, generally no later than mid-February, a Form 1099-DIV, or other Internal Revenue Service forms, as required, indicating the tax status of any income dividends, dividends exempt from federal income taxes, and capital gain distributions made to you. This information will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Taxable distributions are generally taxable to you in the year in which they are paid. A dividend declared in October, November, or December and paid in the following January is generally treated as taxable to you as if you received the distribution in December. Dividends from tax-free funds are generally expected to be tax-exempt for federal income tax purposes. Your bond fund and money market fund dividends for each calendar year will include dividends accrued up to the first business day of the next calendar year. Ordinary dividends and capital gain dividends may also be subject to state and local taxes. You will be sent any additional information you need to determine your taxes on fund distributions, such as the portion of your dividends, if any, that may be exempt from state and local income taxes.
Taxable distributions are subject to tax whether reinvested in additional shares or received in cash.
The tax treatment of a capital gain distribution is determined by how long the fund held the portfolio securities, not how long you held the shares in the fund. Short-term (one year or less) capital gain distributions are taxable at the same rate as ordinary income, and gains on securities held for more than one year are taxed at the lower rates applicable to long-term capital gains. If you realized a loss on the sale or exchange of fund shares that you held for six months or less, your short-term capital loss must be reclassified as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received during the period you held the shares. For funds investing in foreign instruments, distributions resulting from the sale of certain foreign currencies, currency contracts, and the foreign currency portion of gains on debt instruments are taxed as ordinary income. Net foreign currency losses may cause monthly or quarterly dividends to be reclassified as returns of capital.
A fund’s distributions that have exceeded the fund’s earnings and profits for the relevant tax year may be treated as a return of capital to its shareholders. A return of capital distribution is generally nontaxable but reduces the shareholder’s cost basis in the fund, and any return of capital in excess of the cost basis will result in a capital gain.
The tax status of certain distributions may be recharacterized on year-end tax forms, such as your Form 1099-DIV. Distributions made by a fund may later be recharacterized for federal income tax purposes—for example, from taxable ordinary income dividends to returns of capital. A recharacterization of distributions may occur for a number of reasons, including the recharacterization of income received from underlying investments, such as REITs, and distributions that exceed taxable income due to losses from foreign currency transactions or
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other investment transactions. Certain funds, including international bond funds and funds that invest significantly in REITs, are more likely to recharacterize a portion of their distributions as a result of their investments. The Retirement Income 2020 Fund is also more likely to have some or all of its distributions recharacterized as returns of capital because of the predetermined monthly distribution amount.
If the fund qualifies and elects to pass through nonrefundable foreign income taxes paid to foreign governments during the year, your portion of such taxes will be reported to you as taxable income. However, you may be able to claim an offsetting credit or deduction on your tax return for those amounts. There can be no assurance that a fund will meet the requirements to pass through foreign income taxes paid.
If you are subject to backup withholding, we will have to withhold a 24% backup withholding tax on distributions and, in some cases, redemption payments. You may be subject to backup withholding if we are notified by the Internal Revenue Service to withhold, you have failed one or more tax certification requirements, or our records indicate that your tax identification number is missing or incorrect. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and is generally available to credit against your federal income tax liability with any excess refunded to you by the Internal Revenue Service.
The following table provides additional details on distributions for certain funds:
Taxes on Fund Distributions |
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds |
· Gains realized on the sale of market discount bonds with maturities beyond one year may be treated as ordinary income and cannot be offset by other capital losses. · Payments received or gains realized on certain derivative transactions may result in taxable ordinary income or capital gains. · To the extent the fund makes such investments, the likelihood of a taxable distribution will be increased. |
Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond and Inflation Protected Bond Funds |
· Inflation adjustments on Treasury inflation protected securities that exceed deflation adjustments for the year will be distributed as a short-term capital gain, resulting in ordinary income. · In computing the distribution amount, the funds cannot reduce inflation adjustments by short- or long-term capital losses from the sales of securities. · Net deflation adjustments for a year may result in all or a portion of dividends paid earlier in the year being treated as a return of capital. |
Retirement, Retirement I, Spectrum, and Target Funds |
· Distributions by the underlying funds and changes in asset allocations may result in taxable distributions of ordinary income or capital gains. |
Tax Consequences of Liquidity Fees
It is currently anticipated that shareholders of retail money market funds that impose a liquidity fee may generally treat the liquidity fee as offsetting the shareholder’s amount realized on the redemption (thereby decreasing the shareholder’s gain, or increasing the shareholder’s
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loss, on the redeemed amount). A fund that imposes a liquidity fee anticipates using 100% of the fee to help repair a market-based net asset value per share that was below $1.00.
Because the retail money market funds use amortized cost to maintain a stable share price of $1.00, in the event that a liquidity fee is imposed, a fund may need to distribute to its remaining shareholders sufficient value to prevent the fund from breaking the buck on the upside (i.e., by rounding up to $1.01 in pricing its shares) if the imposition of a liquidity fee causes the fund’s market-based net asset value to reach $1.0050. To the extent that a fund has sufficient earnings and profits to support the distribution, the additional dividends would be taxable as ordinary income to shareholders and would be eligible for deduction by the fund. Any distribution in excess of the fund’s earnings and profits would be treated as a return of capital, which would reduce your cost basis in the fund shares.
Tax Consequences of Hedging
Entering into certain transactions involving options, futures, swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in a fund being required to distribute gains on such transactions even though it did not close the contracts during the year or receive cash to pay such distributions. The fund may not be able to reduce its distributions for losses on such transactions to the extent of unrealized gains in offsetting positions.
Tax Effect of Buying Shares Before an Income Dividend or Capital Gain Distribution
If you buy shares shortly before or on the record date—the date that establishes you as the person to receive the upcoming distribution—you may receive a portion of the money you just invested in the form of a taxable distribution. Therefore, you may wish to find out a fund’s record date before investing. In addition, a fund’s share price may, at any time, reflect undistributed capital gains or income and unrealized appreciation, which may result in future taxable distributions. Such distributions can occur even in a year when the fund has a negative return.
T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents, in their sole discretion, reserve the following rights: (1) to waive or lower investment minimums; (2) to accept initial purchases by telephone; (3) to refuse any purchase or exchange order; (4) to cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order placed through a financial intermediary no later than the business day after the order is received by the financial intermediary (including, but not limited to, orders deemed to result in excessive trading, market timing, or 5% ownership); (5) to cease offering fund shares at any time to all or certain groups of investors; (6) to freeze any account and suspend account services when notice has been received of a dispute regarding the ownership of the account, or a legal claim against an account, upon initial notification to T. Rowe Price of a shareholder’s death until T. Rowe Price receives required documentation in correct form, or if there is reason
T. ROWE PRICE | 64 |
to believe a fraudulent transaction may occur; (7) to otherwise modify the conditions of purchase and modify or terminate any services at any time; (8) to waive any wire, small account, maintenance, or fiduciary fees charged to a group of shareholders; (9) to act on instructions reasonably believed to be genuine; (10) to involuntarily redeem an account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed when permitted by law, including in cases of threatening conduct, or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, or if the fund or its agent is unable, through its procedures, to verify the identity of the person(s) or entity opening an account; and (11) for money market funds, to suspend redemptions to facilitate an orderly liquidation.
The fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which contains a more detailed description of the fund’s operations, investment restrictions, policies and practices, has been filed with the SEC. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means that it is legally part of this prospectus even if you do not request a copy. Further information about the fund’s investments, including a review of market conditions and the manager’s recent investment strategies and their impact on performance during the past fiscal year, is available in the annual and semiannual shareholder reports. These documents and updated performance information are available through troweprice.com. For inquiries about the fund and to obtain free copies of any of these documents, call 1-800-638-5660. If you invest in the fund through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary for copies of these documents.
Fund reports and other fund information are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
1940 Act File No. 811-2958 | F104-040 3/1/20 |
PROSPECTUS March 1, 2020 | ||||
T. ROWE PRICE | ||||
China Evolution Equity Fund | ||||
TCELX TRCLX | Investor Class I Class | |||
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by SEC regulations, paper copies of the T. Rowe Price funds’ annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be mailed, unless you specifically request them. Instead, shareholder reports will be made available on the funds’ website (troweprice.com/prospectus), and you will be notified by mail with a website link to access the reports each time a report is posted to the site. If you already elected to receive reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and need not take any action. At any time, shareholders who invest directly in T. Rowe Price funds may generally elect to receive reports or other communications electronically by enrolling at troweprice.com/paperless or, if you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the funds through a financial intermediary (such as an investment advisor, broker-dealer, insurance company, or bank), by contacting your representative or your financial intermediary. You may elect to continue receiving paper copies of future shareholder reports free of charge. To do so, if you invest directly with T. Rowe Price, please call T. Rowe Price as follows: IRA, nonretirement account holders, and institutional investors, 1-800-225-5132; small business retirement accounts, 1-800-492-7670. If you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the T. Rowe Price funds through a financial intermediary, please contact your representative or financial intermediary, or follow additional instructions if included with this document. Your election to receive paper copies of reports will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly in the T. Rowe Price funds, with T. Rowe Price. Your election can be changed at any time in the future. | ||||
Table of Contents
1 | SUMMARY | ||
2 | MORE ABOUT THE FUND | ||
More Information About the Fund’s | |||
3 | INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS | ||
Investing with T. Rowe Price 25 Distribution and Shareholder Policies for Opening an Account 30 Pricing of Shares and Transactions 31 Investing Directly with T. Rowe Price 33 Investing Through a Financial General Policies Relating to Transactions 41 |
SUMMARY | 1 | |
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling shares of the Investor Class or I Class, which are not reflected in the table.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Investor | I | |||
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||
Maximum account fee | $20 | a | — | |
Annual
fund operating expenses | ||||
Management fees | 0.99 | % | 0.99 | % |
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees | — | — | ||
Other expenses | 1.43 | b | 1.29 | b,d |
Total annual fund operating expenses | 2.42 | 2.28 | ||
Fee waiver/expense reimbursement | (1.02 | )c | (1.24 | )d |
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement | 1.40 | c | 1.04 | d |
a Subject to certain exceptions, accounts with a balance of less than $10,000 are charged an annual $20 fee.
b Other expenses are estimated for the current fiscal year.
c T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2022) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to exceed 1.40% of the class' average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2022, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 1.40%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
d T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through February 28, 2022) to pay the operating expenses of the fund’s I Class excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses (“I Class Operating Expenses”), to the extent the I Class Operating Expenses exceed 0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after February 28, 2022, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any expenses paid under this agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.05%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the I Class Operating Expenses (after the
T. ROWE PRICE | 2 |
repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the limitation on I Class Operating Expenses in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses.
Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example also assumes that any current expense limitation arrangement remains in place for the period noted in the table above; therefore, the figures have been adjusted to reflect fee waivers or expense reimbursements only in the periods for which the expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year | 3 years | |
Investor Class | $143 | $515 |
I Class | 106 | 419 |
Portfolio Turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. A portfolio turnover rate is not shown since the fund had not commenced operations during its most recent fiscal year.
Investments, Risks, and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities and equity related investments of Chinese companies. For purposes of this policy, the fund considers companies in Greater China, including the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, to be Chinese companies. Chinese companies include those that meet one or more of the following criteria (or any other factor utilized by MSCI Inc. or another third party provider):
· organized in Greater China;
· principally located in, or headquartered in, Greater China;
· trading markets for their securities are located in Greater China;
· business activities are predominantly conducted in Greater China, or a significant portion (e.g., at least 50%) of their revenues or profits are derived from Greater China;
· geographic distribution of the company’s shareholder base is predominantly in Greater China;
· the company is controlled by individuals or entities that are considered Greater Chinese; or
· securities are reported in a Greater Chinese currency, including the Renminbi (“RMB”), mainland China’s currency, and the Hong Kong dollar.
Equity securities may include common and preferred stocks. The fund may also gain exposure to Chinese equities through depositary receipts and equity-linked certificates or notes (also
SUMMARY | 3 |
called participation notes or P-Notes). The fund may purchase the stocks of companies of any size but will emphasize investments in small- and mid-cap companies.
The fund may invest in Chinese companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges such as “A-shares” (which are denominated in RMB and shares of Chinese companies denominated in other currencies (such as the Hong Kong dollar or U.S. dollar) that trade in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States, or otherwise outside of China. In addition to investments in Chinese companies, the fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in companies in other countries or markets, such as Japan or South Korea. Many of the regions in which the fund invests, including China, Macau, Taiwan and South Korea, are considered emerging markets. The fund’s adviser relies on a global team of investment analysts dedicated to in-depth fundamental research in an effort to identify companies for the fund’s portfolio.The fund’s adviser relies on a global team of investment analysts dedicated to in-depth fundamental research in an effort to identify companies for the fund’s portfolio.
The adviser takes a style-agnostic approach and aims to identify mispriced companies with opportunities driven by change. The types of change we focus on include:
· new technology or unique product offerings;
· significant market share;
· product cycle opportunities;
· attractive or improving industry or sector; and
· companies expected to benefit from management changes, regulatory changes, or new business models;
The adviser also considers the following key characteristics of each company:
· management’s depth, adaptability and integrity;
· overall financial health and stability of cash flow; and
· attractive valuation.
The fund is “nondiversified,” meaning it may invest a greater portion of its assets in a single company and own more of the company’s voting securities than is permissible for a “diversified” fund.
The fund may sell securities for a variety of reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, or redeploy assets into more promising opportunities.
Principal Risks
As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective(s). The fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the fund. The principal risks of investing in this fund, which may be even greater during periods of market disruption or volatility, are summarized as follows.
Investing in Greater China Investments in companies in Greater China, whether listed in mainland China or listed in another market, are subject to special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, currency fluctuations, nationalization of assets, limits on
T. ROWE PRICE | 4 |
repatriation, and the effects of governmental control of markets. The Chinese economy and financial markets have experienced high levels of growth in recent years; any actual or perceived reduction in those levels of growth would likely have a substantial adverse impact on Chinese companies. Investments in Chinese companies are subject to China’s heavy dependence on exports. China’s economy may be adversely impacted by trade or political disputes with China’s major trading partners, including the U.S. A small number of companies and industries represent a relatively large portion of the Chinese market as a whole. Monsoons and other natural disasters, or public health threats, may cause substantial adverse economic affects. The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges may close for extended periods for holidays or otherwise, which impacts the fund’s ability to trade in A Shares during those periods. In addition, if China were to exert its authority so as to alter the economic, political or legal structures or the existing social policy of Hong Kong or Taiwan, investor and business confidence in Hong Kong or Taiwan could be negatively affected, which in turn could negatively affect markets and business performance and have an adverse effect on the fund’s investments.
Geographic concentration Because the fund focuses its investments on a particular geographic area, the fund’s performance is closely tied to the social, political, and economic conditions of that area. Political developments and changes in regulatory, tax, or economic policy could significantly affect the markets in which the fund invests. As a result, the fund is likely to be more volatile than more geographically diverse international funds.
Small- and mid-cap stocks Investments in securities issued by small-cap and mid-cap companies are likely to be more volatile than investments in securities issued by larger companies. Small and medium-sized companies often have less experienced management, narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, and less publicly available information than larger companies. In addition, smaller companies tend to be more sensitive to changes in overall economic conditions and their securities may have limited trading markets.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging market countries are subject to greater risk and overall volatility than investments in the U.S. and developed markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. In addition to the risks associated with investing outside the U.S., emerging markets are more susceptible to governmental interference, political and economic uncertainty, local taxes and restrictions on the fund’s investments, less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity, and more volatile currency exchange rates.
International investing Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. Non-U.S. securities tend to be more volatile and have lower overall liquidity than investments in U.S. securities and may lose value because of adverse local, political, social, or economic developments overseas, or due to changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. In addition, investments outside the U.S. are subject to settlement practices and regulatory and financial
SUMMARY | 5 |
reporting standards that differ from those of the U.S. The risks of investing outside the U.S. are heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are susceptible to greater volatility than investments in developed markets.
Chinese currency exposure Because the fund invests significantly in securities denominated in RMB and other foreign currencies, the fund is subject to the significant risk that it could experience losses based solely on the weakness of the RMB and other foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar. Additionally, China may utilize formal or informal currency-exchange controls or “capital controls.” Capital controls may impose restrictions on the fund’s ability to repatriate investments or income, and may negatively affect the value of the fund’s holdings.
Liquidity A particular investment or an entire market segment may become less liquid or even illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which could limit the fund’s ability to purchase or sell holdings in a timely manner at a desired price. An inability to sell a portfolio holding can adversely affect the fund’s overall value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of substantial market volatility and unexpected episodes of illiquidity may limit the fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds without selling holdings at an unfavorable time or at a suitable price. Large redemptions may also have a negative impact on the fund’s overall liquidity.
Nondiversification As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, poor performance by a single issuer could adversely affect fund performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers. The fund’s share price can be expected to fluctuate more than that of a similar fund that is more broadly diversified.
Active management The fund’s overall investment program and holdings selected by the fund’s investment adviser may underperform the broad markets, relevant indices, or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
Stock investing Stocks generally fluctuate in value more than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is a chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising and falling prices. The value of stocks held by the fund may decline due to general weakness or volatility in the stock markets in which the fund invests or because of factors that affect a particular company or industry.
Depositary receipts Investing in depositary receipts involves substantially the same risks as direct investments in foreign securities. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications or pass through any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities to the holders of such receipts. The fund may therefore receive less timely information or have less control than if it invested directly in the foreign issuer.
P-notes Investments in P-notes are subject to certain risks in addition to the risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign securities or market the P-note
T. ROWE PRICE | 6 |
seeks to replicate. As the purchaser of a P-note, the fund is relying on the creditworthiness of the counterparty issuing the P-note and does not have the same rights under a P-note as it would as a shareholder of the underlying issuer. Therefore, if a counterparty becomes insolvent, the fund could lose the total value of its investment in the P-note. In addition, there is no assurance that there will be a trading market for a P-note or that the trading price of a P-note will equal the value of the underlying security.
Performance
Because the fund commenced operations in 2019, there is no historical performance information shown here. Performance history will be presented after the fund has been in operation for one full calendar year.
Current performance information is available through troweprice.com.
Management
Investment Adviser T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price or Price Associates)
Investment Subadviser T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Limited (Price Hong Kong)
Portfolio Manager | Title | Managed | Joined |
Wenli Zheng | Chairman of Investment Advisory Committee | December 2019 | September 2008 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Investor Class generally requires a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment if opening an IRA, a custodial account for a minor, or a small business retirement plan account). Additional purchases generally require a $100 minimum. These investment minimums generally are waived for financial intermediaries and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans submitting orders on behalf of their customers.
The I Class requires a $1 million minimum initial investment and there is no minimum for additional purchases, although the initial investment minimum generally is waived for financial intermediaries, retirement plans, and certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority.
For investors holding shares of the fund directly with T. Rowe Price, you may purchase, redeem, or exchange fund shares by mail; by telephone (1-800-225-5132 for IRAs and nonretirement accounts; 1-800-492-7670 for small business retirement plans; and 1-800-638-8790 for institutional investors and financial intermediaries); or, for certain accounts, by accessing your account online through troweprice.com.
If you hold shares through a financial intermediary or retirement plan, you must purchase, redeem, and exchange shares of the fund through your intermediary or retirement plan. You should check with your intermediary or retirement plan to determine the investment minimums that apply to your account.
SUMMARY | 7 |
Tax Information
Any dividends or capital gains are declared and paid annually, usually in December. Redemptions or exchanges of fund shares and distributions by the fund, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional fund shares, generally may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains unless you invest through a tax-deferred account (in which case you will be taxed upon withdrawal from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 2 | |
Investment Adviser(s)
T. Rowe Price is the fund’s investment adviser and oversees the selection of the fund’s investments and management of the fund’s portfolio pursuant to an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and the fund. T. Rowe Price is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides investment management services to individual and institutional investors, and sponsors and serves as adviser and subadviser to registered investment companies, institutional separate accounts, and common trust funds. The address for T. Rowe Price is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. As of December 31, 2019, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates (the “Firm”) had approximately $1.21 trillion in assets under management and provided investment management services for more than 7 million individual and institutional investor accounts.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Price Hong Kong under which Price Hong Kong is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of the fund. Price Hong Kong is licensed with the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. Price Hong Kong serves as a subadviser to registered investment companies and provides investment management services for clients who seek to primarily invest in the Asia Pacific securities markets. Price Hong Kong is a subsidiary of T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price International Ltd, and its address is 6/F, Charter House, 8 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong.
Portfolio Management
T. Rowe Price has established an Investment Advisory Committee with respect to the fund. The committee chairman is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio and works with the committee in developing and executing the fund’s investment program. The members of the committee are as follows: Wenli Zheng, Chairman, Bill Bai, Dawei Feng, Dennis Hou, Hiromasa Ikeda, Jacqueline L. Liu, Dai Wang, Ernest C. Yeung, and Eric Yuan. The following information provides the year that the chairman (portfolio manager) first joined the Firm and the chairman’s specific business experience during the past five years (although the chairman may have had portfolio management responsibilities for a longer period). Mr. Zheng has been chairman of the committee since 2019. He joined the Firm in 2008 and his investment experience dates from that time. He has served as a portfolio manager with the Firm throughout the past five years. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of the fund’s shares.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 9 |
The Management Fee
The management fee consists of two components—an “individual fund fee,” which reflects the fund’s particular characteristics, and a “group fee.” The group fee, which is designed to reflect the benefits of the shared resources of the Firm, is calculated daily based on the combined net assets of all mutual funds sponsored and advised by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”) (except the funds-of-funds, TRP Reserve Funds, Multi-Sector Account Portfolios, and any index or private-label mutual funds). The group fee schedule (in the following table) is graduated, declining as the combined assets of the T. Rowe Price Funds rise, so shareholders benefit from the overall growth in mutual fund assets.
Group Fee Schedule
0.334%* | First $50 billion |
0.305% | Next $30 billion |
0.300% | Next $40 billion |
0.295% | Next $40 billion |
0.290% | Next $60 billion |
0.285% | Next $80 billion |
0.280% | Next $100 billion |
0.275% | Next $100 billion |
0.270% | Next $150 billion |
0.265% | Thereafter |
* Represents a blended group fee rate containing various breakpoints.
The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. On October 31, 2019, the annual group fee rate was 0.29%. The individual fund fee, also applied to the fund’s average daily net assets, is 0.70%.
A discussion about the factors considered by the fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and its conclusions in approving the fund’s investment management agreement (and any subadvisory agreement, if applicable) will appear in the fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ended April 30.
Investment Objective(s)
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
The investment objective is a fundamental policy and shareholder approval is required to substantially change it. As with any fund, there is no guarantee the fund will achieve its objective.
T. ROWE PRICE | 10 |
Principal Investment Strategies
Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and your tolerance for risk. The fund may be appropriate for you if you are seeking diversification for your equity investments and can accept the risks that accompany foreign investments. Your decision should take into account whether you have any other foreign stock investments. If you do not, you may want to consider investing in a more widely diversified fund to gain the broadest exposure to global opportunities. The fund may be appropriate if you seek to supplement a diversified international portfolio with a nondiversified fund that holds a relatively small number of Chinese investments.
The fund invests significantly in Greater China, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Focusing on Chinese companies provides the fund with the opportunity to seek superior growth in the areas the fund views as most promising, but with commensurately higher risks than more geographically diverse funds.
China A Shares (shares of companies based in mainland China that trade on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange) are only available to non-mainland China investors like the fund though the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor and RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor systems (collectively, the “QFII Programs”) or the Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (collectively, “Stock Connect”). The QFII Programs permit qualified foreign institutional investors such as T. Rowe Price to invest directly in China’s capital market if the institutional investor holds a QFII license and meets certain other requirements. Stock Connect is a joint securities trading and clearing program designed to permit mutual stock market access between mainland China and Hong Kong. By using Stock Connect, foreign investors such as the fund are able to buy eligible China A shares listed on mainland China stock exchanges. Stock Connect and the QFII Programs are subject to certain restrictions, including applicable quota limitations, and regulatory changes from time to time.
In addition to its investments in A shares, the fund may also invest in B shares (companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges which are denominated in the United States dollar or the Hong Kong dollar), companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and denominated in the Hong Kong dollar (commonly referred to as H shares), and state-owned and nonstate-owned companies that are incorporated internationally and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (commonly referred to as Red-chips and P-chips, respectively).
In addition to investments in Chinese companies, the fund may invest in companies in other countries or markets including, but not limited to, Japan and South Korea.
The fund may invest in depositary receipts. American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs, are depositary receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company that evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign corporation. Global Depositary Receipts, or GDRs, European Depositary Receipts, or EDRs, and other types of depositary receipts are typically issued by non-U.S. banks or trust companies and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a U.S. or a non-U.S. company. Chinese Depositary Receipts, or CDRs, are
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 11 |
depositary receipts traded on Chinese exchanges that evidence ownership of underlying securities of Chinese companies traded in Hong Kong or outside of China.
Principal Risks
Some of the principal tools the adviser uses to try to reduce overall risk include intensive research when evaluating a company’s prospects and limiting exposure to certain industries, asset classes, or investment styles when appropriate.
The principal risks associated with the fund’s principal investment strategies include the following:
Investing in Greater China The Chinese economy is generally considered an emerging and volatile market. A small number of companies represent a large portion of the China market as a whole, and prices for securities of these companies may be very sensitive to adverse political, economic, or regulatory developments in China and other Asian countries, and may experience significant losses in such conditions. China’s central government has historically exercised substantial control over the Chinese economy through administrative regulation and/or state ownership.
Despite economic reforms that have resulted in less direct central and local government control over Chinese businesses, actions of the Chinese central and local government authorities continue to have a substantial effect on economic conditions in China. These activities, which may include central planning, partial state ownership of or government actions designed to substantially influence certain Chinese industries, market sectors or particular Chinese companies, may adversely affect the public and private sector companies in which a Fund invests. Government actions may also affect the economic prospects for, and the market prices and liquidity of, the securities of China companies and the payments of dividends and interest by China companies. In addition, currency fluctuations, monetary policies, competition, social instability or political unrest my adversely affect economic growth in China. Monsoons and other natural disasters may cause substantial adverse economic effects. Outbreaks of infectious illnesses or similar public health threats may reduce consumer demand, result in travel restrictions or quarantines, or otherwise significantly affect the Chinese economy. The Chinese economy and Chinese companies may also be adversely affected by regional security threats, as well as adverse developments in Chinese trade policies, or in trade policies toward China by counties that are trading partners with China.
Stock Connect and the QFII Programs are subject to regulatory changes and specified quota limitations. The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges may close for extended periods for holidays or otherwise, which impacts the fund’s ability to trade in China A Shares during those periods. Trading in China through Stock Connect and the QFII Programs involves additional risks. Stock Connect is subject to a daily quota (the “Daily Quota”), which limits the maximum net purchases under Stock Connect each day and, as such, buy orders for China A Shares would be rejected once the Daily Quota is exceeded (although the fund will be permitted to sell China A Shares regardless of the Daily Quota balance). Further, Stock Connect, which relies on the connectivity of the Shanghai or Shenzhen markets with Hong Kong, is subject to
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operational risk, regulations that are relatively untested and are subject to change, and extended market closures for holidays or otherwise. During an extended market closure, the fund’s ability to trade in China A Shares will be impacted which may affect the fund’s performance. The QFII Programs are subject to the risk that T. Rowe Price may have its QFII Programs license revoked or restricted with respect to the fund or the fund may be impacted by the rules, restrictions and quota limitations connected to reliance on a QFII Programs license.
Because the Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programs were established in 2014, and 2016, respectively, developments are likely, which may restrict or otherwise affect the fund’s investments or refunds. Furthermore, any changes in laws, regulations and policies of the China securities markets or rules in relation to Stock Connect may affect securities’ prices. These risks are heightened by the underdeveloped state of China’s investment and banking systems in general.
Geographic concentration Funds that are less diversified across geographic regions, countries, industries, or individual companies are generally riskier than more diversified funds. The performance of a fund that is less diversified will be closely tied to market, currency, economic, political, environmental, or regulatory conditions and developments in the countries, regions, or industries in which the fund invests and may be more volatile than the performance of a more diversified fund. The economies and financial markets of certain regions—such as Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa—can be interdependent and may all decline at the same time.
Small- and mid-cap stocks Investing in small and medium-sized companies involves greater risk than investing in larger companies as stocks of small and medium-sized companies are subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than larger-company stocks. Small and medium-sized companies often have narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, and management that may lack depth and experience. Their securities may trade less frequently and in more limited volumes than larger companies, which could lead to higher transaction costs and difficulty in selling holdings at prices the fund believes they are worth. Small-cap companies seldom pay significant dividends that could help to cushion returns in a falling market. However, by being more focused in their business activities, these companies may be more responsive and better able to adapt to the changing needs of their markets than larger companies. Mid-cap companies also tend to have greater resources, and therefore represent less risk, than small companies. They are usually mature enough to have established organizational structures and the depth of management needed to expand their operations. In addition, they generally have sufficient financial resources and access to capital to finance their growth.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging markets are subject to the risk of abrupt and severe price declines. The economic and political structures of emerging market countries, in most cases, do not compare favorably with the U.S. or other developed countries in terms of wealth and stability, and their financial markets often lack liquidity. These economies are less developed, can be overly reliant on particular industries, and are more vulnerable to the ebb and flow of international trade, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures.
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Governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets. As a result, foreign investments may be restricted and subject to greater government control, including repatriation of sales proceeds. Emerging market securities exchanges are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the custody of holdings by local banks, agents, and depositories. In addition, the accounting standards in emerging market countries may be unreliable and could present an inaccurate picture of a company’s finances. Some countries have histories of instability and upheaval that could cause their governments to act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. Investments in countries or regions that have recently begun moving away from central planning and state-owned industries toward free markets should be regarded as speculative.
While some countries have made progress in economic growth, liberalization, fiscal discipline, and political and social stability, there is no assurance these trends will continue. Significant risks, such as war and terrorism, currently affect some emerging market countries. The fund’s performance will likely be hurt by exposure to nations in the midst of hyperinflation, currency devaluation, trade disagreements, sudden political upheaval, or interventionist government policies. The volatility of emerging markets may be heightened by the actions (such as significant buying or selling) of a few major investors. For example, substantial increases or decreases in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local securities prices and, therefore, could cause fund share prices to decline.
International investing Investments outside the U.S. may lose value because of declining foreign currencies or adverse political or economic events overseas, among other things. Securities of non-U.S. issuers (including depositary receipts and other instruments that represent interests in a non-U.S. issuer) tend to be more volatile than U.S. securities and are subject to trading markets with lower overall liquidity, governmental interference, and regulatory and accounting standards and settlement practices that differ from the U.S. The fund could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies in which the fund’s holdings are denominated versus the U.S. dollar, and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar. Risks can result from differing regulatory environments, less stringent investor protections, uncertain tax laws, and higher transaction costs compared to U.S. markets. Investments outside the U.S. could be subject to governmental actions such as capital or currency controls, nationalization of a company or industry, expropriation of assets, or imposition of high taxes.
A trading market may close for national holidays or without warning for extended time periods, preventing the fund from buying or selling securities in that market. Trading securities in which the fund invests may take place in various foreign markets on certain days when the fund is not open for business and does not calculate its net asset value. For example, the fund may invest in securities that trade in various foreign markets that are open on weekends. As the securities trade, their value may substantially change. As a result, the fund’s net asset value may be significantly affected on days when shareholders cannot make transactions. In addition, market volatility may significantly limit the liquidity of securities of certain issuers in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The fund
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may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the fund’s obligations.
Chinese currency exposure A decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar could reduce the dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. The overall impact on the fund’s holdings can be significant, unpredictable, and long-lasting, depending on the currencies represented in the fund’s portfolio and how each foreign currency appreciates or depreciates in relation to the U.S. dollar and whether currency positions are hedged. Further, any attempts at hedging could be unsuccessful and it can be difficult to effectively hedge the currency risks of many emerging market countries.
The exchange rate of the RMB may be affected by, among other things, foreign exchange controls imposed by the mainland Chinese central government from time to time (for example, there are currently restrictions on the conversion of the RMB into other currencies). The fund may have to convert the dollar into RMB when investing in China A Shares through Stock Connect (“China Connect Securities”) and vice versa for any payments in RMB from transactions in the China Connect Securities. The fund may incur currency conversion costs (the difference between costs associated with buying and selling of the RMB) and be subject to exchange rate fluctuation risks in any such currency conversion, which may adversely affect the market value of China Connect Securities.
Liquidity A particular investment or an entire market segment may become less liquid or even illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the fund’s overall value and its ability to limit losses. Less liquid or illiquid investments can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous price or time, and there is an increased risk that the investment may not be sold for the price at which the fund is valuing it. Market prices of holdings with reduced liquidity may be volatile and an inability to sell a portfolio holding can adversely affect the fund’s value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Liquidity risk may be magnified during periods of substantial market volatility due to higher than normal redemption rates. Unexpected episodes of illiquidity may limit the fund’s ability to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period. Large redemptions by one or more shareholders owning a significant percentage of the fund’s assets may also have a negative impact on the fund’s overall liquidity. To meet redemption requests during periods of illiquidity, the fund may be forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions.
Nondiversification Because the fund is nondiversified and thus can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers, it is more exposed to the risks associated with an individual issuer than a fund that invests more broadly across many issuers. For example, poor performance by a single large holding of the fund would adversely affect the fund’s performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers.
Active management The investment adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. The fund could underperform other funds with a similar benchmark or similar investment program if the fund’s investment selections or overall strategies fail to produce the intended results.
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Stock investing The fund’s share price can fall because of weakness in the overall stock markets, a particular industry, or specific holdings. Stock markets as a whole can be volatile and decline for many reasons, such as adverse local, political, regulatory, or economic developments; changes in investor psychology; or heavy institutional selling at the same time by major institutional investors in the market, such as mutual funds, pension funds, and banks. The prospects for an industry or company may deteriorate because of a variety of factors, including disappointing earnings or changes in the competitive environment. In addition, the adviser’s assessment of companies whose stocks are held by the fund may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor performance, even in rising markets. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of the issuer’s bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.
Depositary receipts Depositary receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. In addition, the issuers of the stock underlying unsponsored depositary receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States. Generally, depositary receipts in registered form are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, and depositary receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside of the United States. For purposes of determining the country of issuance, investments in depositary receipts of either type are deemed to be investments in underlying securities. Depending on the relative prices of a CDR and its underlying security and T. Rowe Price’s assessment of price movements in the respective markets, T. Rowe Price may at times choose to invest in a CDR rather than its underlying security. It is not known whether an active market for CDRs will develop, or how the value and trading activity for particular CDRs will relate to those of the underlying securities.
P-notes Although P-notes may serve as an efficient means to gain exposure to foreign securities markets or foreign securities that might otherwise be difficult or costly to access or purchase because of foreign regulatory restrictions or foreign tax laws, such investments carry additional risks beyond the risks associated with a direct investment in their underlying reference asset. P-Notes involve transaction costs, which may be higher than those applicable to the underlying securities. Any dividends or capital gains collected from the underlying securities are passed through to the foreign investors; however, the holder of a P-Note is not entitled to the same rights (e.g., dividends, voting rights) as an owner of the underlying security. The fund must rely on the creditworthiness of a counterparty and would have no rights against the issuer of an underlying security. Other risks include the risk that a P-Note may be illiquid and that the fund may not be able to terminate or offset its positions at the time it wishes to do so or at a favorable price and that, as a result of the failure of a counterparty or legal or operational issues, the fund may not receive payments required to be made to them under the terms of a P-Note.
Additional Strategies and Risks
In addition to the principal investment strategies and principal risks previously described, the fund may employ other, non-principal investment strategies and may be subject to other risks, which are described in the following paragraphs.
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The fund may, to a limited extent, invest in privately held companies and companies that only recently began to trade publicly, and the fund may use derivatives such as futures contracts and forward currency exchange contracts. Any investments in futures would typically serve as an efficient means of gaining exposure to certain markets or as a cash management tool to maintain liquidity while being invested in the market. Forward currency exchange contracts would primarily be used to settle trades in a foreign currency or to help protect the fund’s holdings from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, although other currency hedging techniques may be used from time to time. To the extent the fund uses futures and forward currency exchange contracts, it is exposed to potential volatility and losses greater than direct investments in the contracts’ underlying assets, and the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted.
Private placements and IPOs Private placement securities are considered to be restricted securities since they cannot be resold without registration or an exemption from registration, features that make them difficult to sell and may negatively impact the price at which they can be ultimately sold. In addition, the issuer typically does not have an obligation to provide liquidity to investors by buying the securities back when the investor wants to sell. Since the offering is not registered with the SEC, investors in a private placement have less protection under the federal securities laws against improper practices than investors in registered securities.
Many private placement securities are issued by companies that are not required to file periodic financial reports, leading to challenges in evaluating the company’s overall business prospects and gauging how the investment is likely to perform over time. The more limited financial information and lack of publicly available prices require the fund to determine a fair value for such investments. The fair value prices for the fund’s private placements are based on a variety of factors and are reviewed on a regular basis and updated as additional information becomes available. However, the fair valuation process involves a significant amount of judgment and the fair value prices determined for the fund could differ from those of other market participants. An initial public offering, which marks the debut of a company’s stock on a public stock exchange, results in greater available financing for the company and more information available to evaluate the company’s investment prospects. However, these newly public companies tend to have limited products and customers, may not be fully prepared for the additional oversight and regulation that results, and do not have a trading history to assess how the stock has behaved during various market cycles.
Derivatives Derivatives typically involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the assets on which the derivative is based. Certain derivatives can be highly volatile, lack liquidity, and be difficult to value. Changes in the value of a derivative may not properly correlate with changes in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The fund could be exposed to significant losses if it is unable to close a derivative position due to the lack of a liquid trading market. Derivatives involve the risk that a counterparty to the derivatives agreement will fail to make required payments or comply with the terms of the agreement. There is also the possibility that limitations or trading restrictions may be imposed by an exchange or government regulation, which could adversely impact the
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value and liquidity of a derivatives contract subject to such regulation.
Recent regulations have changed the requirements related to the use of certain derivatives. Some of these new regulations have limited the availability of certain derivatives and made their use by funds more costly. It is expected that additional changes to the regulatory framework will occur, but the extent and impact of additional new regulations are not certain at this time.
Cybersecurity breaches The fund may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity breaches may involve deliberate attacks and unauthorized access to the digital information systems (for example, through “hacking” or malicious software coding) used by the fund or its third-party service providers but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks. These breaches may, among other things, result in financial losses to the fund and its shareholders, cause the fund to lose proprietary information, disrupt business operations, or result in the unauthorized release of confidential information. Further, cybersecurity breaches involving the fund’s third-party service providers, trading counterparties, or issuers in which the fund invests could subject the fund to many of the same risks associated with direct breaches.
This section provides a more detailed description of the various types of portfolio holdings and investment practices that may be used by the fund to execute its overall investment program. Some of these holdings and investment practices are considered to be principal investment strategies of the fund and have already been described earlier in this prospectus while others are considered non-principal. Any of the following holdings and investment practices that were not already described in Section 1 of this prospectus are considered non-principal investment practices, but they may be used by the fund from time-to-time to help achieve its investment objective. The fund’s investments may be subject to further restrictions and risks described in the Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ prior notice of a change in the fund’s policy requiring it to normally invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities and equity related investments of Chinese companies.
The fund’s holdings in certain kinds of investments cannot exceed maximum percentages as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. For instance, there are limitations regarding the fund’s investments in certain types of derivatives. While these restrictions provide a useful level of detail about the fund’s investments, investors should not view them as an accurate gauge of the potential risk of such investments. For example, in a given period, a 5% investment in derivatives could have a significantly greater impact on the fund’s share price than its weighting in the portfolio. The net effect of a particular investment depends on its volatility and the size of its overall return in relation to the performance of all of the fund’s investments.
Certain investment restrictions, such as a required minimum or maximum investment in a particular type of security, are measured at the time the fund purchases a security. The status,
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market value, maturity, duration, credit quality, or other characteristics of the fund’s securities may change after they are purchased, and this may cause the amount of the fund’s assets invested in such securities to exceed the stated maximum restriction or fall below the stated minimum restriction. If any of these changes occur, it would not be considered a violation of the investment restriction and will not require the sale of an investment if it was proper at the time the investment was made (this exception does not apply to the fund’s borrowing policy). However, certain changes will require holdings to be sold or purchased by the fund during the time it is above or below the stated percentage restriction in order for the fund to be in compliance with applicable restrictions.
Changes in the fund’s holdings, the fund’s performance, and the contribution of various investments to the fund’s performance are discussed in the shareholder reports.
Portfolio managers have considerable discretion in choosing investment strategies and selecting securities they believe will help achieve the fund’s objective.
Types of Portfolio Securities
In seeking to meet its investment objective, the fund may invest in any type of security or instrument (including certain potentially high-risk derivatives described in this section) whose investment characteristics are consistent with its investment program. The following pages describe various types of the fund’s holdings and investment management practices, some of which are also described as part of the fund’s principal investment strategies.
The fund’s investments are primarily in common stocks and, to a lesser degree, other types of securities as follows:
Common and Preferred Stocks
Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Generally, preferred stocks have a specified dividend rate and rank after bonds and before common stocks in their claim on income for dividend payments and on assets should the company be liquidated. After other claims are satisfied, common stockholders participate in company profits on a pro-rata basis and profits may be paid out in dividends or reinvested in the company to help it grow. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price, so common stocks generally have the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities. Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. While most preferred stocks pay a dividend, the fund may decide to purchase preferred stock where the issuer has suspended, or is in danger of suspending, payment of its dividend.
Convertible Securities and Warrants
The fund may invest in debt instruments or preferred equity securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities at specified times in the future and according to a certain exchange ratio. Convertible bonds are typically callable by the issuer, which could in effect force conversion before the holder would otherwise choose. Traditionally, convertible securities have paid dividends or interest at rates higher than common stocks but lower than nonconvertible securities. They generally participate in the appreciation or depreciation of the
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underlying stock into which they are convertible, but to a lesser degree than common stock. Some convertible securities combine higher or lower current income with options and other features. Warrants are options to buy, directly from the issuer, a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime during the life of the warrants (generally, two or more years). Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and can be highly volatile. In some cases, the redemption value of a warrant could be zero.
Participation Notes (P-notes)
The fund may gain exposure to securities traded in foreign markets through investments in P-notes. P-notes are generally issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to an underlying common stock or other security. An investment in a P-note involves additional risks beyond the risks normally associated with a direct investment in the underlying security. While the holder of a P-note is entitled to receive from the broker-dealer or bank any dividends paid by the underlying security, the holder is not entitled to the same rights (e.g., voting rights) as a direct owner of the underlying security. P-notes are considered general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them as the counterparty. As such, the fund must rely on the creditworthiness of the counterparty for its investment returns on the P-notes, and could lose the entire value of its investment in the event of default by a counterparty. Additionally, there is no assurance that there will be a secondary trading market for a P-note or that the trading price of a P-note will equal the value of the underlying security. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, investments in P-notes are deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. For example, a P-note representing ownership of a stock will be counted toward any applicable limits on investment in stocks.
Depositary Receipts
Depositary receipts include American Depositary Receipts, European Depositary Receipts and Global Depositary Receipts or other securities convertible into securities of issuers based in foreign countries. These securities may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted. Generally, American Depositary Receipts, in registered form, are denominated in U.S. Dollars and are designed for use in the U.S. securities markets, Global Depositary Receipts, in bearer form, are issued and designed for use outside the United States and European Depositary Receipts (also referred to as Continental Depositary Receipts), in bearer form, may be denominated in other currencies and are designed for use in European securities markets. American Depositary Receipts are receipts typically issued by a U.S. bank or trust company evidencing ownership of the underlying securities. European Depositary Receipts are European receipts evidencing a similar arrangement. Global Depositary Receipts are receipts typically issued by non-U.S. banks and trust companies that evidence ownership of either foreign or domestic securities. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, American Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts are deemed to have the same classification as the underlying securities they represent. Thus an American Depositary Receipt, Global Depositary Receipt or European Depositary Receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. For purposes of the fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary
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receipts are deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. For example, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock.
Fixed Income Securities
From time to time, the fund may invest in corporate and government fixed income securities as well as below investment-grade bonds, commonly referred to as “junk” bonds. Corporate fixed income securities would be purchased in companies that meet the fund’s investment criteria. The price of a fixed income security fluctuates with changes in interest rates, generally rising when interest rates fall and falling when interest rates rise. Below investment-grade bonds, or “junk” bonds, can be more volatile and have greater risk of default than investment-grade bonds, and should be considered speculative.
Futures and Options
Futures are often used to establish exposures or manage or hedge risk because they enable the investor to buy or sell an asset in the future at an agreed-upon price. Options may be used to generate additional income, to enhance returns, or as a defensive technique to protect against anticipated declines in the value of an asset. Call options give the investor the right to purchase (when the investor purchases the option), or the obligation to sell (when the investor “writes” or sells the option), an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Put options give the purchaser of the option the right to sell, or the seller (or “writer”) of the option the obligation to buy, an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Futures and options contracts may be bought or sold for any number of reasons, including to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, bond prices, foreign currencies, and credit quality; as an efficient means of increasing or decreasing the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income; to improve risk-adjusted returns; to protect the value of portfolio securities; and to serve as a cash management tool. Call or put options may be purchased or sold on securities, futures, financial indexes, and foreign currencies. The fund may choose to continue a futures contract by “rolling over” an expiring futures contract into an identical contract with a later maturity date. This could increase the fund’s transaction costs and portfolio turnover rate.
Futures and options contracts may not always be successful investments or hedges; their prices can be highly volatile; using them could lower the fund’s total return; the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such contracts; and the losses from certain options written by the fund could be unlimited.
Currency Derivatives
The fund will normally conduct any foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. The fund will generally not enter into a forward contract with a term greater than one year. The fund may enter into forward currency exchange contracts to “lock in” the U.S. dollar price of a security when it enters into a contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency, and when the fund believes that the currency of a particular foreign country may move substantially against another currency, it may enter into a forward contract to sell or buy the former foreign currency.
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A fund that invests in foreign securities may attempt to hedge its exposure to potentially unfavorable currency changes. The primary means of doing this is through the use of forward currency exchange contracts, which are contracts between two counterparties to exchange one currency for another on a future date at a specified exchange rate. The fund may also use these instruments to create a synthetic bond, which is issued in one currency with the currency component transformed into another currency. However, futures, swaps, and options on foreign currencies may also be used. In certain circumstances, the fund may use currency derivatives to substitute a different currency for the currency in which the investment is denominated, a strategy known as proxy hedging. If the fund were to engage in any of these foreign currency transactions, it could serve to protect its foreign securities from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar, although the fund may also use currency derivatives in an effort to gain exposure to a currency expected to appreciate in value versus other currencies. As a result, the fund could be invested in a currency without holding any securities denominated in that currency. Such transactions involve, among other risks, the risk that anticipated currency movements will not occur, which could reduce the fund’s total return. There are certain markets, including many emerging markets, where it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging.
Hedging may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by the fund and could affect whether dividends paid by the fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.
Investments in Other Investment Companies
The fund may invest in other investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds.
The fund may purchase the securities of another investment company to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the market while awaiting the purchase of securities or as an efficient means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class. The fund might also purchase shares of another investment company, including shares of other mutual funds sponsored and managed by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”), to gain exposure to the securities in the investment company’s portfolio at times when the fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or as a means of gaining efficient and cost-effective exposure to certain asset classes. Any investment in another investment company would be consistent with the fund’s objective and investment program.
The risks of owning another investment company are generally similar to the risks of investing directly in the securities in which that investment company invests. However, an investment company may not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategy effectively, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance. In addition, because closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds trade on a secondary market, their shares may trade at a premium or discount to the actual net asset value of their portfolio securities and their shares may have greater volatility if an active trading market does not exist.
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As a shareholder of another investment company, the fund must pay its pro-rata share of that investment company’s fees and expenses. The fund’s investments in non-T. Rowe Price investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to investments in other funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any applicable exemptive order.
Investments in other investment companies could allow the fund to obtain the benefits of a more diversified portfolio than might otherwise be available through direct investments in a particular asset class, and will subject the fund to the risks associated with the particular asset class or asset classes in which an underlying fund invests. Examples of asset classes in which other mutual funds (including T. Rowe Price Funds) focus their investments include high yield bonds, inflation-linked securities, floating rate loans, international bonds, emerging market bonds, stocks of companies involved in activities related to real assets, stocks of companies that focus on a particular industry or sector, and emerging market stocks. If the fund invests in another T. Rowe Price Fund, the management fee paid by the fund will be reduced to ensure that the fund does not incur duplicate management fees as a result of its investment.
Illiquid Investments
Some of the fund’s holdings may be considered illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The determination of liquidity involves a variety of factors. Illiquid investments may include private placements that are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered with the SEC. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold (for example, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) and therefore deemed liquid, others may have resale restrictions and be considered illiquid. The sale of illiquid investments may involve substantial delays and additional costs, and the fund may only be able to sell such investments at prices substantially lower than what it believes they are worth. In addition, the fund’s investments in illiquid investments may reduce the returns of the fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time, which could prevent the fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities.
Types of Investment Management Practices
Reserve Position
A certain portion of the fund’s assets may be held in reserves. The fund’s reserve positions will primarily consist of: (1) shares of a T. Rowe Price internal money market fund or short-term bond fund (which do not charge any management fees); (2) short-term, high-quality U.S. and foreign dollar-denominated money market securities, including repurchase agreements; and (3) U.S. dollar or non-U.S. dollar currencies. In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its principal investment objective(s) and/or strategies and may invest, without limitation, in reserves. If the fund has significant holdings in reserves, it could compromise its ability to achieve its objective(s). The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, and managing cash flows into the fund and can serve as
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a short-term defense during periods of unusual market volatility. Non-U.S. dollar reserves are subject to currency risk.
Borrowing Money and Transferring Assets
The fund may borrow from banks, other persons, and other T. Rowe Price Funds for temporary or emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the fund’s policies as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. Such borrowings may be collateralized with the fund’s assets, subject to certain restrictions.
Borrowings may not exceed 33⅓% of the fund’s total assets. This limitation includes any borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, applies at the time of the transaction, and continues to the extent required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Meeting Redemption Requests
We expect that the fund will hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The fund may also use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used in deteriorating or stressed market conditions. The fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds with securities from the fund’s portfolio rather than in cash (redemptions in-kind), as described under “Large Redemptions.” Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the fund and its remaining shareholders. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of the fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above and may also be used in stressed market conditions.
The fund, along with other T. Rowe Price Funds, is a party to an interfund lending exemptive order received from the SEC that permits the T. Rowe Price Funds to borrow money from and/or lend money to other T. Rowe Price Funds to help the funds meet short-term redemptions and liquidity needs.
During periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions, when an increased portion of the fund’s portfolio may be composed of holdings with reduced liquidity or lengthy settlement periods, or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances, the fund may be more likely to pay redemption proceeds with cash obtained through interfund lending or short-term borrowing arrangements (if available), or by redeeming a large redemption request in-kind.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The fund may lend its securities to broker-dealers, other institutions, or other persons to earn additional income. Risks include the potential insolvency of the broker-dealer or other borrower that could result in delays in recovering securities and capital losses. Additionally, losses could result from the reinvestment of collateral received on loaned securities in investments that decline in value, default, or do not perform as well as expected. Cash collateral from securities lending is invested in the T. Rowe Price Short-Term Fund.
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The Statement of Additional Information contains more detailed information about the fund and its investments, operations, and expenses.
Portfolio Turnover
Turnover is an indication of frequency of trading. Each time the fund purchases or sells a security, it incurs a cost. This cost is reflected in the fund’s net asset value but not in its operating expenses. The higher the turnover rate, the higher the transaction costs and the greater the impact on the fund’s total return. Higher turnover can also increase the possibility of taxable capital gain distributions. A portfolio turnover rate is not shown since the fund had not commenced operations during its most recent fiscal year.
Most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their calendar quarter-end portfolio holdings on troweprice.com 15 calendar days after each quarter. At the discretion of the investment adviser, these holdings reports may exclude the issuer name and other information relating to a holding in order to protect the fund’s interests and prevent harm to the fund or its shareholders. In addition, most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their 10 largest holdings, along with the percentage of the relevant fund’s total assets that each of the 10 holdings represents, on troweprice.com on the seventh business day after each month-end. These holdings are listed in numerical order based on such percentages of the fund’s assets. A description of T. Rowe Price’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio information is available in the Statement of Additional Information.
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The following policies and procedures generally apply to Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds. The front cover and Section 1 of this prospectus indicate which share classes are available for the fund.
This section of the prospectus explains the basics of investing with T. Rowe Price and describes some of the different share classes that may be available. Certain share classes can be held directly with T. Rowe Price, while other share classes must typically be held through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, broker, retirement plan recordkeeper, or investment advisor. The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services.
Each class of a fund’s shares represents an interest in the same fund with the same investment program and investment policies. However, each class is designed for a different type of investor and has a different cost structure primarily due to shareholder services or distribution arrangements that may apply only to that class. For example, certain classes may make payments to financial intermediaries for various administrative services they provide (commonly referred to as administrative fee payments, or AFP) and/or make payments to certain financial intermediaries for distribution of the fund’s shares (commonly referred to as 12b-1 fee payments). Determining the most appropriate share class depends on many factors, including how much you plan to invest, whether you are investing directly in the fund or through a financial intermediary, and whether you are investing on behalf of a person or an organization.
This section generally describes the differences between Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class shares. This section does not describe the policies that apply to accounts in T. Rowe Price institutional funds and certain other types of funds. Policies for these other funds are described in their respective prospectuses, and all available share classes for the T. Rowe Price Funds are described more fully in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information. While many T. Rowe Price Funds are offered in more than one share class, not all funds offer all of the share classes described in this section.
Investor Class
A T. Rowe Price Fund that does not include the term “institutional” or indicate a specific share class as part of its name is considered to be the Investor Class of that fund. The Investor Class is
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available to individual investors, institutions, and a wide variety of other types of investors. The Investor Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a retirement plan or financial intermediary. The Investor Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries but may make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. In addition, you may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling Investor Class shares through a financial intermediary. For investors holding the Investor Class through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable.
I Class
The I Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a financial intermediary. The I Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries. However, you may incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling I Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The I Class requires a $1 million initial investment minimum, although the minimum generally is waived for retirement plans, financial intermediaries, certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority, and certain other accounts. For investors eligible for the I Class through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable. Accounts that are not eligible for the I Class may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Advisor Class
The Advisor Class is designed to be sold through various financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and financial advisors. The Advisor Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The Advisor Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The Advisor Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of Advisor Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the Advisor Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
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R Class
The R Class is designed to be sold through financial intermediaries for employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans and certain other retirement accounts. The R Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The R Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The R Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of R Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the R Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class or Advisor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Z Class
The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases. The Z Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries.
Administrative Fee Payments (Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class)
Certain financial intermediaries perform recordkeeping and administrative services for their clients that would otherwise be performed by the funds’ transfer agent. T. Rowe Price Funds (other than I Class or Z Class shares) may make administrative fee payments to retirement plan recordkeepers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries (at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the fund’s average daily net assets) for transfer agency, recordkeeping, and other administrative services that they provide on behalf of the funds. These administrative services may include maintaining account records for each customer; transmitting purchase and redemption orders; delivering shareholder confirmations, statements, and tax forms; and providing support to respond to customers’ questions regarding their accounts. Except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, these separate administrative fee payments are reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
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12b-1 Fee Payments (Advisor Class and R Class)
Mutual funds are permitted to adopt a 12b-1 plan to pay certain expenses associated with the distribution of the fund’s shares out of the fund’s assets. Each fund offering Advisor and/or R Class shares has adopted a 12b-1 plan under which those classes may make payments (for the Advisor Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets, and for the R Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets) to various financial intermediaries, such as brokers, banks, insurance companies, investment advisers, and retirement plan recordkeepers for distribution and/or shareholder servicing of the Advisor and R Class shares. The 12b-1 plans provide for the class to pay such fees to the fund’s distributor and for the distributor to then pay such fees to the financial intermediaries that provide services for the class and/or make the class available to investors.
For the Advisor Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the Advisor Class shares available to their customers (for example, providing the fund with “shelf space” or inclusion on a “preferred list” or “supermarket” platform). For the R Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the R Class shares available as investment options to retirement plans and retirement plan participants, assisting plan sponsors in conducting searches for investment options, and providing ongoing monitoring of investment options.
Shareholder servicing payments under the plans may include payments to financial intermediaries for providing shareholder support services to existing shareholders of the Advisor and R Class. These payments may be more or less than the costs incurred by the financial intermediaries. Because the fees are paid from the Advisor Class or R Class net assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time. In addition, payments of 12b-1 fees may influence your financial advisor’s recommendation of the fund or of any particular share class of the fund. Payments of 12b-1 fees are reflected in the “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
In addition to the AFP payments made by certain funds and the 12b-1 payments made by the Advisor and R Class, T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor will, at their own expense, provide compensation to certain financial intermediaries that have sold shares of or provide shareholder or other services to the T. Rowe Price Funds, commonly referred to as revenue sharing. These payments may be in the form of asset-based, transaction-based, or flat payments. These payments are used to compensate third parties for distribution and shareholder servicing activities, including sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, or other services. Some of these payments may include expense reimbursements and meeting and marketing support payments (out of T. Rowe Price’s or the fund’s distributor’s own resources and not as an expense of the funds) to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, banks, insurance companies, and retirement plan recordkeepers, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing, and/or servicing of the
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T. Rowe Price Funds. The Statement of Additional Information provides more information about these payment arrangements.
The receipt of, or the prospect of receiving, these payments and expense reimbursements from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor may influence intermediaries, plan sponsors, and other third parties to offer or recommend T. Rowe Price Funds over other investment options for which an intermediary does not receive additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). In addition, financial intermediaries that receive these payments and/or expense reimbursements may elevate the prominence of the T. Rowe Price Funds by, for example, placing the T. Rowe Price Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or provide preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the T. Rowe Price Funds in various ways. Since these additional payments are not paid by a fund directly, these arrangements do not increase fund expenses and will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the T. Rowe Price Funds or the amount that is invested in a T. Rowe Price Fund on behalf of an investor. You may ask your financial intermediary for more information about any payments they receive from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor.
Comparison of Fees
The following table summarizes the distribution and service (12b-1) fee and administrative fee arrangements applicable to each class.
Class | 12b-1 Fee Payments | Administrative Fee Payments |
Investor Class | None | Up to 0.15% per year |
I Class | None | None |
Advisor Class | Up to 0.25% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
R Class | Up to 0.50% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
Z Class | None | None |
Investor Class
In an effort to help offset the disproportionately high costs incurred by the funds in connection with servicing lower-balance accounts that are held directly with the T. Rowe Price Funds’ transfer agent, an annual $20 account service fee (paid to T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., or one of its affiliates) is charged to certain Investor Class accounts with a balance below $10,000. The determination of whether a fund account is subject to the account service fee is based on account balances and services selected for accounts as of the last business day of August of each calendar year. The fee may be charged to an account with a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation and recent redemptions. The fee, which is automatically deducted from an account by redeeming fund shares, is typically charged to accounts in early September each calendar year. Such redemption may result in a taxable gain or loss to you.
The account service fee generally does not apply to fund accounts that are held through a financial intermediary, participant accounts in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which
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T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services, accounts held through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, or money market funds that are used as a T. Rowe Price brokerage sweep account. Regardless of a particular fund account’s balance on the last business day of August, the account service fee is automatically waived for accounts that satisfy any of the following conditions:
· Any accounts for which the shareholder has elected to receive electronic delivery of all of the following: account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports (paper copies of fund documents are available, free of charge, upon request, to any shareholder regardless of whether the shareholder has elected electronic delivery);
· Any accounts of a shareholder with at least $50,000 in total assets with T. Rowe Price (for this purpose, total assets include investments through T. Rowe Price Brokerage and investments in T. Rowe Price Funds, except for those held through a retirement plan for which T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services); or
· Any accounts of a shareholder who is a T. Rowe Price Select Client Services client—visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-332-6161 for more information.
T. Rowe Price reserves the right to authorize additional waivers for other types of accounts or to modify the conditions for assessment of the account service fee. Fund shares held in a T. Rowe Price IRA, Education Savings Account, or small business retirement plan account (including certain 403(b) plan accounts) are subject to the account service fee and may be subject to additional administrative fees when distributing all fund shares from such accounts.
Investor and I Class shares may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through various financial intermediaries. Advisor and R Class shares must be purchased through a financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly at T. Rowe Price). If you are opening an account through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or other financial intermediary, you should contact the retirement plan or financial intermediary for information regarding its policies on opening an account, including the policies relating to purchasing, exchanging, and redeeming shares, and the applicable initial and subsequent investment minimums.
Tax Identification Number
Investors must provide T. Rowe Price with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number on a signed new account form or Form W-9, and financial intermediaries must provide T. Rowe Price with their certified taxpayer identification number. Otherwise, federal law requires the funds to withhold a percentage of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemptions and may subject you or the financial intermediary to an Internal Revenue Service fine. If this information is not received within 60 days of the account being established, the account may be redeemed at the fund’s then-current net asset value.
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Important Information Required to Open a New Account
Pursuant to federal law, all financial institutions must obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. This information is needed not only for the account owner and any other person who opens the account, but also for any person who has authority to act on behalf of the account.
When you open an account, you will be asked for the name, U.S. street address (post office boxes are not acceptable), date of birth, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for each account owner and person(s) opening an account on behalf of others, such as custodians, agents, trustees, or other authorized signers. When opening an entity account, you will be asked to identify and provide personal information for: (i) any individual who, either directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the equity interest of the entity and (ii) a single individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity. Corporate and other institutional accounts require documents showing the existence of the entity (such as articles of incorporation or partnership agreements) to open an account. Certain other fiduciary accounts (such as trusts or power of attorney arrangements) require documentation, which may include an original or certified copy of the trust agreement or power of attorney, to open an account.
T. Rowe Price will use this information to verify the identity of the person(s)/entity opening the account. An account cannot be opened until all of this information is received. If the identity of the account holder cannot be verified, T. Rowe Price is authorized to take any action permitted by law, including but not limited to restricting additional purchases, freezing the account, or involuntarily redeeming the shares in the account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed.
Institutional investors and financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services at 1-800-638-8790 for more information on these requirements, as well as to be assigned an account number and instructions for opening an account. Other investors should call Investor Services at 1-800-638-5660 for more information about these requirements.
The funds are generally available only to investors residing in the United States. In addition, nongovernment money market funds that operate as “retail money market funds” pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons. An investor in a retail money market fund is required to demonstrate eligibility (for example, by providing a valid Social Security number) before an account can be opened.
How and When Shares Are Priced
The trade date for your transaction request depends on the day and time that T. Rowe Price receives your request and will normally be executed using the next share price calculated after your order is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent (or by your financial
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intermediary if it has the authority to accept transaction orders on behalf of the fund). The share price, also called the net asset value, for each share class of a fund is calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which is normally 4 p.m. ET, on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Net asset values are not calculated for the funds on days when the NYSE is scheduled to be closed for trading (for example, weekends and certain U.S. national holidays). If the NYSE is unexpectedly closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or if the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
To calculate the net asset value, a fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and each class’ proportionate share of the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class. Market values are used to price portfolio holdings for which market quotations are readily available. Market values generally reflect the prices at which securities actually trade or represent prices that have been adjusted based on evaluations and information provided by the fund’s pricing services. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of the mutual fund on the day of valuation. If a market value for a portfolio holding is not available or normal valuation procedures are deemed to be inappropriate, the fund will make a good faith effort to assign a fair value to the holding by taking into account various factors and methodologies that have been approved by the fund’s Board. This value may differ from the value the fund receives upon sale of the securities.
Amortized cost is used to price securities held by money market funds and certain short-term debt securities held by other funds. The retail and government money market funds, which seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00, use the amortized cost method of valuation to calculate their net asset value. Amortized cost allows the money market funds to value a holding at the fund’s acquisition cost with adjustments for any premiums or discounts and then round the net asset value per share to the nearest whole cent. The amortized cost method of valuation enables the money market funds to maintain a $1.00 net asset value, but it may also result in periods during which the stated value of a security held by the funds differs from the market-based price the funds would receive if they sold that holding. The current market-based net asset value per share for each business day in the preceding six months is available for the retail and government money market funds through troweprice.com. These market-based net asset values are for informational purposes only and are not used to price transactions.
The funds use various pricing services to provide closing market prices, as well as information used to adjust those prices and to value most fixed income securities. A fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices or how often it will adjust those prices. As a means of evaluating its fair value process, the fund routinely compares closing market prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
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Non-U.S. equity securities are valued on the basis of their most recent closing market prices at 4 p.m. ET, except under the following circumstances. Most foreign markets close before 4 p.m. ET. For example, the most recent closing prices for securities traded in certain Asian markets may be as much as 15 hours old at 4 p.m. ET. If a fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will affect the value of some or all of the fund’s securities, the fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of 4 p.m. ET. In deciding whether to make these adjustments, the fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities.
A fund may also fair value certain securities or a group of securities in other situations—for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. For a fund that has investments in securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the fund does not price its shares, the fund’s net asset value may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the fund’s shares. If an event occurs that affects the value of a security after the close of the market, such as a default of a commercial paper issuer or a significant move in short-term interest rates, a fund may make a price adjustment depending on the nature and significance of the event. The funds also evaluate a variety of factors when assigning fair values to private placements and other restricted securities. Other mutual funds may adjust the prices of their securities by different amounts or assign different fair values than the fair value that the fund assigns to the same security.
The various ways you can purchase, sell, and exchange shares are explained throughout this section. These procedures differ based on whether you hold your account directly with T. Rowe Price or through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or financial intermediary.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held directly with T. Rowe Price and not through a financial intermediary.
Options for Opening Your Account
If you own other T. Rowe Price Funds, you should consider registering any new account identically to your existing accounts so you can exchange shares among them easily (the name(s) of the account owner(s) and the account type must be identical).
For joint accounts or other types of accounts owned or controlled by more than one party, either owner/party has complete authority to act on behalf of all and give instructions concerning the account without notice to the other party. T. Rowe Price may, in its sole discretion, require written authorization from all owners/parties to act on the account for
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certain transactions (for example, to transfer ownership). There are multiple ways to establish a new account directly with T. Rowe Price.
Online You can open a new Investor Class account online. (I Class accounts currently must be opened either by telephone or in writing.) Go to troweprice.com/newaccount to choose the type of account you wish to open.
You can exchange shares online from an existing account in one fund to open a new account in another fund. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging, and any services (other than systematic purchase and systematic distribution arrangements) that you have preauthorized will carry over from the existing account to the new account.
To open an account online for the first time or with a different account registration, you must be a U.S. citizen residing in the U.S. or a resident alien and not subject to Internal Revenue Service backup withholding. Additionally, you must provide consent to receive certain documents electronically. You will have the option of providing your bank account information, which will enable you to make electronic funds transfers to and from your bank account. To set up this banking service online, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity.
By Mail If you are sending a check, please make your check payable to T. Rowe Price Funds (otherwise it may be returned) and send the check, together with the applicable new account form, to the appropriate address. (Please refer to the appropriate address under “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section to avoid a delay in opening your new account.) T. Rowe Price does not accept third-party checks for initial purchases; however, third-party checks are typically accepted for additional purchases to an existing account. In addition, T. Rowe Price does not accept purchases by cash, traveler’s checks, money orders, or credit card checks. For exchanges from an identically registered account, be sure to specify the fund(s) and account number(s) that you are exchanging out of and the fund(s) you wish to exchange into.
By Telephone Direct investors can call Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-5132 (institutional investors should call 1-800-638-8790) to exchange from an existing fund account to open a new identically registered account in another fund. You may also be eligible to open a new account by telephone and provide your bank account information in order to make an initial purchase. To set up the account and banking service by telephone, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity and the authenticity of your bank account. Although the account may be opened and the purchase made, services may not be established and an Internal Revenue Service penalty withholding may occur until we receive the necessary signed form to certify your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
How Your Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest directly with T. Rowe Price and your request to purchase, sell, or exchange shares is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your
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transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value. Systematic transactions that are scheduled to occur on a date the NYSE is closed will normally be processed the next business day (except for certain retirement plan payroll deduction orders generated by T. Rowe Price where the orders are processed the day before the day the NYSE is closed).
Note: There may be times when you are unable to contact us by telephone or access your account online due to extreme market activity, the unavailability of the T. Rowe Price website, or other circumstances. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value. The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET.
Transaction Confirmations
T. Rowe Price sends immediate confirmations for most of your fund transactions. However, certain transactions, such as systematic purchases and systematic redemptions, dividend reinvestments, checkwriting redemptions from money market funds, and transactions in money market funds used as a brokerage sweep account, do not receive an immediate transaction confirmation but are reported on your account statement. Please review transaction confirmations and account statements as soon as you receive them, and promptly report any discrepancies to Shareholder Services.
Telephone and Online Account Transactions
You may access your accounts and conduct transactions involving Investor Class accounts using the telephone or the T. Rowe Price website at troweprice.com. You can only conduct transactions involving the I Class over the telephone or in writing.
Preventing Unauthorized Transactions
The T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents use reasonably designed procedures to verify that telephone, electronic, and other instructions are genuine. These procedures include, among other things, recording telephone calls; requiring personalized security codes or other information online and certain identifying information for telephone calls; requiring Medallion signature guarantees for certain transactions and account changes; and promptly sending confirmations of transactions and address changes. For transactions conducted online, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser.
T. Rowe Price Account Protection Program Shareholders who invest in the T. Rowe Price Funds directly are eligible for the Account Protection Program. The Account Protection Program restores eligible losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent activity, provided that you follow all security best practices when you access and maintain your account(s). T. Rowe Price reserves the right to modify or withdraw the Account Protection Program at any time. The Account Protection Program security best practices and additional information may be
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accessed online at https://www.troweprice.com/personal-investing/help/policies-and-security/account-protection-program.html.
If our verification procedures are followed, and the losses are not eligible to be restored under the Account Protection Program, the funds and their agents are not liable for any losses that may occur from acting on unauthorized instructions.
If you suspect any unauthorized account activity, notice errors or discrepancies in your T. Rowe Price account, or are not receiving your T. Rowe Price account statements, please contact T. Rowe Price immediately. Telephone conversations are recorded.
Trusted Contacts Investors who hold shares of a T. Rowe Price Fund directly or through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account have the option to add one or more trusted contacts to their brokerage and mutual fund accounts. Trusted contacts are intended to be a resource to help protect client assets. Any individuals designated as a trusted contact will be authorized to serve as a primary contact if T. Rowe Price has questions or concerns related to potentially fraudulent account activity, suspected financial exploitation, or to confirm your contact information if we are unable to reach you (but are not authorized to act on your account). For more information or to add trusted contacts to your account, visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-225-5132.
If you are age 65 or older, or if you are age 18 or older and we have reason to believe you have a mental or physical impairment that renders you unable to protect your own interest, we may place a temporary hold on the disbursement of redemption proceeds from your account in an effort to protect you if we reasonably believe that you have been or will be the victim of actual or attempted financial exploitation. You will receive notice of this temporary delay, and it will be for no more than 15 business days while we conduct an internal review of the suspected financial exploitation (including contacting your trusted contact if one is on file). We may delay an additional 10 business days if T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that actual or attempted financial exploitation has occurred or will occur. At the expiration of the hold time, if we have not confirmed that exploitation has occurred, the proceeds will be released to you.
Purchasing Shares
Shares may be purchased in a variety of ways.
By Check Please make your check payable to the T. Rowe Price Funds. Include a new account form if establishing a new account, and include either a fund investment slip or a letter indicating the fund and your account number if adding to an existing account. Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (not the day the request is received at the post office box).
By Electronic Transfer Shares may be purchased using the Automated Clearing House system if you have established the service on your account, which allows T. Rowe Price to request payment for your shares directly from your bank account or other financial institution account. You may also arrange for a wire to be sent to T. Rowe Price (wire transfer instructions
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can be found at troweprice.com/wireinstructions or by calling Shareholder Services). T. Rowe Price must receive the wire by the close of the NYSE to receive that day’s share price. There is no assurance that you will receive the share price for the same day you initiated the wire from your financial institution.
By Exchange You may purchase shares of a fund using the proceeds from the redemption of shares from another fund. The redemption and purchase will receive the same trade date, and if you are establishing a new account, it will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging. The purchase must still generally meet the applicable minimum investment requirement.
Systematic Purchases (Automatic Asset Builder) You can instruct T. Rowe Price to automatically transfer money from your account at your bank or other financial institution at least once per month, or you can instruct your employer to send all or a portion of your paycheck to the fund or funds that you designate. Each systematic purchase must be at least $100 per fund account to be eligible for the Automatic Asset Builder service. To automatically transfer money to your account from a bank account or through payroll deductions, complete the appropriate section of the new account form when opening a new account or complete an Account Services Form to add the service to an existing account. Prior to establishing payroll deductions, you must set up the service with T. Rowe Price so that the appropriate instructions can be provided to your employer.
Initial Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than the Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds, require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment for IRAs; certain small business retirement accounts; and custodial accounts for minors, known as Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act accounts). The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment. I Class accounts require a $1 million minimum initial investment, although the minimum generally is waived for certain types of accounts. If you request the I Class of a particular fund when you open a new account but the investment amount does not meet the applicable minimum, the purchase will be automatically invested in the Investor Class of the same fund.
Additional Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than Summit Funds, require a $100 minimum for additional purchases, including those made through Automatic Asset Builder. Summit Funds require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder and a $1,000 minimum for all other additional purchases. I Class accounts require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder but do not require a minimum amount for other additional purchases.
Exchanging and Redeeming Shares
Exchanges You can move money from one account to an existing, identically registered account or open a new identically registered account. For taxable accounts, an exchange from one fund to another will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as a sale for tax purposes.
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(Institutional investors are restricted from exchanging into a fund that operates as a retail money market fund.) You can set up systematic exchanges so that money is automatically moved from one fund account to another on a regular basis.
Receiving Redemption Proceeds Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address by check or sent electronically to your bank account by Automated Clearing House transfer or bank wire. You can set up systematic redemptions and have the proceeds automatically sent via check or Automated Clearing House on a regular basis. If your request is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent on a business day prior to the close of the NYSE, proceeds are usually sent on the next business day. However, if you request a redemption from a money market fund on a business day prior to noon ET and request to have proceeds sent via bank wire, proceeds are normally sent later that same day.
Proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House transfer are usually credited to your account the second business day after the sale, and there are typically no fees associated with such payments. Proceeds sent by bank wire are usually credited to your account the next business day after the sale (except for wire redemptions from money market funds received prior to noon ET). A $5 fee will be charged for an outgoing wire of less than $5,000, in addition to any fees your financial institution may charge for an incoming wire.
If for some reason your request to exchange or redeem shares cannot be processed because it is not received in correct form, we will attempt to contact you.
If you request to redeem a specific dollar amount and the market value of your account is less than the amount of your request and we are unable to contact you, your redemption will not be processed and you must submit a new redemption request in correct form.
If you change your address on an account, proceeds may not be mailed to the new address for 15 calendar days after the address change, unless we receive a letter of instruction with a Medallion signature guarantee.
Please note that large purchase and redemption requests initiated through the Automated Clearing House may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by calling Shareholder Services.
Checkwriting You may write an unlimited number of free checks on any money market fund and certain bond funds, with a minimum of $500 per check. Keep in mind, however, that a check results in a sale of fund shares; a check written on a bond fund will create a taxable event that must be reported by T. Rowe Price to the Internal Revenue Service as a redemption.
Converting to Another Share Class
You may convert from one share class of a fund to another share class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Although the conversion has no effect on the dollar value of your investment in the fund, the number of shares owned after the conversion may be greater or less than the number of shares owned before the conversion, depending on the net asset values of the two share classes. A conversion between share classes of the same fund is a
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nontaxable event. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are converting.
T. Rowe Price may conduct periodic reviews of account balances. If your account balance in a fund exceeds the minimum amount required for the I Class, T. Rowe Price may, but is not required to, automatically convert your Investor Class shares to I Class shares with advance notice. However, if T. Rowe Price has investment discretion, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares without advance notice.
Maintaining Your Account Balance
Investor Class Due to the relatively high cost to a fund of maintaining small accounts, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1,000 ($10,000 for Summit Funds). If, for any reason, your balance is below this amount for three months or longer, we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance.
I Class To keep operating expenses lower, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1 million. If your investment falls below $1 million (even if due to market depreciation), we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance or convert your account to a different share class in the same fund (if available) with a higher expense ratio with advance notice. However, if T. Rowe Price has investment discretion, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares without advance notice.
The redemption of your account could result in a taxable gain or loss.
Investors holding the fund through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program will be subject to the minimum account balance requirements of the program, which may differ from the minimum account balance requirements listed above.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held through a financial intermediary.
Accounts in Investor Class and I Class shares are not required to be held through a financial intermediary, but accounts in Advisor Class and R Class shares must be held through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). It is important that you contact your retirement plan or financial intermediary to determine the policies, procedures, and transaction deadlines that apply to your account. The financial intermediary may charge a fee, such as transaction fees or brokerage commissions, for its services.
Opening an Account
The financial intermediary must provide T. Rowe Price with its certified taxpayer identification number. Financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services for an account number and wire transfer instructions. In order to obtain an account number, the financial
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intermediary must supply the name, taxpayer identification number, and business street address for the account. (Please refer to “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section for the appropriate telephone number and mailing address.) Financial intermediaries must also enter into a separate agreement with the fund or its agent.
How the Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest through a financial intermediary and your transaction request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value unless the fund has an agreement with your financial intermediary for orders to be priced at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the financial intermediary.
The funds have authorized certain financial intermediaries or their designees to accept orders to buy or sell fund shares on their behalf. When authorized financial intermediaries receive an order in correct form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund and shares will be bought or sold at the net asset value next calculated after the order is received by the authorized financial intermediary. The financial intermediary must transmit the order to T. Rowe Price and pay for such shares in accordance with the agreement with T. Rowe Price or the order may be canceled and the financial intermediary could be held liable for the losses. If the fund does not have such an agreement in place with your financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price or its agent must receive the request in correct form from your financial intermediary by the close of the NYSE in order for your transaction to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted by the fund or a financial intermediary may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price (or by the financial intermediary in accordance with its agreement with T. Rowe Price) prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Purchasing Shares
All initial and subsequent investments by financial intermediaries should be made by bank wire or electronic payment. There is no assurance that the share price for the purchase will be the same day the wire was initiated. Purchases by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Financial Institution Services.
Investment Minimums
You should check with your financial intermediary to determine what minimum applies to your initial and additional investments.
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The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment, and other funds generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment, although the minimum is generally waived or modified for any retirement plans and financial intermediaries establishing accounts in the Investor Class, Advisor Class, or R Class. I Class accounts require a $1 million minimum initial investment, although the minimum generally is waived for certain types of accounts.
Investments through a financial intermediary generally do not require a minimum amount for additional purchases.
Redeeming Shares
Unless otherwise indicated, redemption proceeds will be sent via bank wire to the financial intermediary’s designated bank. Redemptions by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Financial Institution Services. Normally, the fund transmits proceeds to financial intermediaries for redemption orders received in correct form on either the next business day or second business day after receipt of the order, depending on the arrangement with the financial intermediary. Proceeds for redemption orders received prior to noon ET for a money market fund may be sent via wire the same business day. You must contact your financial intermediary about procedures for receiving your redemption proceeds.
Please note that certain purchase and redemption requests initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by contacting Financial Institution Services.
The following policies and requirements apply generally to accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, regardless of whether the account is held directly or indirectly with T. Rowe Price.
The funds generally do not accept orders that request a particular day or price for a transaction or any other special conditions. However, when authorized by the fund, certain institutions, financial intermediaries, or retirement plans purchasing fund shares directly with T. Rowe Price may place a purchase order unaccompanied by payment. Payment for these shares must be received by the time designated by the fund (not to exceed the period established for settlement under applicable regulations). If payment is not received by this time, the order may be canceled. The institution, financial intermediary, or retirement plan is responsible for any costs or losses incurred by the fund or T. Rowe Price if payment is delayed or not received.
U.S. Dollars All purchases must be paid for in U.S. dollars; checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any purchase of $5 million or more.
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Nonpayment If a check or Automated Clearing House transfer does not clear or payment for an order is not received in a timely manner, your purchase may be canceled. You (or the financial intermediary) may be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the fund or its transfer agent, and the fund can redeem shares in your account or another identically registered T. Rowe Price account as reimbursement. The funds and their agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase, exchange, or redemption due to nonpayment.
Retail Money Market Funds The retail money market funds have implemented policies and procedures designed to limit purchases to accounts beneficially owned by a natural person. Purchases of a retail money market fund may be rejected from an investor who has not demonstrated sufficient eligibility to purchase shares of the fund or from a financial intermediary that has not demonstrated adequate procedures to limit investments to natural persons. In addition, purchases may be prohibited or subject to certain conditions during periods where a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in effect.
Liquidity Fees and Redemption Gates—Retail Money Market Funds
A money market fund that operates as a retail money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 has the ability to impose liquidity fees of up to 2% of the value of the shares redeemed if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A retail money market fund also has the ability to impose a redemption gate, which enables the fund to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 days within a 90-day period if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below a certain threshold, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A money market fund’s Board has ultimate discretion to determine whether or not a liquidity fee or redemption gate would be in the best interests of the fund’s shareholders and should be imposed.
A money market fund that operates as a government money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 is not required to impose a liquidity fee or redemption gate upon the sale of your shares. The Boards of the T. Rowe Price money market funds that operate as government money market funds have determined that the funds do not currently intend to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates. However, the Board of a T. Rowe Price government money market fund reserves the right to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates in the future, at which point shareholders would be provided with at least 60 days’ notice prior to such a change.
If a liquidity fee is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be subject to the liquidity fee, and if a redemption gate is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be suspended. When a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in place, the fund may elect to not permit the purchase of shares or to subject the purchase of shares to certain conditions, which may include affirmation of the purchaser’s knowledge that a liquidity fee or a redemption gate is in effect.
Omnibus Accounts If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price may rely on the financial intermediary to assess any applicable liquidity fees or impose redemption gates on underlying shareholder accounts. In certain situations, T. Rowe Price enters into agreements with financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts that
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require the financial intermediary to assess liquidity fees or redemption gates. There are no assurances that T. Rowe Price will be successful in ensuring that all financial intermediaries will properly assess the fees.
Please refer to Sections 1 and 2 of the retail money market fund prospectuses for more information regarding liquidity fees and redemption gates.
Large Redemptions
Large redemptions (for example, $250,000 or more) can adversely affect a portfolio manager’s ability to implement a fund’s investment strategy by causing the premature sale of securities that would otherwise be held longer. Therefore, the fund reserves the right (without prior notice) to redeem in-kind. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of a fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. The redeeming shareholder will be responsible for disposing of the securities, and the shareholder will be subject to the risks that the value of the securities could decline prior to their sale, the securities could be difficult to sell, and brokerage fees could be incurred. If you continue to hold the securities, you may be subject to any ownership restrictions imposed by the issuers. For example, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) often impose ownership restrictions on their equity securities. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any redemption of $5 million or more.
Delays in Sending Redemption Proceeds
The T. Rowe Price Funds typically expect that redemption requests will be paid out to redeeming shareholders by the business day following the receipt of a redemption request that is in correct form, regardless of the method the fund uses to make such payment (for example, check, wire, or Automated Clearing House transfer). Checks are typically mailed on the business day after the redemption, proceeds sent by wire are typically credited to your financial institution the business day after the redemption, and proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House are typically credited to your financial institution on the second business day after the redemption. However, under certain circumstances, and when deemed to be in a fund’s best interests, proceeds may not be sent for up to seven calendar days after receipt of a valid redemption order (for example, during periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances).
In addition, if shares are sold that were just purchased and paid for by check or Automated Clearing House transfer, the fund will process your redemption but will generally delay sending the proceeds for up to seven calendar days to allow the check or Automated Clearing House transfer to clear. If, during the clearing period, we receive a check drawn against your newly purchased shares, it will be returned and marked “uncollected.” (The seven-day hold does not apply to purchases paid for by bank wire or automatic purchases through payroll deduction.)
The Board of a retail money market fund may temporarily suspend redemptions from the fund for up to 10 business days during any 90-day period (i.e., a “redemption gate”) and elect to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 business days in a 90-day period if the fund’s
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weekly liquid assets fall below 30% of its total assets and the fund’s Board determines that imposing a redemption gate is in the fund’s best interests. In addition, under certain limited circumstances, the Board of a money market fund may elect to permanently suspend redemptions in order to facilitate an orderly liquidation of the fund (subject to any additional liquidation requirements).
Involuntary Redemptions and Share Class Conversions
Since nongovernment money market funds that operate as retail money market funds are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons, shares held directly by an investor or through a financial intermediary in these funds that are not eligible to invest in a retail money market fund are subject to involuntary redemption at any time without prior notice.
Shares held by any investors or financial intermediaries that are no longer eligible to invest in the I Class or who fail to meet or maintain their account(s) at the investment minimum are subject to involuntary redemption or conversion to the Investor Class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Investments in Advisor Class shares that are no longer held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder. Investments in R Class shares that are no longer held on behalf of an employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plan or other eligible R Class account or that are not held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class or Advisor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder.
Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy
Excessive transactions and short-term trading can be harmful to fund shareholders in various ways, such as disrupting a fund’s portfolio management strategies, increasing a fund’s trading and other costs, and negatively affecting its performance. Short-term traders in funds that invest in foreign securities may seek to take advantage of developments overseas that could lead to an anticipated difference between the price of the funds’ shares and price movements in foreign markets. While there is no assurance that T. Rowe Price can prevent all excessive and short-term trading, the Boards of the T. Rowe Price Funds have adopted the following trading limits that are designed to deter such activity and protect the funds’ shareholders. The funds may revise their trading limits and procedures at any time as the Boards deem necessary or appropriate to better detect short-term trading that may adversely affect the funds, to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, or to impose additional or alternative restrictions.
Subject to certain exceptions, each T. Rowe Price Fund restricts a shareholder’s purchases (including through exchanges) into a fund account for a period of 30 calendar days after the shareholder has redeemed or exchanged out of that same fund account (the “30-Day Purchase Block”). The calendar day after the date of redemption is considered Day 1 for purposes of computing the period before another purchase may be made.
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General Exceptions As of the date of this prospectus, the following types of transactions generally are not subject to the funds’ excessive and short-term trading policy:
· Shares purchased or redeemed in money market funds and ultra-short-term bond funds;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through a systematic purchase or withdrawal plan;
· Checkwriting redemptions from bond funds and money market funds;
· Shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions;
· Shares redeemed automatically by a fund to pay fund fees or shareholder account fees;
· Transfers and changes of account registration within the same fund;
· Shares purchased by asset transfer or direct rollover;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through IRA conversions and recharacterizations;
· Shares redeemed to return an excess contribution from a retirement account;
· Transactions in Section 529 college savings plans;
· Certain transactions in defined benefit and nonqualified plans, subject to prior approval by T. Rowe Price;
· Shares converted from one share class to another share class in the same fund;
· Shares of T. Rowe Price Funds that are purchased by another T. Rowe Price Fund, including shares purchased by T. Rowe Price fund-of-funds products, and shares purchased by discretionary accounts managed by T. Rowe Price or one of its affiliates (please note that shareholders of the investing T. Rowe Price Fund are still subject to the policy);
· Transactions initiated by the trustee or adviser to a donor-advised charitable gift fund as approved by T. Rowe Price; and
· Transactions having a value of $5,000 or less (retirement plans, including those for which T. Rowe Price serves as recordkeeper, and other financial intermediaries may apply the excessive and short-term trading policy to transactions of any amount).
Transactions in certain rebalancing, asset allocation, wrap programs, and other advisory programs (including the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program), as well as non-T. Rowe Price fund-of-funds products, may also be exempt from the 30-Day Purchase Block, subject to prior written approval by T. Rowe Price.
In addition to restricting transactions in accordance with the 30-Day Purchase Block, T. Rowe Price may, in its discretion, reject (or instruct a financial intermediary to reject) any purchase or exchange into a fund from a person (which includes individuals and entities) whose trading activity could disrupt the management of the fund or dilute the value of the fund’s shares, including trading by persons acting collectively (for example, following the advice of a newsletter). Such persons may be barred, without prior notice, from further purchases of T. Rowe Price Funds for a period longer than 30 calendar days, or permanently.
Financial Intermediary and Retirement Plan Accounts If you invest in T. Rowe Price Funds through a financial intermediary, including a retirement plan, you should review the financial intermediary’s or retirement plan’s materials carefully or consult with the financial intermediary or plan sponsor directly to determine the trading policy that will apply to your trades in the T. Rowe Price Funds as well as any other rules or conditions on transactions that may apply. If T. Rowe Price is unable to identify a transaction placed through a financial
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intermediary as exempt from the excessive trading policy, the 30-Day Purchase Block may apply.
Financial intermediaries, including retirement plans, may maintain their underlying accounts directly with the fund, although they often establish an omnibus account (one account with the fund that represents multiple underlying shareholder accounts) on behalf of their customers. When financial intermediaries establish omnibus accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, T. Rowe Price is not able to monitor the trading activity of the underlying shareholders. However, T. Rowe Price monitors aggregate trading activity at the financial intermediary (omnibus account) level in an attempt to identify activity that indicates potential excessive or short-term trading. If it detects such trading activity, T. Rowe Price may contact the financial intermediary to request personal identifying information and transaction histories for some or all underlying shareholders (including plan participants, if applicable) pursuant to a written agreement that T. Rowe Price has entered into with each financial intermediary. Any nonpublic personal information provided to the fund (for example, a shareholder’s taxpayer identification number or transaction records) is subject to the fund’s privacy policy. If T. Rowe Price believes that excessive or short-term trading has occurred and there is no exception for such trades under the funds’ Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy previously described, it will instruct the financial intermediary to impose restrictions to discourage such practices and take appropriate action with respect to the underlying shareholder, including restricting purchases for 30 calendar days or longer. Each financial intermediary has agreed to execute such instructions pursuant to a written agreement. There is no assurance that T. Rowe Price will be able to properly enforce its excessive trading policies for omnibus accounts. Because T. Rowe Price generally relies on financial intermediaries to provide information and impose restrictions for omnibus accounts, its ability to monitor and deter excessive trading will be dependent upon the intermediaries’ timely performance of their responsibilities.
For shares that are held in a retirement plan, generally the 30-Day Purchase Block applies only to shares redeemed by a participant-directed exchange to another fund. However, the 30-Day Purchase Block may apply to transactions other than exchanges depending on how shares of the plan are held at T. Rowe Price or the excessive trading policy applied by your plan’s recordkeeper.
T. Rowe Price may allow a financial intermediary, including a retirement plan, to maintain restrictions on trading in the T. Rowe Price Funds that differ from the 30-Day Purchase Block. An alternative excessive trading policy would be acceptable to T. Rowe Price if it believes that the policy would provide sufficient protection to the T. Rowe Price Funds and their shareholders that is consistent with the excessive trading policy adopted by the funds’ Boards.
There is no guarantee that T. Rowe Price will be able to identify or prevent all excessive or short-term trades or trading practices.
Unclaimed Accounts and Uncashed Checks
If your account has no activity for a certain period of time and/or mail sent to you from T. Rowe Price is deemed undeliverable, T. Rowe Price may be required to transfer (i.e., escheat)
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your account assets, including any assets related to uncashed checks to the appropriate state under its abandoned property laws. For IRA accounts escheated to a state under these abandoned property laws, the escheatment will be treated as a taxable distribution to you and federal and any applicable state income tax will be withheld. This may also apply to your Roth IRA as well (see the T. Rowe Price Traditional and Roth IRA Disclosure and Custodial Agreement and/or the T. Rowe Price SIMPLE IRA Disclosure Statement and Custodial Agreement for more information). To avoid such action, it is important to keep your account address up to date and periodically communicate with T. Rowe Price by contacting us or logging in to your account at least once every two years.
Delivery of Shareholder Documents
If two or more accounts own the same fund, share the same address, and T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that the two accounts are part of the same household or institution, we may economize on fund expenses by mailing only one shareholder report and prospectus for the fund. If you need additional copies or do not want your mailings to be “householded,” please call Shareholder Services.
T. Rowe Price can deliver account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, tax forms, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of troweprice.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging in and changing your mailing preferences. You can revoke your consent at any time through troweprice.com, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within a reasonable time after receiving your revocation.
Signature Guarantees
A Medallion signature guarantee is designed to protect you and the T. Rowe Price Funds from fraud by verifying your signature.
A shareholder or financial intermediary may need to obtain a Medallion signature guarantee in certain situations, such as:
· Requests to wire redemption proceeds when bank account information is not already authorized and on file for an account;
· Remitting redemption proceeds to any person, address, or bank account not on file;
· Establishing certain services after an account is opened; or
· Changing the account registration or broker-dealer of record for an account.
Financial intermediaries should contact T. Rowe Price Financial Institution Services for specific requirements.
The signature guarantee must be obtained from a financial institution that is a participant in a Medallion signature guarantee program. You can obtain a Medallion signature guarantee from certain banks, savings institutions, broker-dealers, and other guarantors acceptable to T. Rowe Price. When obtaining a Medallion signature guarantee, please discuss with the guarantor the dollar amount of your proposed transaction. It is important that the level of coverage provided by the guarantor’s stamp covers the dollar amount of the transaction or it may be rejected. We
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cannot accept guarantees from notaries public or organizations that do not provide reimbursement in the case of fraud.
Fund Operations and Shareholder Services
T. Rowe Price and The Bank of New York Mellon, subject to the oversight of T. Rowe Price, each provide certain accounting services to the T. Rowe Price Funds. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., acts as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent and provides shareholder and administrative services to the funds. T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., provides recordkeeping, sub-transfer agency, and administrative services for certain types of retirement plans investing in the funds. These companies receive compensation from the funds for their services. The funds may also pay financial intermediaries for performing shareholder and administrative services for underlying shareholders in omnibus accounts. In addition, certain funds serve as an underlying fund in which some fund-of-funds products, the T. Rowe Price Spectrum and Retirement Funds, invest. Subject to approval by each applicable fund’s Board, each underlying fund bears its proportionate share of the direct operating expenses of the T. Rowe Price Spectrum and Retirement Funds. All of the fees previously discussed are included in a fund’s financial statements and, except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, are also reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
If you hold shares of a fund through a financial intermediary, you must contact your financial intermediary to determine the requirements for opening a new account and placing transactions. Otherwise, please contact T. Rowe Price as follows:
Web | |
troweprice.com | For the most complete source
of T. Rowe Price news |
troweprice.com/paperless | To sign-up for e-delivery of your statements, confirmations, prospectuses, reports, or proxies |
Phone | |
Shareholder Services: 1-800-225-5132 | To make a transaction, or for fund, account, and service information (for IRAs and nonretirement accounts) |
Investor Services: 1-800-638-5660 | To open an account (for IRAs and nonretirement accounts) |
Financial Institution Services: 1-800-638-8790 | For information and services for large institutional investors and financial intermediaries |
Retirement Client Services: 1-800-492-7670 | For information and services for small business retirement plans (or consult your plan administrator) |
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 49 |
Select Client Services: 1-800-332-6161 | Complimentary services and resources designed to help investors make informed investment
decisions |
Brokerage: 1-800-225-7720 | If you hold your shares through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account |
Tele*Access®: 1-800-638-2587 | To access information
on fund performance, prices, account balances, and your latest transactions 24 hours a day |
Hearing Impaired | Call the applicable number with a relay operator. Inquires may also be directed to info@troweprice.com. |
T. Rowe Price Addresses
Please be sure to use the correct address to avoid a delay in opening your account or processing your transaction. These addresses are subject to change at any time, so please check troweprice.com/contactus or call the appropriate telephone number to ensure that you use the correct mailing address.
Investors (IRAs and nonretirement accounts) opening a new account or making additional purchases by check should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Account Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price Account Services |
Investors (IRAs and nonretirement accounts) requesting an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T. Rowe Price Account Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe Price Account Services |
Investors in a small business retirement plan opening a new account, making a purchase by check, or placing an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T.
Rowe Price Retirement Client Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe
Price |
T. ROWE PRICE | 50 |
Institutional investors (including financial intermediaries) opening a new account, making a purchase by check, or placing an exchange or redemption should use the following addresses:
via U.S. mail T. Rowe Price Financial Institution Services | via private carriers/overnight services T. Rowe Price Financial Institution Services |
Note: Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), which could differ from the day that the request is received at the post office box.
Each fund intends to qualify to be treated each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In order to qualify, a fund must satisfy certain income, diversification, and distribution requirements. A regulated investment company is not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the portfolio level on income and gains from investments that are distributed to shareholders. However, if a fund were to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company and was ineligible to or otherwise did not cure such failure, the result would be fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to the fund’s shareholders.
To the extent possible, all net investment income and realized capital gains are distributed to shareholders.
Dividends and Other Distributions
Except for the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, dividend and capital gain distributions are reinvested in additional fund shares in your account unless you select another option. For the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, subject to certain exceptions, regularly scheduled monthly dividends may generally not be reinvested. Reinvesting distributions results in compounding, which allows you to receive dividends and capital gain distributions on an increasing number of shares.
Distributions not reinvested may be paid by check or transmitted to your bank account via Automated Clearing House or may be automatically invested into another fund account. For the Retirement Income 2020 Fund, regularly scheduled monthly dividends are generally not paid by check. If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your check or if your check remains uncashed for six months, the fund reserves the right to reinvest your distribution check in your account at the net asset value on the day of the reinvestment and to reinvest all subsequent distributions in additional shares of the fund. Interest will not accrue on amounts represented by uncashed distributions or redemption checks.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 51 |
The following table provides details on dividend payments:
Dividend Payment Schedule | |
Fund | Dividends |
Money market funds | · Shares purchased via wire that are received by T. Rowe Price by noon ET begin to earn dividends on that day. Shares purchased via a wire received after noon ET and through other methods normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
Bond funds | · Shares normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
These stock funds only: · Balanced · Dividend Growth · Equity Income · Equity Index 500 · Global Real Estate · Growth & Income · Spectrum Moderate Allocation · Spectrum Conservative Allocation · Real Estate | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid quarterly, in March, June, September, and December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
Other stock funds | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid annually, generally in December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
Retirement Income 2020 | · Dividends are declared and normally paid in the middle of each month. |
Retirement Balanced, Retirement I Balanced—I Class, and | · Shares normally begin to earn dividends on the business day after payment is received by T. Rowe Price. · Dividends are declared daily and paid on the first business day of each month. |
All other Retirement, Retirement I, Spectrum, and Target Funds | · Dividends, if any, are declared and paid annually, generally in December. · Must be a shareholder on the dividend record date. |
For funds that declare dividends daily, shares earn dividends through the date of a redemption (for redemptions from money market funds where the request is received prior to noon ET and proceeds are sent via wire, shares only earn dividends through the calendar day prior to the date of redemption). Shares redeemed on a Friday or prior to a holiday will continue to earn dividends until the next business day. Generally, if you redeem all of your shares at any time during the month, you will also receive all dividends earned through the date of redemption in the same check. When you redeem only a portion of your shares, all dividends accrued on those shares will be reinvested, or paid in cash, on the next dividend payment date. The funds
T. ROWE PRICE | 52 |
do not pay dividends in fractional cents. Any dividend amount earned for a particular day on all shares held that is one-half of one cent or greater (for example, $0.016) will be rounded up to the next whole cent ($0.02), and any amount that is less than one-half of one cent (for example, $0.014) will be rounded down to the nearest whole cent ($0.01). Please note that if the dividend payable on all shares held is less than one-half of one cent for a particular day, no dividend will be earned for that day.
If you purchase and redeem your shares through a financial intermediary, consult your financial intermediary to determine when your shares begin and stop accruing dividends as the information previously described may vary.
Capital Gain Payments
A capital gain or loss is the difference between the purchase and sale price of a security. If a fund has net capital gains for the year (after subtracting any capital losses), they are usually declared and paid in December to shareholders of record on a specified date that month. If a second distribution is necessary, it is generally paid the following year. A fund may have to make additional capital gain distributions, if necessary, to comply with the applicable tax law. Capital gains are not expected from government or retail money market funds since they are managed to maintain a stable share price. However, if a money market fund unexpectedly has net capital gains for the year (after subtracting any capital losses), the capital gain may be declared and paid in December to shareholders of record.
Tax Information
In most cases, you will be provided information for your tax filing needs no later than mid-February.
If you invest in the fund through a tax-deferred account, such as an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan, you will not be subject to tax on dividends and distributions from the fund or the sale of fund shares if those amounts remain in the tax-deferred account. You may receive a Form 1099-R or other Internal Revenue Service forms, as applicable, if any portion of the account is distributed to you.
If you invest in the fund through a taxable account, you generally will be subject to tax when:
· You sell fund shares, including an exchange from one fund to another.
· The fund makes dividend or capital gain distributions.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 53 |
Additional information about the taxation of dividends for certain T. Rowe Price Funds is listed below:
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds |
· Regular monthly dividends (including those from the state-specific tax-free funds) are expected to be exempt from federal income taxes. |
· Exemption is not guaranteed since the fund has the right under certain conditions to invest in nonexempt securities. |
· Tax-exempt dividends paid to Social Security recipients may increase the portion of benefits that is subject to tax. |
· For state-specific funds, the monthly dividends you receive are expected to be exempt from state and local income tax of that particular state. For other funds, a small portion of your income dividend may be exempt from state and local income taxes. |
· If a fund invests in certain “private activity” bonds that are not exempt from the alternative minimum tax, shareholders who are subject to the alternative minimum tax must include income generated by those bonds in their alternative minimum tax calculation. The portion of a fund’s income dividend that should be included in your alternative minimum tax calculation, if any, will be reported to you by mid-February on Form 1099-DIV. |
For individual shareholders, a portion of ordinary dividends representing “qualified dividend income” received by the fund may be subject to tax at the lower rates applicable to long-term capital gains rather than ordinary income. You may report it as “qualified dividend income” in computing your taxes, provided you have held the fund shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date. Ordinary dividends that do not qualify for this lower rate are generally taxable at the investor’s marginal income tax rate. This includes the portion of ordinary dividends derived from interest, short-term capital gains, income and gains from derivatives, distributions from nonqualified foreign corporations, distributions from real estate investment trusts, and dividends received by the fund from stocks that were on loan. Little, if any, of the ordinary dividends paid by the bond funds or money market funds is expected to qualify for this lower rate.
For corporate shareholders, a portion of ordinary dividends may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations to the extent the fund’s income consists of dividends paid by U.S. corporations. Little, if any, of the ordinary dividends paid by the international stock funds, bond funds, or money market funds is expected to qualify for this deduction.
A 3.8% net investment income tax is imposed on net investment income, including interest, dividends, and capital gains of U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 (or $250,000 if married filing jointly) and of estates and trusts.
If you hold your fund through a financial intermediary, the financial intermediary is responsible for providing you with any necessary tax forms. You should contact your financial intermediary for the tax information that will be sent to you and reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
T. ROWE PRICE | 54 |
Taxes on Fund Redemptions
When you sell shares in any fund, you may realize a gain or loss. An exchange from one fund to another fund in a taxable account is also a sale for tax purposes. As long as a money market fund maintains a stable share price of $1.00, a redemption or exchange to another fund will not result in a gain or loss for tax purposes. However, an exchange from one fund into a money market fund may result in a gain or loss on the fund from which shares were redeemed.
All or a portion of the loss realized from a sale or exchange of your fund shares may be disallowed under the “wash sale” rule if you purchase substantially identical shares within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date on which the shares are sold or exchanged. Shares of the same fund you acquire through dividend reinvestment are shares purchased for the purpose of the wash sale rule and may trigger a disallowance of the loss for shares sold or exchanged within the 61-day period of the dividend reinvestment. Any loss disallowed under the wash sale rule is added to the cost basis of the purchased shares.
T. Rowe Price (or your financial intermediary) will make available to you Form 1099-B, if applicable, no later than mid-February, providing certain information for each sale you made in the fund during the prior year. Unless otherwise indicated on your Form 1099-B, this information will also be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For mutual fund shares acquired prior to 2012 in most accounts established or opened by exchange in 1984 or later, our Form 1099-B will provide you with the gain or loss on the shares you sold during the year based on the average cost single category method. This information on average cost and gain or loss from sale is not reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For these mutual fund shares acquired prior to 2012, you may calculate the cost basis using other methods acceptable to the Internal Revenue Service, such as specific identification.
For mutual fund shares acquired after 2011, federal income tax regulations require us to report the cost basis information on Form 1099-B using a cost basis method selected by the shareholder in compliance with such regulations or, in the absence of such selected method, our default method if you acquire your shares directly from T. Rowe Price. Our default method is average cost. For any fund shares acquired through a financial intermediary after 2011, you should check with your financial intermediary regarding the applicable cost basis method. You should note that the cost basis information reported to you may not always be the same as what you should report on your tax return because the rules applicable to the determination of cost basis on Form 1099-B may be different from the rules applicable to the determination of cost basis for reporting on your tax return. Therefore, you should save your transaction records to make sure the information reported on your tax return is accurate. T. Rowe Price and financial intermediaries are not required to issue a Form 1099-B to report sales of money market fund shares.
To help you maintain accurate records, T. Rowe Price will make available to you a confirmation promptly following each transaction you make (except for systematic purchases and systematic redemptions) and a year-end statement detailing all of your transactions in each fund account during the year. If you hold your fund through a financial intermediary, the
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 55 |
financial intermediary is responsible for providing you with transaction confirmations and statements.
Taxes on Fund Distributions
T. Rowe Price (or your financial intermediary) will make available to you, as applicable, generally no later than mid-February, a Form 1099-DIV, or other Internal Revenue Service forms, as required, indicating the tax status of any income dividends, dividends exempt from federal income taxes, and capital gain distributions made to you. This information will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Taxable distributions are generally taxable to you in the year in which they are paid. A dividend declared in October, November, or December and paid in the following January is generally treated as taxable to you as if you received the distribution in December. Dividends from tax-free funds are generally expected to be tax-exempt for federal income tax purposes. Your bond fund and money market fund dividends for each calendar year will include dividends accrued up to the first business day of the next calendar year. Ordinary dividends and capital gain dividends may also be subject to state and local taxes. You will be sent any additional information you need to determine your taxes on fund distributions, such as the portion of your dividends, if any, that may be exempt from state and local income taxes.
Taxable distributions are subject to tax whether reinvested in additional shares or received in cash.
The tax treatment of a capital gain distribution is determined by how long the fund held the portfolio securities, not how long you held the shares in the fund. Short-term (one year or less) capital gain distributions are taxable at the same rate as ordinary income, and gains on securities held for more than one year are taxed at the lower rates applicable to long-term capital gains. If you realized a loss on the sale or exchange of fund shares that you held for six months or less, your short-term capital loss must be reclassified as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received during the period you held the shares. For funds investing in foreign instruments, distributions resulting from the sale of certain foreign currencies, currency contracts, and the foreign currency portion of gains on debt instruments are taxed as ordinary income. Net foreign currency losses may cause monthly or quarterly dividends to be reclassified as returns of capital.
A fund’s distributions that have exceeded the fund’s earnings and profits for the relevant tax year may be treated as a return of capital to its shareholders. A return of capital distribution is generally nontaxable but reduces the shareholder’s cost basis in the fund, and any return of capital in excess of the cost basis will result in a capital gain.
The tax status of certain distributions may be recharacterized on year-end tax forms, such as your Form 1099-DIV. Distributions made by a fund may later be recharacterized for federal income tax purposes—for example, from taxable ordinary income dividends to returns of capital. A recharacterization of distributions may occur for a number of reasons, including the recharacterization of income received from underlying investments, such as REITs, and distributions that exceed taxable income due to losses from foreign currency transactions or
T. ROWE PRICE | 56 |
other investment transactions. Certain funds, including international bond funds and funds that invest significantly in REITs, are more likely to recharacterize a portion of their distributions as a result of their investments. The Retirement Income 2020 Fund is also more likely to have some or all of its distributions recharacterized as returns of capital because of the predetermined monthly distribution amount.
If the fund qualifies and elects to pass through nonrefundable foreign income taxes paid to foreign governments during the year, your portion of such taxes will be reported to you as taxable income. However, you may be able to claim an offsetting credit or deduction on your tax return for those amounts. There can be no assurance that a fund will meet the requirements to pass through foreign income taxes paid.
If you are subject to backup withholding, we will have to withhold a 24% backup withholding tax on distributions and, in some cases, redemption payments. You may be subject to backup withholding if we are notified by the Internal Revenue Service to withhold, you have failed one or more tax certification requirements, or our records indicate that your tax identification number is missing or incorrect. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and is generally available to credit against your federal income tax liability with any excess refunded to you by the Internal Revenue Service.
The following table provides additional details on distributions for certain funds:
Taxes on Fund Distributions |
Tax-Free and Municipal Funds |
· Gains realized on the sale of market discount bonds with maturities beyond one year may be treated as ordinary income and cannot be offset by other capital losses. · Payments received or gains realized on certain derivative transactions may result in taxable ordinary income or capital gains. · To the extent the fund makes such investments, the likelihood of a taxable distribution will be increased. |
Limited Duration Inflation Focused Bond and Inflation Protected Bond Funds |
· Inflation adjustments on Treasury inflation protected securities that exceed deflation adjustments for the year will be distributed as a short-term capital gain, resulting in ordinary income. · In computing the distribution amount, the funds cannot reduce inflation adjustments by short- or long-term capital losses from the sales of securities. · Net deflation adjustments for a year may result in all or a portion of dividends paid earlier in the year being treated as a return of capital. |
Retirement, Retirement I, Spectrum, and Target Funds |
· Distributions by the underlying funds and changes in asset allocations may result in taxable distributions of ordinary income or capital gains. |
Tax Consequences of Liquidity Fees
It is currently anticipated that shareholders of retail money market funds that impose a liquidity fee may generally treat the liquidity fee as offsetting the shareholder’s amount realized on the redemption (thereby decreasing the shareholder’s gain, or increasing the shareholder’s
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS | 57 |
loss, on the redeemed amount). A fund that imposes a liquidity fee anticipates using 100% of the fee to help repair a market-based net asset value per share that was below $1.00.
Because the retail money market funds use amortized cost to maintain a stable share price of $1.00, in the event that a liquidity fee is imposed, a fund may need to distribute to its remaining shareholders sufficient value to prevent the fund from breaking the buck on the upside (i.e., by rounding up to $1.01 in pricing its shares) if the imposition of a liquidity fee causes the fund’s market-based net asset value to reach $1.0050. To the extent that a fund has sufficient earnings and profits to support the distribution, the additional dividends would be taxable as ordinary income to shareholders and would be eligible for deduction by the fund. Any distribution in excess of the fund’s earnings and profits would be treated as a return of capital, which would reduce your cost basis in the fund shares.
Tax Consequences of Hedging
Entering into certain transactions involving options, futures, swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in a fund being required to distribute gains on such transactions even though it did not close the contracts during the year or receive cash to pay such distributions. The fund may not be able to reduce its distributions for losses on such transactions to the extent of unrealized gains in offsetting positions.
Tax Effect of Buying Shares Before an Income Dividend or Capital Gain Distribution
If you buy shares shortly before or on the record date—the date that establishes you as the person to receive the upcoming distribution—you may receive a portion of the money you just invested in the form of a taxable distribution. Therefore, you may wish to find out a fund’s record date before investing. In addition, a fund’s share price may, at any time, reflect undistributed capital gains or income and unrealized appreciation, which may result in future taxable distributions. Such distributions can occur even in a year when the fund has a negative return.
T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents, in their sole discretion, reserve the following rights: (1) to waive or lower investment minimums; (2) to accept initial purchases by telephone; (3) to refuse any purchase or exchange order; (4) to cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order placed through a financial intermediary no later than the business day after the order is received by the financial intermediary (including, but not limited to, orders deemed to result in excessive trading, market timing, or 5% ownership); (5) to cease offering fund shares at any time to all or certain groups of investors; (6) to freeze any account and suspend account services when notice has been received of a dispute regarding the ownership of the account, or a legal claim against an account, upon initial notification to T. Rowe Price of a shareholder’s death until T. Rowe Price receives required documentation in correct form, or if there is reason
T. ROWE PRICE | 58 |
to believe a fraudulent transaction may occur; (7) to otherwise modify the conditions of purchase and modify or terminate any services at any time; (8) to waive any wire, small account, maintenance, or fiduciary fees charged to a group of shareholders; (9) to act on instructions reasonably believed to be genuine; (10) to involuntarily redeem an account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed when permitted by law, including in cases of threatening conduct, or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity, or if the fund or its agent is unable, through its procedures, to verify the identity of the person(s) or entity opening an account; and (11) for money market funds, to suspend redemptions to facilitate an orderly liquidation.
The fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which contains a more detailed description of the fund’s operations, investment restrictions, policies and practices, has been filed with the SEC. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which means that it is legally part of this prospectus even if you do not request a copy. Further information about the fund’s investments, including a review of market conditions and the manager’s recent investment strategies and their impact on performance during the past fiscal year, will appear in the annual and semiannual shareholder reports. These documents and updated performance information are available through troweprice.com. For inquiries about the fund and to obtain free copies of any of these documents, call 1-800-638-5660. If you invest in the fund through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary for copies of these documents.
Fund reports and other fund information are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
1940 Act File No. 811-2958 | F1228-040 3/1/20 |
PROSPECTUS March 1, 2020 | ||||
T. ROWE PRICE | ||||
Dynamic Global Bond Fund | ||||
RPIEX RPEIX PAIEX — | Investor Class I Class Advisor Class Z Class | |||
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by SEC regulations, paper copies of the T. Rowe Price funds’ annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be mailed, unless you specifically request them. Instead, shareholder reports will be made available on the funds’ website (troweprice.com/prospectus), and you will be notified by mail with a website link to access the reports each time a report is posted to the site. If you already elected to receive reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and need not take any action. At any time, shareholders who invest directly in T. Rowe Price funds may generally elect to receive reports or other communications electronically by enrolling at troweprice.com/paperless or, if you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the funds through a financial intermediary (such as an investment advisor, broker-dealer, insurance company, or bank), by contacting your representative or your financial intermediary. You may elect to continue receiving paper copies of future shareholder reports free of charge. To do so, if you invest directly with T. Rowe Price, please call T. Rowe Price as follows: IRA, nonretirement account holders, and institutional investors, 1-800-225-5132; small business retirement accounts, 1-800-492-7670. If you are a retirement plan sponsor or invest in the T. Rowe Price funds through a financial intermediary, please contact your representative or financial intermediary, or follow additional instructions if included with this document. Your election to receive paper copies of reports will apply to all funds held in your account with your financial intermediary or, if you invest directly in the T. Rowe Price funds, with T. Rowe Price. Your election can be changed at any time in the future. | ||||
Table of Contents
1 | SUMMARY | ||
2 | MORE ABOUT THE FUND | ||
More Information About the Fund’s | |||
3 | INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS | ||
Investing with T. Rowe Price 41 Distribution and Shareholder Policies for Opening an Account 46 Pricing of Shares and Transactions 47 Investing Directly with T. Rowe Price 49 Investing Through a Financial General Policies Relating to Transactions 57 |
SUMMARY | 1 | |
The fund seeks high current income.
Fees and Expenses
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling shares of the Investor Class or I Class, which are not reflected in the table.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Investor | I | Advisor | Z | |||||
Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | ||||||||
Maximum account fee | $20 | a | — | — | — | |||
Annual fund operating expenses | ||||||||
Management fees | 0.49 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.49 | % | 0.49 | % |
Distribution and service (12b-1) fees | — | — | 0.25 | — | ||||
Other expenses | 0.16 | 0.02 | 0.47 | 0.02 | ||||
Total annual fund operating expenses | 0.65 | 0.51 | 1.21 | 0.51 | ||||
Fee waiver/expense reimbursement | — | — | (0.31 | )b | (0.51 | )c | ||
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement | 0.65 | 0.51 | 0.90 | b | 0.00 | c |
a Subject to certain exceptions, accounts with a balance of less than $10,000 are charged an annual $20 fee.
b T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through April 30, 2021) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to exceed 0.90% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after April 30, 2021, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 0.90%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 0.90%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
c T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive and/or bear all of the Z Class’ expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) in their entirety. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. expects this fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement to remain in place indefinitely, and the agreement may only be amended or terminated with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors.
Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the
T. ROWE PRICE | 2 |
fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example also assumes that any current expense limitation arrangement remains in place for the period noted in the table above; therefore, the figures have been adjusted to reflect fee waivers or expense reimbursements only in the periods for which the expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | |
Investor Class | $66 | $208 | $362 | $810 |
I Class | 52 | 164 | 285 | 640 |
Advisor Class | 92 | 349 | 631 | 1,435 |
Z Class | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Portfolio Turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 188.3% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks, and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds, and seeks to offer some protection against rising interest rates and provide a low correlation with the equity markets. The fund may invest in a variety of debt securities, including obligations issued by U.S. and foreign governments and their agencies, bonds issued by U.S. and foreign corporations, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities, as well as bank loans, which represent amounts borrowed by companies from banks and other lenders. The fund normally invests at least 40% of its net assets in foreign securities, including securities of emerging market issuers, which may be denominated in U.S. dollars or non-U.S. dollar currencies. For purposes of determining whether a fund holding is a foreign security, the fund uses the country assigned to a security by Bloomberg or another third-party data provider. There is no limit on the fund’s investments in securities issued by foreign issuers, although the fund’s overall net exposure to non-U.S. currencies through direct holdings and derivatives is normally limited to 50% of its net assets.
The fund focuses mainly on holdings that are rated investment grade (AAA, AA, A, BBB, or an equivalent rating) by established credit rating agencies or, if unrated, deemed to be investment grade by T. Rowe Price. However, the fund may invest up to 30% in high yield bonds, also known as junk bonds, and other holdings (such as bank loans) that are rated below investment grade (BB and lower, or an equivalent rating) by established credit rating agencies or, if unrated, deemed to be below investment grade by T. Rowe Price. If a security is split-rated (i.e., rated investment grade by at least one rating agency and below investment grade by another rating agency) at the time of purchase, the higher rating will be used for purposes of this limit.
SUMMARY | 3 |
When deciding whether to adjust duration (which measures the fund’s price sensitivity to interest rate changes) or allocations among the various sectors and asset classes (such as high yield corporate bonds, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, international bonds and emerging market bonds, and bank loans), the portfolio manager weighs such factors as expected interest rate movements and currency valuations, the outlook for inflation and the economy, and the yield advantage that lower rated bonds may offer over investment-grade bonds. The fund may invest in holdings of any maturity and does not attempt to maintain any particular weighted average maturity. The maturities of the fund’s holdings generally reflect the portfolio manager’s outlook for interest rates.
The fund’s investment approach allows the flexibility to invest across the global fixed income universe without constraints to particular benchmarks or asset classes in an effort to create a portfolio with low overall volatility and consistent income even in a rising interest rate environment. Although the fund has broad discretion in seeking fixed income investments that offer some downside risk protection and lower volatility, it is expected that the fund will normally maintain a relatively concentrated portfolio. As a result, the fund is “nondiversified,” meaning it may invest a greater portion of its assets in fewer issuers than is permissible for a “diversified” fund.
While most assets are typically invested in bonds and other debt instruments, the fund also uses interest rate futures, interest rate swaps, forward currency exchange contracts, and credit default swaps in keeping with the fund’s objective. Interest rate futures and interest rate swaps are primarily used to manage the fund’s exposure to interest rate changes and limit overall volatility by adjusting the portfolio’s duration and extending or shortening the overall maturity of the fund. Forward currency exchange contracts are used to limit overall volatility by protecting the fund’s non-U.S. dollar-denominated holdings from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar. However, such instruments may also be used to reduce volatility or generate returns by gaining long or short exposure to certain currencies expected to increase or decrease in value relative to other currencies. The fund may take a short position in a currency, which means that the fund could sell a currency in excess of its assets denominated in that currency (or the fund might sell a currency even if it doesn’t own any assets denominated in the currency). The fund may buy or sell credit default swaps involving a specific issuer or an index in order to adjust the fund’s overall credit quality, as well as to protect the value of certain portfolio holdings.
The fund may sell holdings for a variety of reasons, such as to alter geographic or currency exposure, to adjust the portfolio’s average maturity, duration, or overall credit quality, or to shift assets into and out of higher- or lower-yielding securities.
Principal Risks
As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its objective(s). The fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the fund. The principal risks of investing in this fund, which may be even greater during periods of market disruption or volatility, are summarized as follows.
T. ROWE PRICE | 4 |
International investing Investing in the securities of non-U.S. issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. issuers. Non-U.S. securities tend to be more volatile and have lower overall liquidity than investments in U.S. securities and may lose value because of adverse local, political, social, or economic developments overseas, or due to changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. In addition, investments outside the U.S. are subject to settlement practices and regulatory and financial reporting standards that differ from those of the U.S. The risks of investing outside the U.S. are heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are susceptible to greater volatility than investments in developed markets.
Emerging markets Investments in emerging market countries are subject to greater risk and overall volatility than investments in the U.S. and developed markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. In addition to the risks associated with investing outside the U.S., emerging markets are more susceptible to governmental interference, political and economic uncertainty, local taxes and restrictions on the fund’s investments, less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity, and more volatile currency exchange rates.
Fixed income markets Economic and other market developments can adversely affect the fixed income securities markets. At times, participants in these markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt instruments to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt instruments to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns could cause increased volatility and reduced liquidity in particular securities or in the overall fixed income markets and the related derivatives markets. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the fund’s ability to sell the debt instruments in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Derivatives The use of forward currency exchange contracts, interest rate futures, interest rate swaps, and credit default swaps exposes the fund to additional volatility in comparison to investing directly in bonds and other debt instruments. These instruments can be illiquid and difficult to value, may involve leverage so that small changes produce disproportionate losses for the fund and, if not traded on an exchange, are subject to the risk that a counterparty to the transaction will fail to meet its obligations under the derivatives contract. The fund’s principal use of derivatives involves the risk that anticipated interest rate movements, expected changes in currency values and currency exchange rates, or the creditworthiness of an issuer will not be accurately predicted, which could significantly harm the fund’s performance and impair the fund’s efforts to reduce its overall volatility.
Currency exposure Because the fund invests in securities issued in foreign currencies, the fund is subject to the risk that it could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar.
SUMMARY | 5 |
Hedging The fund’s attempts at hedging and taking long and short positions in currencies may not be successful and could cause the fund to lose money or fail to get the benefit of a gain on a hedged position. If expected changes to securities prices, interest rates, currency values and exchange rates, or the creditworthiness of an issuer are not accurately predicted, the fund could be in a worse position than if it had not entered into such transactions.
Interest rates The prices of, and the income generated by, debt instruments held by the fund may be affected by changes in interest rates. A rise in interest rates typically causes the price of a fixed rate debt instrument to fall and its yield to rise. Conversely, a decline in interest rates typically causes the price of a fixed rate debt instrument to rise and the yield to fall. Generally, funds with longer weighted average maturities and durations carry greater interest rate risk. In recent years, the U.S. and many global markets have experienced historically low interest rates. Although interest rates have begun to rise and may continue doing so, interest rates may decline in response to ongoing global trade disputes, increasing the exposure of bond funds to the risks associated with declining interest rates.
Prepayments and extensions The fund is subject to prepayment risks because the principal on mortgage-backed securities, other asset-backed securities, or any debt instrument with an embedded call option may be prepaid at any time, which could reduce the security’s yield and market value. The rate of prepayments tends to increase as interest rates fall, which could cause the average maturity of the portfolio to shorten. Extension risk may result from a rise in interest rates, which tends to make mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and other callable debt instruments more volatile.
Bank loans Investments in bank loans expose the fund to additional risks beyond those normally associated with more traditional debt instruments. The fund’s ability to receive payments in connection with the loan depends primarily on the financial condition of the borrower and whether or not a loan is secured by collateral, although there is no assurance that the collateral securing a loan will be sufficient to satisfy the loan obligation. In addition, bank loans often have contractual restrictions on resale, which can delay the sale and adversely impact the sale price. Transactions involving bank loans may have significantly longer settlement periods than more traditional investments (settlement can take longer than 7 days) and often involve borrowers whose financial condition is troubled or highly leveraged, which increases the risk that the fund may not receive its proceeds in a timely manner or that the fund may incur losses in order to pay redemption proceeds to its shareholders. In addition, loans are not registered under the federal securities laws like stocks and bonds, so investors in loans have less protection against improper practices than investors in registered securities.
Junk investing Investments in bonds that are rated below investment grade, commonly referred to as junk bonds, and loans that are rated below investment grade, expose the fund to greater volatility and credit risk than investments in securities that are rated investment-grade. Issuers of junk bonds and loans are usually not as strong financially and are more likely to suffer an adverse change in financial condition that would result in the inability to meet a financial obligation. As a result, bonds and loans rated below investment grade carry a higher risk of default and should be considered speculative.
T. ROWE PRICE | 6 |
Credit quality An issuer of a debt instrument could suffer an adverse change in financial condition that results in a payment default (failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments), rating downgrade, or inability to meet a financial obligation. Securities that are rated below investment grade carry greater risk of default and should be considered speculative.
Liquidity The fund may not be able to meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of the remaining shareholders’ interest in the fund. In addition, the fund may not be able to sell a holding in a timely manner at a desired price. Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Markets with lower overall liquidity could lead to greater price volatility and limit the fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.
Nondiversification As a nondiversified fund, the fund has the ability to invest a larger percentage of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, poor performance by a single issuer could adversely affect fund performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers. The fund’s share price can be expected to fluctuate more than that of a similar fund that is more broadly diversified.
Portfolio turnover High portfolio turnover may adversely affect the fund’s performance and increase transaction costs, which could increase the fund’s expenses. High portfolio turnover may also result in the distribution of higher capital gains when compared to a fund with less active trading policies, which could have an adverse tax impact if the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account.
Active management The fund’s overall investment program and holdings selected by the fund’s investment adviser may underperform the broad markets, relevant indices, or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
Performance
The following performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and is not necessarily an indication of future results.
The following bar chart illustrates how much returns can differ from year to year by showing calendar year returns and the best and worst calendar quarter returns during those years for the fund’s Investor Class. Returns for other share classes vary since they have different expenses.
SUMMARY | 7 |
The following table shows the average annual total returns for each class of the fund that has been in operation for at least one full calendar year, and also compares the returns with the returns of a relevant broad-based market index, as well as with the returns of one or more comparative indexes that have investment characteristics similar to those of the fund, if applicable.
In addition, the table shows hypothetical after-tax returns to demonstrate how taxes paid by a shareholder may influence returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or an IRA. After-tax returns are shown only for the Investor Class and will differ for other share classes.
T. ROWE PRICE | 8 |
Average Annual Total Returns |
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| Since | Inception |
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| Investor Class |
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| 01/22/2015 |
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| Returns before taxes | -0.40 | % |
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| 1.43 | % |
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Returns after taxes on distributions | -0.58 |
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| 0.33 | |||||||
Returns after taxes on distributions | |||||||||||
and sale of fund shares | -0.19 |
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| 0.63 | |||||||
| I Class |
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| 08/28/2015 |
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| Returns before taxes | -0.26 |
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| 1.05 |
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| Advisor Class |
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| 01/22/2015 |
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| Returns before taxes | -0.66 |
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| 1.18 |
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Z Class |
| 03/16/2020 | |||||||||
Returns before taxes | — | — | |||||||||
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| 3 Month LIBOR in USD (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) |
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| 1.42 | a |
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| 2.36 |
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| 1.58 | b |
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a Return since 1/22/15.
b Return since 8/28/15.
Updated performance information is available through troweprice.com.
Management
Investment Adviser T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price or Price Associates)
Investment Subadviser T. Rowe Price International Ltd (T. Rowe Price International)
Portfolio Manager | Title | Managed | Joined |
Arif Husain | Chairman of Investment Advisory Committee | 2015 | 2013 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Investor and Advisor Classes generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment if opening an IRA, a custodial account for a minor, or a small business retirement plan account). Additional purchases generally require a $100 minimum. These investment minimums generally are waived for financial intermediaries and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans submitting orders on behalf of their customers. Advisor Class shares may generally only be purchased through a financial intermediary or retirement plan.
SUMMARY | 9 |
The I Class requires a $1 million minimum initial investment and there is no minimum for additional purchases, although the initial investment minimum generally is waived for financial intermediaries, retirement plans, and certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority.
The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases.
For investors holding shares of the fund directly with T. Rowe Price, you may purchase, redeem, or exchange fund shares by mail; by telephone (1-800-225-5132 for IRAs and nonretirement accounts; 1-800-492-7670 for small business retirement plans; and 1-800-638-8790 for institutional investors and financial intermediaries); or, for certain accounts, by accessing your account online through troweprice.com.
If you hold shares through a financial intermediary or retirement plan, you must purchase, redeem, and exchange shares of the fund through your intermediary or retirement plan. You should check with your intermediary or retirement plan to determine the investment minimums that apply to your account.
Tax Information
The fund declares dividends daily and pays them on the first business day of each month. Any capital gains are declared and paid annually, usually in December. Redemptions or exchanges of fund shares and distributions by the fund, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional fund shares, generally may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains unless you invest through a tax-deferred account (in which case you will be taxed upon withdrawal from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 2 | |
Investment Adviser(s)
T. Rowe Price is the fund’s investment adviser and oversees the selection of the fund’s investments and management of the fund’s portfolio pursuant to an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and the fund. T. Rowe Price is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides investment management services to individual and institutional investors, and sponsors and serves as adviser and subadviser to registered investment companies, institutional separate accounts, and common trust funds. The address for T. Rowe Price is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. As of December 31, 2019, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates (the “Firm”) had approximately $1.21 trillion in assets under management and provided investment management services for more than 7 million individual and institutional investor accounts.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with T. Rowe Price International under which T. Rowe Price International is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of the fund. T. Rowe Price International is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser, and is authorized or licensed by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and other global regulators. T. Rowe Price International sponsors and serves as adviser to foreign collective investment schemes and provides investment management services to registered investment companies and other institutional investors. T. Rowe Price International is headquartered in London and has several branch offices around the world. T. Rowe Price International is a direct subsidiary of T. Rowe Price and its address is 60 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4TZ, United Kingdom.
Portfolio Management
T. Rowe Price has established an Investment Advisory Committee with respect to the fund. The committee chairman is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio and works with the committee in developing and executing the fund’s investment program. The members of the committee are as follows: Arif Husain, Chairman, Quentin S. Fitzsimmons, Stefan Hubrich, Kenneth A. Orchard, Scott D. Solomon, Ju Yen Tan, and J. Howard Woodward. The following information provides the year that the chairman (portfolio manager) first joined the Firm and the chairman’s specific business experience during the past five years (although the chairman may have had portfolio management responsibilities for a longer period). Mr. Husain has been chairman of the committee since the fund’s inception in 2015. He joined the Firm in 2013 and his investment experience dates from 1995. He has served as a portfolio manager and as the Head of International Fixed Income throughout the past five years. The Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of the fund’s shares.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 11 |
The Management Fee
The management fee consists of two components—an “individual fund fee,” which reflects the fund’s particular characteristics, and a “group fee.” The group fee, which is designed to reflect the benefits of the shared resources of the Firm, is calculated daily based on the combined net assets of all mutual funds sponsored and advised by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”) (except the funds-of-funds, TRP Reserve Funds, Multi-Sector Account Portfolios, and any index or private-label mutual funds). The group fee schedule (in the following table) is graduated, declining as the combined assets of the T. Rowe Price Funds rise, so shareholders benefit from the overall growth in mutual fund assets.
Group Fee Schedule
0.334%* | First $50 billion |
0.305% | Next $30 billion |
0.300% | Next $40 billion |
0.295% | Next $40 billion |
0.290% | Next $60 billion |
0.285% | Next $80 billion |
0.280% | Next $100 billion |
0.275% | Next $100 billion |
0.270% | Next $150 billion |
0.265% | Thereafter |
* Represents a blended group fee rate containing various breakpoints.
The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. On December 31, 2019, the annual group fee rate was 0.29%. The individual fund fee, also applied to the fund’s average daily net assets, is 0.20%.
With respect to the Investor Class, T. Rowe Price has contractually agreed (through April 30, 2021) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to average daily net assets to exceed 0.75%. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after April 30, 2021, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 0.75%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 0.75%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
With respect to the I Class, T. Rowe Price has contractually agreed (through April 30, 2022) to pay the operating expenses of the fund’s I Class excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses (“I Class Operating Expenses”), to the extent the I Class
T. ROWE PRICE | 12 |
Operating Expenses exceed 0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after April 30, 2022, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 0.90%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the fund whenever the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.05%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price if such repayment does not cause the I Class Operating Expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the limitation on I Class Operating Expenses in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses.
A discussion about the factors considered by the fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and its conclusions in approving the fund’s investment management agreement (and any subadvisory agreement, if applicable) appear in the fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ended June 30.
Investment Objective(s)
The fund seeks high current income.
The investment objective is a fundamental policy and shareholder approval is required to substantially change it. As with any fund, there is no guarantee the fund will achieve its objective.
Principal Investment Strategies
Consider your investment goals, your time horizon for achieving them, and your tolerance for risk. The fund should offer higher yields than money and short-term bond funds, but with greater risk. However, the fund should be less volatile than less diversified bond funds and funds that focus on emerging markets or high yield bonds.
The fund’s investment program provides considerable flexibility in constructing a portfolio that is well-positioned to respond to changes in interest rates without sacrificing the traditionally attractive characteristics of fixed income investing, such as income, diversification, and liquidity. The fund is not managed against any fixed income benchmark and overall places a greater emphasis on its duration and currency exposure than its credit exposure. The portfolio manager analyzes the overall investment opportunities and risks among the various fixed income sectors and allocates the fund’s assets based on an assessment of U.S. and global economic and market conditions, interest rate movements, currency exchange rates, industry and issuer conditions and business cycles, and other relevant factors. There are no maturity restrictions so the fund can purchase longer-term bonds, which tend to have higher yields than shorter-term issues, when conditions warrant.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 13 |
In addition to investing in a wide array of bonds and other debt instruments, the fund also uses interest rate futures, interest rate swaps, forward currency exchange contracts, and credit default swaps as part of its principal investment strategies. The fund typically uses derivatives as part of a strategy designed to adjust exposure to particular risks, such as interest rate risk, currency risk, and credit risk, or as a substitute for taking a direct position in the underlying asset.
Interest rate futures and swaps are typically used to manage the fund’s duration and overall interest rate exposure. Through the use of these instruments, the fund may either extend or shorten the overall maturity of the fund and adjust its exposure with respect to particular countries or bond markets. Forward currency exchange contracts are used to protect the fund’s non-U.S. dollar-denominated holdings from adverse currency movements by hedging the fund’s foreign currency exposure back to the U.S. dollar, as well as to gain exposure to a currency believed to be appreciating in value versus other currencies. The fund has wide flexibility to purchase and sell currencies independently of whether the fund owns bonds in those currencies and to engage in currency hedging transactions. The fund’s currency positions will vary with its outlook on the strength or weakness of one currency compared to another currency and the relative value of various currencies to one another. The fund may buy single name credit default swaps to protect against a negative credit event (such as a bankruptcy or downgrade) and an expected decline in the creditworthiness of an issuer, which would lead to a decrease in the value of the securities it issues. The fund may also sell single name credit default swaps to benefit from an expected improvement in an issuer’s creditworthiness. In addition, the fund may use credit default swap indexes to hedge the portfolio’s overall credit risk or to efficiently gain exposure to certain sectors or asset classes (such as high yield bonds).
The fund may take a net short position in a currency, which allows the fund to sell a currency in excess of the value of its holdings denominated in that currency or sell a currency even if it does not hold any assets denominated in the currency. The fund may also use interest rate futures and swaps to take long or short positions with respect to its exposure to a particular country or bond market. In addition, the fund may use credit default swaps to take long or short positions with respect to an underlying issuer or asset class by either selling or buying protection under the contract.
The fund’s yield will vary. The fund’s yield is the annualized dividends earned for a given period (typically 30 days for bond funds), divided by the share price at the end of the period. The fund’s total return includes distributions from income and capital gains and the change in share price for a given period.
Credit quality refers to a bond issuer’s expected ability to make all required interest and principal payments on time. Because highly-rated issuers represent less risk, they can borrow at lower interest rates than less-creditworthy issuers. Therefore, a fund investing in high-quality securities should have a lower yield than an otherwise comparable fund investing in lower-quality securities.
Every bond has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the bond’s entire principal value to the investor. However, many bonds are “callable,” meaning their principal can be
T. ROWE PRICE | 14 |
repaid before the stated maturity date. Bonds are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, just as a homeowner refinances a mortgage when interest rates fall. In that environment, a bond’s “effective maturity” is usually its nearest call date. For example, the rate at which homeowners pay down their mortgage principal determines the effective maturity of mortgage-backed bonds.
Mortgage-backed securities differ from other high-quality bonds in one major respect. Non-mortgage bonds generally repay principal (face value of the bond) when their maturity date is reached, but most mortgage-backed securities repay principal continually as homeowners make mortgage payments. Homeowners have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, perhaps to refinance or buy a new home. As a result, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is virtually always shorter than its stated maturity. For example, a newly issued pass-through certificate backed by 30-year, fixed rate mortgages will generally have a far shorter life than 30 years—probably 12 years or less. Therefore, it will usually be about as volatile as a 10-year Treasury bond. It is possible to estimate the average life of an entire mortgage pool backing a particular security with some accuracy, but not with certainty.
A bond fund has no real maturity, but it does have a weighted average maturity and a weighted average effective maturity. Each of these numbers is an average of the stated or effective maturities of the underlying bonds, with each bond’s maturity “weighted” by the percentage of fund assets it represents. (The fund’s average effective maturity takes into consideration the possibility that an issuer may call a bond before its maturity date or, with respect to a pool of mortgages, the likelihood of prepayments on the mortgages.) Some funds utilize effective maturities rather than stated maturities when managing a fund to a certain average maturity, which provides additional flexibility in portfolio management.
Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a bond or a bond fund to changes in interest rates. It is expressed in years, like maturity, but it is a better indicator of price sensitivity than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the bond’s life. Future interest and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years–the duration. “Effective” duration takes into account call features and sinking fund payments that may shorten a bond’s life.
Since duration can be computed for bond funds, you can estimate the effect of interest rate fluctuations on share prices by multiplying the fund’s duration by an expected change in interest rates. For example, the price of a bond fund with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately 5% if interest rates rose by one percentage point. A bond fund with a longer duration will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a bond fund with a shorter duration. (The fund’s duration is shown in its shareholder report.)
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 15 |
Principal Risks
Some of the principal tools the adviser uses to try to reduce overall risk include intensive research when evaluating a company’s prospects and limiting exposure to certain industries, asset classes, or investment styles when appropriate.
Consistent with the fund’s objective, the portfolio manager uses various tools to try to reduce risks and increase total return, including:
· Thorough credit research performed by T. Rowe Price analysts.
· Analysis of industry, country, and regional fundamentals.
· Adjusting the fund’s duration to try to reduce the drop in its share price when interest rates rise or to benefit from a rise in bond prices when interest rates fall. (For example, when interest rates rise, the portfolio manager may seek to lower the fund’s overall duration in an effort to reduce the adverse impact on the fund’s share price.)
· Management of the impact of foreign currency changes on the fund’s portfolio.
The principal risks associated with the fund’s principal investment strategies include the following:
International investing Investments outside the U.S. may lose value because of declining foreign currencies or adverse political or economic events overseas, among other things. Securities of non-U.S. issuers (including depositary receipts and other instruments that represent interests in a non-U.S. issuer) tend to be more volatile than U.S. securities and are subject to trading markets with lower overall liquidity, governmental interference, and regulatory and accounting standards and settlement practices that differ from the U.S. The fund could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies in which the fund’s holdings are denominated versus the U.S. dollar, and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar. Risks can result from differing regulatory environments, less stringent investor protections, uncertain tax laws, and higher transaction costs compared to U.S. markets. Investments outside the U.S. could be subject to governmental actions such as capital or currency controls, nationalization of a company or industry, expropriation of assets, or imposition of high taxes.
A trading market may close for national holidays or without warning for extended time periods, preventing the fund from buying or selling securities in that market. Trading securities in which the fund invests may take place in various foreign markets on certain days when the fund is not open for business and does not calculate its net asset value. For example, the fund may invest in securities that trade in various foreign markets that are open on weekends. As the securities trade, their value may substantially change. As a result, the fund’s net asset value may be significantly affected on days when shareholders cannot make transactions. In addition, market volatility may significantly limit the liquidity of securities of certain issuers in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the fund’s obligations.
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Emerging markets Investments in emerging markets are subject to the risk of abrupt and severe price declines. The economic and political structures of emerging market countries, in most cases, do not compare favorably with the U.S. or other developed countries in terms of wealth and stability, and their financial markets often lack liquidity. These economies are less developed, can be overly reliant on particular industries, and are more vulnerable to the ebb and flow of international trade, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets. As a result, foreign investments may be restricted and subject to greater government control, including repatriation of sales proceeds. Emerging market securities exchanges are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the custody of holdings by local banks, agents, and depositories. In addition, the accounting standards in emerging market countries may be unreliable and could present an inaccurate picture of a company’s finances. Some countries have histories of instability and upheaval that could cause their governments to act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. Investments in countries or regions that have recently begun moving away from central planning and state-owned industries toward free markets should be regarded as speculative.
While some countries have made progress in economic growth, liberalization, fiscal discipline, and political and social stability, there is no assurance these trends will continue. Significant risks, such as war and terrorism, currently affect some emerging market countries. The fund’s performance will likely be hurt by exposure to nations in the midst of hyperinflation, currency devaluation, trade disagreements, sudden political upheaval, or interventionist government policies. The volatility of emerging markets may be heightened by the actions (such as significant buying or selling) of a few major investors. For example, substantial increases or decreases in cash flows of mutual funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local securities prices and, therefore, could cause fund share prices to decline.
Fixed income markets The market price of investments owned by the fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The fund’s investments may decline in value due to factors affecting the overall fixed income markets, or particular industries or sectors. The value of a holding may decline due to developments related to a particular issuer, but also due to general fixed income market conditions, including real or perceived adverse economic developments such as changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation, or currency rates, or generally adverse investor sentiment. The value of a holding may also decline due to factors that negatively affect a particular industry, such as labor shortages, increased production costs, or competitive conditions. The fund may experience heavy redemptions that could cause it to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value.
Derivatives The use of interest rate futures, interest rate swaps, and forward currency exchange contracts could expose the fund to additional volatility in comparison to investing directly in bonds and other debt instruments. These instruments can experience reduced liquidity and become difficult to value, and any of these instruments not traded on an exchange are subject to the risk that a counterparty to the transaction will fail to meet its obligations under the derivatives contract. The use of these instruments involves the risks that anticipated
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interest rate movements and changes in currency exchange rates will not be accurately predicted. Interest rates and yield curves vary from country to country depending on local economic conditions and monetary and fiscal policies, and interest rate changes and their impact tend to be more difficult to predict for foreign countries, particularly emerging market countries. Any efforts at buying or selling currencies could result in significant losses for the fund and, if the fund takes a short position in a particular currency, it will lose money if the currency appreciates in value. Further, if the fund’s foreign currency transactions are intended to hedge the currency risk associated with investing in foreign securities and minimize the risk of loss that would result from a decline in the value of the hedged currency, these transactions also may limit any potential gain that might result should the value of such currency increase. The use of credit default swaps exposes the fund to the risk of losses and the risk that anticipated changes in the creditworthiness of an issuer or the likelihood of a credit event will not be accurately predicted. If the fund buys a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date.
Currency exposure A decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar could reduce the dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. The overall impact on the fund’s holdings can be significant, unpredictable, and long-lasting, depending on the currencies represented in the fund’s portfolio, how each foreign currency appreciates or depreciates in relation to the U.S. dollar, and whether currency positions are hedged. Further, any attempts at hedging could be unsuccessful and it can be difficult to effectively hedge the currency risks of many emerging market countries.
Hedging If the fund takes a short position in a particular currency, security, or bond market, it will lose money if the currency, security, or bond market appreciates in value, or an expected credit event fails to occur. Any efforts at buying or selling currencies could result in significant losses for the fund. Further, foreign currency transactions that are intended to hedge the currency risk associated with investing in foreign securities and minimize the risk of loss that would result from a decline in the value of the hedged currency may also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of such currency increase.
Interest rates The prices of bonds and other fixed income securities typically increase as interest rates fall and prices typically decrease as interest rates rise (bond prices and interest rates usually move in opposite directions). Prices fall because the bonds and notes in the fund’s portfolio become less attractive to other investors when securities with higher yields become available. Generally, securities with longer maturities or durations and funds with longer weighted average maturities or durations have greater interest rate risk. As a result, in a rising interest rate environment, the net asset value of a fund with a longer weighted average maturity or duration typically decreases at a faster rate than the net asset value of a fund with a shorter weighted average maturity or duration. Interest rates have recently been near historically low levels. In addition, some markets have experienced negative interest rates on bank deposits and the debt instruments of certain issuers have traded at negative yields. Extremely low or negative interest rates may increase the fund’s susceptibility to interest rate risk and reduce the fund’s yield.
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Prepayments and extensions A fund investing in mortgage-backed securities, certain asset-backed securities, and other debt instruments that have embedded call options can be negatively impacted when interest rates fall because borrowers tend to refinance and prepay principal. Receiving increasing prepayments in a falling interest rate environment causes the average maturity of the portfolio to shorten, reducing its potential for price gains. It also requires the fund to reinvest proceeds at lower interest rates, which reduces the fund’s total return and yield, and could result in a loss if bond prices fall below the level that the fund paid for them. A rise in interest rates or lack of refinancing opportunities can cause the fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in expected prepayments of mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and callable debt instruments. This would increase the fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.
Bank loans Bank loans often have contractual restrictions on resale. These restrictions can delay or impede the fund’s ability to sell loans and may adversely affect the price that can be obtained. Loans and unlisted securities are typically less liquid than securities traded on national exchanges. The secondary market for loans may be subject to irregular trading activity and extended settlement periods, and the liquidity of bank loans can vary significantly over time. For example, if the credit quality of a bank loan unexpectedly declines significantly, secondary market trading in that floating rate loan can also decline. During periods of infrequent trading, valuing a bank loan can be more difficult and buying or selling a loan at an acceptable price may not be possible or may be delayed.
The terms of the bank loans held by the fund may require that the borrowing company maintain collateral to support payment of its obligations. However, the value of the collateral securing a bank loan can decline or be insufficient to meet the obligations of the company. In addition, collateral securing a loan may be found invalid, may be used to pay other outstanding obligations of the borrower, or may be difficult to liquidate. The fund’s access to the collateral may be limited by bankruptcy, other insolvency laws, or by the type of loan the fund has purchased. For example, if the fund purchases a participation interest instead of an assignment, it would not have direct access to collateral of the borrower. As a result, a bank loan may not be fully collateralized and can decline significantly in value.
Junk investing Junk investing subjects the fund to heightened credit risk. Issuers of junk bonds and loans are not as strong financially as those with higher credit ratings, so the issuers and lenders are more vulnerable to financial setbacks and recession than more creditworthy issuers, which may impair their ability to make interest and principal payments. As a result, below investment grade investments carry greater risks of default and erratic price swings due to real or perceived changes in the credit quality of the issuer or lender.
Because the credit quality of the issuer is lower, such investments are more sensitive to developments affecting the issuer’s or lender’s underlying fundamentals, such as changes in financial condition or a particular country’s general economy. In addition, the entire below investment-grade bond and loan markets can experience sudden and sharp price swings due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by institutional investors, a high-profile default, or a change in the market’s
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psychology. This type of volatility is usually associated more with stocks than bonds, but investors in lower-quality bonds and loans should also anticipate it. Since mutual funds can be a major source of demand in certain junk bond and loan markets, substantial cash flows into and out of these funds can affect prices. If, for example, a significant number of funds were to sell bonds or loans to meet shareholder redemptions, bond and loan prices and funds’ share prices could fall more than underlying fundamentals might justify.
Any investments in distressed or defaulted instruments subject the fund to even greater credit risk than investments in other below investment-grade investments. Investments in obligations of restructured, distressed, and bankrupt issuers, including debt obligations that are already in default, generally trade significantly below par and may lack liquidity. Defaulted securities might be repaid only after lengthy bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer might not make any interest or other payments, and such proceedings may result in only partial recovery of principal or no recovery at all. Recovery could involve an exchange of the defaulted obligation for other debt instruments or equity securities of the issuer or its affiliates, each of which may in turn lack liquidity or be speculative and be valued by the fund at significantly less than its original purchase price. In addition, investments in distressed issuers may subject the fund to liability as a lender.
Credit quality An issuer of a debt instrument held by the fund could default (fail to make scheduled interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the fund’s income and share price. Credit risk is increased when portfolio holdings are downgraded or the perceived financial condition of an issuer deteriorates. Holdings with an investment-grade rating (AAA through BBB, or an equivalent rating) should have a relatively low risk of encountering financial problems and a relatively high probability of future payments. However, holdings rated BBB (or an equivalent rating) are more susceptible to adverse economic conditions than other investment-grade holdings and may have speculative characteristics. Holdings rated below investment grade should be regarded as speculative because their issuers may be more susceptible to financial setbacks and recession than more creditworthy issuers.
Liquidity The fund may not be able to meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of the remaining shareholders’ interest in the fund. In addition, the fund may not be able to sell a holding in a timely manner at a desired price. Sectors of the bond market can experience sudden downturns in trading activity. During periods of reduced market liquidity, the spread between the price at which a security can be bought and the price at which it can be sold can widen, and the fund may not be able to sell a holding readily at a price that reflects what the fund believes it should be worth. Securities with lower overall liquidity can also become more difficult to value. Liquidity risk may be the result of, among other things, the reduced number and capacity of traditional broker-dealers to make a market in fixed income securities or the lack of an active market. The potential for liquidity risk may be magnified by a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where selling activity from fixed income investors may be higher than normal, potentially causing increased supply in the market.
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Nondiversification Because the fund is nondiversified and thus can invest more of its assets in a smaller number of issuers, it is more exposed to the risks associated with an individual issuer than a fund that invests more broadly across many issuers. For example, poor performance by a single large holding of the fund would adversely affect the fund’s performance more than if the fund were invested in a larger number of issuers.
Portfolio turnover Generally, the higher the portfolio turnover rate, the higher the overall transaction costs and the greater the potential impact on the fund’s total return. High portfolio turnover results in increased transaction costs to the fund, which may include dealer mark-ups, brokerage commissions, and other transaction costs related to the sale of holdings and reinvestment of the proceeds in other holdings. The fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year due to fluctuations in the levels of shareholder purchase and redemption activity, shifts in market conditions or evaluations of industries or specific issuers, and/or changes in the portfolio manager’s overall investment outlook. Since bonds typically have a maturity date and will eventually require reinvestment, funds investing primarily in bonds tend to have higher portfolio turnover than funds investing primarily in stocks. For funds investing in shorter-term securities, mortgage-backed securities, and callable debt instruments, more frequent reinvestment of principal is typically required. Certain investment strategies, such as sector rotation and duration management, may necessitate more frequent trading, and the use of certain types of derivatives may significantly increase the fund’s portfolio turnover rate.
Active management The investment adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. The fund could underperform other funds with a similar benchmark or similar investment program if the fund’s investment selections or overall strategies fail to produce the intended results.
Additional Strategies and Risks
In addition to the principal investment strategies and principal risks previously described, the fund may employ other, non-principal investment strategies and may be subject to other risks, which are described in the following paragraphs.
Such investments may include other securities and, to a limited extent, other types of derivatives than those described in the fund’s principal strategies. The fund may use equity futures to take long or short positions with respect to equity markets. Short positions in such instruments are typically used to hedge the portfolio’s overall level of market risk or reduce the fund’s correlation with the equity markets. In addition to forward currency exchange contracts, the fund may use a variety of other currency derivative instruments, such as currency swaps, foreign currency options, and currency futures. Such instruments are typically used for currency hedging and may be used to take a short position in a currency, and are subject to many of the same risks associated with forward currency exchange contracts.
Derivatives Derivatives typically involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the assets on which the derivative is based. Certain derivatives can be highly volatile, lack liquidity, and be difficult to value. Changes in the value of a derivative may not properly correlate with changes in the value of the underlying asset,
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reference rate, or index. The fund could be exposed to significant losses if it is unable to close a derivative position due to the lack of a liquid trading market. Derivatives involve the risk that a counterparty to the derivatives agreement will fail to make required payments or comply with the terms of the agreement. There is also the possibility that limitations or trading restrictions may be imposed by an exchange or government regulation, which could adversely impact the value and liquidity of a derivatives contract subject to such regulation.
Recent regulations have changed the requirements related to the use of certain derivatives. Some of these new regulations have limited the availability of certain derivatives and made their use by funds more costly. It is expected that additional changes to the regulatory framework will occur, but the extent and impact of additional new regulations are not certain at this time.
Cybersecurity breaches The fund may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity breaches may involve deliberate attacks and unauthorized access to the digital information systems (for example, through “hacking” or malicious software coding) used by the fund or its third-party service providers but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks. These breaches may, among other things, result in financial losses to the fund and its shareholders, cause the fund to lose proprietary information, disrupt business operations, or result in the unauthorized release of confidential information. Further, cybersecurity breaches involving the fund’s third-party service providers, trading counterparties, or issuers in which the fund invests could subject the fund to many of the same risks associated with direct breaches.
This section provides a more detailed description of the various types of portfolio holdings and investment practices that may be used by the fund to execute its overall investment program. Some of these holdings and investment practices are considered to be principal investment strategies of the fund and have already been described earlier in this prospectus while others are considered non-principal. Any of the following holdings and investment practices that were not already described in Section 1 of this prospectus are considered non-principal investment practices, but they may be used by the fund from time-to-time to help achieve its investment objective. The fund’s investments may be subject to further restrictions and risks described in the Statement of Additional Information. Shareholders will receive at least 60 days’ prior notice of a change in the fund's policy requiring it to invest at least 80% of its net assets in bonds.
The fund’s holdings in certain kinds of investments cannot exceed maximum percentages as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. For instance, there are limitations regarding the fund’s investments in certain types of derivatives. While these restrictions provide a useful level of detail about the fund’s investments, investors should not view them as an accurate gauge of the potential risk of such investments. For example, in a given period, a 5% investment in derivatives could have a significantly greater impact on the
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fund’s share price than its weighting in the portfolio. The net effect of a particular investment depends on its volatility and the size of its overall return in relation to the performance of all of the fund’s investments.
Certain investment restrictions, such as a required minimum or maximum investment in a particular type of security, are measured at the time the fund purchases a security. The status, market value, maturity, duration, credit quality, or other characteristics of the fund’s securities may change after they are purchased, and this may cause the amount of the fund’s assets invested in such securities to exceed the stated maximum restriction or fall below the stated minimum restriction. If any of these changes occur, it would not be considered a violation of the investment restriction and will not require the sale of an investment if it was proper at the time the investment was made (this exception does not apply to the fund’s borrowing policy). However, certain changes will require holdings to be sold or purchased by the fund during the time it is above or below the stated percentage restriction in order for the fund to be in compliance with applicable restrictions.
Changes in the fund’s holdings, the fund’s performance, and the contribution of various investments to the fund’s performance are discussed in the shareholder reports.
Portfolio managers have considerable discretion in choosing investment strategies and selecting securities they believe will help achieve the fund’s objective.
Types of Portfolio Securities
In seeking to meet its investment objective, the fund may invest in any type of security or instrument (including certain potentially high-risk derivatives described in this section) whose investment characteristics are consistent with its investment program. The following pages describe various types of the fund’s holdings and investment management practices, some of which are also described as part of the fund’s principal investment strategies.
Bonds
A bond is an interest-bearing security. The issuer has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal (the bond’s face value) on a specified date. An issuer may have the right to redeem or “call” a bond before maturity, and the investor may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower market rates. Bonds can be issued by U.S. and foreign governments, states, and municipalities, as well as a wide variety of companies.
A bond’s annual interest income, set by its coupon rate, is usually fixed for the life of the bond. Its yield (income as a percent of current price) will fluctuate to reflect changes in interest rate levels. A bond’s price usually rises when interest rates fall and vice versa, so its yield generally stays consistent with current market conditions.
Conventional fixed rate bonds offer a coupon rate for a fixed maturity with no adjustment for inflation. Real rate of return bonds also offer a fixed coupon but include ongoing inflation adjustments for the life of the bond.
Certain bonds have floating or variable interest rates that are adjusted periodically based on a particular index. These interest rate adjustments tend to minimize fluctuations in the bonds’
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principal values. The maturity of certain floating rate securities may be shortened under certain specified conditions.
Common and Preferred Stocks
Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Generally, preferred stocks have a specified dividend rate and rank after bonds and before common stocks in their claim on income for dividend payments and on assets should the company be liquidated. After other claims are satisfied, common stockholders participate in company profits on a pro-rata basis and profits may be paid out in dividends or reinvested in the company to help it grow. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price, so common stocks generally have the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities. Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. While most preferred stocks pay a dividend, the fund may decide to purchase preferred stock where the issuer has suspended, or is in danger of suspending, payment of its dividend.
Convertible Securities and Warrants
The fund may invest in debt instruments or preferred equity securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities at specified times in the future and according to a certain exchange ratio. Convertible bonds are typically callable by the issuer, which could in effect force conversion before the holder would otherwise choose. Traditionally, convertible securities have paid dividends or interest at rates higher than common stocks but lower than nonconvertible securities. They generally participate in the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying stock into which they are convertible, but to a lesser degree than common stock. Some convertible securities combine higher or lower current income with options and other features. Warrants are options to buy, directly from the issuer, a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime during the life of the warrants (generally, two or more years). Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and can be highly volatile. In some cases, the redemption value of a warrant could be zero.
Foreign Securities
The fund may invest in foreign securities. Foreign securities could include non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities traded outside the U.S. and U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers traded in the U.S. (such as Yankee bonds). Investing in foreign securities involves special risks that can increase the potential for losses. These include exposure to potentially adverse local, political, social, and economic developments such as war, political instability, hyperinflation, currency devaluations, and overdependence on particular industries; government interference in markets such as nationalization and exchange controls, expropriation of assets, or imposition of punitive taxes; the imposition of international trade and capital barriers and other protectionist or retaliatory measures; potentially lower liquidity and higher volatility; possible problems arising from accounting, disclosure, settlement, and regulatory practices and legal rights that differ from U.S. standards; and the potential for fluctuations in foreign exchange rates to decrease the investment’s value (favorable changes can increase its value). These risks are heightened for the fund’s investments in emerging markets.
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Asset-Backed Securities
An underlying pool of assets, such as credit card or automobile trade receivables or corporate loans or bonds, backs these bonds and provides the interest and principal payments to investors. On occasion, the pool of assets may also include a swap obligation, which is used to change the cash flows on the underlying assets. As an example, a swap may be used to allow floating rate assets to back a fixed rate obligation. Credit quality depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets, the level of any credit support provided by the structure or by a third-party insurance wrap or a line of credit, and the credit quality of the swap counterparty, if any. The underlying assets (i.e., loans) are sometimes subject to prepayments, which can shorten the security’s effective maturity and may lower its return. The value of these securities also may change because of actual or perceived changes in the creditworthiness of the individual borrowers, the originator, the servicing agent, the financial institution providing the credit support, or the swap counterparty.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
The fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage lenders pool individual home mortgages with similar characteristics to back a certificate or bond, which is sold to investors such as the fund. Interest and principal payments generated by the underlying mortgages are passed through to the investors. The “big three” issuers are the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Government National Mortgage Association certificates are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, while others, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation certificates, are only supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the credit of the agency. (Since September 2008, the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation have operated under conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, an independent federal agency.) Private mortgage bankers and other institutions also issue mortgage-backed securities.
Mortgage-backed securities are subject to scheduled and unscheduled principal payments as homeowners pay down or prepay their mortgages. As these payments are received, they must be reinvested when interest rates may be higher or lower than on the original mortgage security. Therefore, these securities are not an effective means of locking in long-term interest rates. In addition, when interest rates fall, the rate of mortgage prepayments, including refinancings, tends to increase. Refinanced mortgages are paid off at face value or “par,” causing a loss for any investor who may have purchased the security at a price above par. In such an environment, this risk limits the potential price appreciation of these securities and can negatively affect the fund’s net asset value. When interest rates rise, the prices of mortgage-backed securities can be expected to decline. In addition, when interest rates rise and prepayments slow, the effective duration of mortgage-backed securities extends, resulting in increased price volatility.
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Other types of mortgage-backed securities in which the fund may invest include:
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations Collateralized mortgage obligations are debt instruments that are fully collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities including Government National Mortgage Association, Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and non-agency-backed mortgages. All interest and principal payments from the underlying mortgages are passed through to the collateralized mortgage obligations in such a way as to create different classes with varying risk characteristics, payment structures, and maturity dates. Collateralized mortgage obligation classes may pay fixed or variable rates of interest, and certain classes have priority over others with respect to the receipt of prepayments and allocation of defaults.
Stripped Mortgage Securities Stripped mortgage securities are created by separating the interest and principal payments generated by a pool of mortgage-backed securities or a collateralized mortgage obligation to create additional classes of securities. Generally, one class receives interest-only payments and another receives principal-only payments. Unlike other mortgage-backed securities and principal-only strips, the value of interest-only strips tends to move in the same direction as interest rates. The fund can use interest-only strips as a hedge against falling prepayment rates (when interest rates are rising) and/or in an unfavorable market environment. Principal-only strips can be used as a hedge against rising prepayment rates (when interest rates are falling) and/or in a favorable market environment. Interest-only strips and principal-only strips are acutely sensitive to interest rate changes and to the rate of principal prepayments.
A rapid or unexpected increase in prepayments can severely depress the price of interest-only strips, while a rapid or unexpected decrease in prepayments could have the same effect on principal-only strips. Of course, under the opposite conditions these securities may appreciate in value. These securities can be very volatile in price and may have lower overall liquidity than most other mortgage-backed securities. Certain non-stripped collateralized mortgage obligation classes may also exhibit these qualities, especially those that pay variable rates of interest that adjust inversely with, and more rapidly than, short-term interest rates. In addition, if interest rates rise rapidly and prepayment rates slow more than expected, certain collateralized mortgage obligation classes, in addition to losing value, can exhibit characteristics of long-term securities and become more volatile. There is no guarantee that the fund’s investments in collateralized mortgage obligations, interest-only strips, or principal-only strips will be successful, and the fund’s total return could be adversely affected as a result.
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Commercial mortgage-backed securities are securities created from a pool of commercial mortgage loans, such as loans for hotels, shopping centers, office buildings, and apartment buildings. Interest and principal payments from the loans are passed on to the investor according to a schedule of payments. Credit quality depends primarily on the quality of the loans themselves and on the structure of the particular deal. Generally, deals are structured with senior and subordinate classes. The degree of subordination is determined by the rating agencies that rate the individual classes of the structure. Commercial mortgages are generally structured with prepayment penalties, which
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greatly reduce prepayment risk to the investor. However, the value of these securities may change because of actual or perceived changes in the creditworthiness of the individual borrowers, their tenants, the servicing agents, or the general state of commercial real estate.
Inflation-Linked Securities
Inflation-linked securities are income-generating instruments whose interest and principal payments are adjusted for inflation—a sustained increase in prices of goods and services that erodes the purchasing power of money. Treasury inflation-protected securities are inflation-linked securities issued by the U.S. government. Inflation-linked bonds are also issued by corporations, U.S. government agencies, and foreign governments. The inflation adjustment, which is typically applied monthly to the principal of the bond, follows a designated inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. A fixed coupon rate is applied to the inflation-adjusted principal so that as inflation rises, both the principal value and the interest payments increase. This can provide investors with a hedge against inflation, as it helps preserve the purchasing power of your investment. Because of this inflation-adjustment feature, inflation-protected bonds typically have lower yields than conventional fixed rate bonds.
Inflation-protected bonds normally will decline in price when real interest rates rise. (A real interest rate is calculated by subtracting the inflation rate from a nominal interest rate. For example, if a 10-year Treasury note is yielding 5% and inflation expectations for the next 10 years are 2%, the real interest rate is 3%.) If inflation is negative, the principal and income of an inflation-protected bond could decline and result in losses for the fund.
Bank Loans and Floating Rate Debt Instruments
Floating rate bank loans and floating rate and variable rate debt instruments have interest rates that reset periodically. Floating rate loans may include bank loans, term loans, delayed draw term loans, bridge loans, and synthetic (or funded) letters of credit. Floating rate debt instruments include variable rate bonds and notes.
Floating rate loans may be senior or subordinated obligations of the borrower and may be unsecured or secured by collateral of the borrower. Senior floating rate loans have a claim to the assets of the borrower that is senior to certain other creditors of the borrower and to certain other floating rate loans (such as second lien loans). The proceeds of floating rate loans are used by the borrower for a variety of purposes, including financing leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, dividends, and to finance internal growth. The fund may invest in loans where a company is in uncertain financial condition, where the borrower has defaulted in the payment of interest or principal or performance of its covenants or agreements, or is involved in bankruptcy proceedings, reorganizations, or financial restructurings.
A term loan is a loan that has a specified repayment schedule. A delayed draw loan is a special feature in a term loan that permits the borrower to withdraw predetermined portions of the total amount borrowed at certain times. A bridge loan is a short-term loan arrangement typically made by a borrower in anticipation of longer-term permanent financing. Most bridge loans are structured so that their interest rates rise the longer the loans remain outstanding. A
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letter of credit is a guarantee by a bank that the borrower’s payment to the lender will be received on time and for the correct amount. If the fund enters into a commitment with a borrower regarding a delayed draw term loan or bridge loan, the fund will be obligated on one or more dates in the future to lend the borrower monies (up to an aggregate stated amount) if called upon to do so by the borrower.
Bank loans may be acquired directly through an agent acting on behalf of the lenders participating in the loan, as an assignment from another lender who holds a direct interest in the loan, or as a participation interest in another lender’s portion of the loan. An assignment typically results in the purchaser succeeding to all rights and obligations under the loan agreement between the assigning lender and the borrower. However, assignments may be arranged through private negotiations, and the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of an assignment may differ from, and be more limited than, those held by the assigning lender.
A participation interest is a fractional interest in a loan, issued by a lender or other financial institution. To the extent the fund invests in loans through participation interests, it will be more difficult for it to enforce its rights against the borrower because it will have established a direct contractual relationship with the seller of the participation interest but not with the borrower. When the fund invests in a loan by participation, it must rely on another party not only for the enforcement of its rights against the borrower, but also for the receipt and processing of payments due under the loan. Investing in a participation interest limits the fund’s ability to file a claim directly as a creditor in the event of the borrower’s bankruptcy.
The fund may make investments in a company through the purchase or execution of a privately negotiated note representing the equivalent of a loan. Larger loans to corporations or governments, including governments of less developed countries, may be shared or syndicated among several lenders, usually banks. The fund could participate in such syndicates or could buy part of a loan, becoming a direct lender. These loans may often be obligations of companies or governments in financial distress or in default.
There is no organized exchange or board of trade on which loans are traded. Instead, the secondary market for loans is an unregulated inter-dealer or inter-bank resale market. Market quotations for a particular loan may vary over time, and if the credit quality of a loan unexpectedly declines, secondary trading of that loan may decline or cease. In general, a secondary market may be subject to irregular trading activity, wide bid/ask spreads and extended trade settlement periods, which may impair the fund’s ability to realize full value and thus cause a significant decline in the fund’s net asset value.
Loans in which the fund invests may require the consent of the borrower and/or the agent prior to sale or assignment. These consent requirements can delay or impede the fund’s ability to sell loans and may adversely affect the price that can be obtained.
High Yield Bonds
The price and yield of noninvestment-grade (high yield) bonds, including noninvestment-grade emerging market bonds, can be expected to fluctuate more than the price and yield of
T. ROWE PRICE | 28 |
higher-quality bonds. Because these bonds are rated below BBB (or an equivalent rating) or are in default, they are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Successful investment in lower-medium and low-quality bonds involves greater investment risk and is highly dependent on T. Rowe Price’s credit analysis. A real or perceived economic downturn or higher interest rates could cause a decline in high yield bond prices by lessening the ability of issuers to make principal and interest payments. These bonds are often thinly traded and can be more difficult to sell and value accurately than higher-quality bonds. Because objective pricing data may be less available, judgment may play a greater role in the valuation process. In addition, the entire high yield bond market can experience sudden and sharp price swings due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large or sustained sales by major investors, a high-profile default, or just a change in the market’s psychology.
Derivatives and Leverage
A derivative is a financial instrument whose value is derived from an underlying security, such as a stock or bond, or from a market benchmark, such as an interest rate index. Many types of investments representing a wide range of risks and potential rewards may be considered derivatives, including conventional instruments such as futures and options, as well as other potentially more complex investments such as swaps and structured notes. The use of derivatives can involve leverage. Leverage has the effect of magnifying returns, positively or negatively. The effect on returns will depend on the extent to which an investment is leveraged. For example, an investment of $1, leveraged at 2 to 1, would have the effect of an investment of $2. Leverage ratios can be higher or lower with a corresponding effect on returns. The fund may use derivatives in a variety of situations, including for the purposes of accomplishing any or all of the following: to hedge against a decline in principal value, to increase yield, to gain exposure to eligible asset classes or securities with greater efficiency and at a lower cost than is possible through a direct investment, or to adjust portfolio duration or credit risk exposures. In accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and various SEC positions, the fund must “set aside” (often referred to as “asset segregation”) liquid assets, or engage in other measures, to “cover” open positions with respect to certain kinds of derivative instruments.
Derivatives that may be used include the following instruments, as well as others that combine the risk characteristics and features of futures, options, and swaps:
Futures and Options Futures are often used to establish exposures or manage or hedge risk because they enable the investor to buy or sell an asset in the future at an agreed-upon price. Options may be used to generate additional income, to enhance returns, or as a defensive technique to protect against anticipated declines in the value of an asset. Call options give the investor the right to purchase (when the investor purchases the option), or the obligation to sell (when the investor “writes” or sells the option), an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Put options give the purchaser of the option the right to sell, or the seller (or “writer”) of the option the obligation to buy, an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Futures and options contracts may be bought or sold for any number of reasons, including to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, bond prices, foreign currencies, and credit quality; as an
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 29 |
efficient means of increasing or decreasing the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income; to improve risk-adjusted returns; to protect the value of portfolio securities; and to serve as a cash management tool. Call or put options may be purchased or sold on securities, futures, financial indexes, and foreign currencies. The fund may choose to continue a futures contract by “rolling over” an expiring futures contract into an identical contract with a later maturity date. This could increase the fund’s transaction costs and portfolio turnover rate.
Futures and options contracts may not always be successful investments or hedges; their prices can be highly volatile; using them could lower the fund’s total return; the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such contracts; and the losses from certain options written by the fund could be unlimited.
Swaps The fund may invest in interest rate, index, total return, credit default, and other types of swap agreements, as well as options on swaps, commonly referred to as “swaptions,” and interest rate swap futures, which are instruments that provide a way to obtain swap exposure and the benefits of futures in one contract. All of these agreements are considered derivatives and, in certain cases, high-risk derivatives. Interest rate, index, and total return swaps are two-party contracts under which the fund and a counterparty, such as a broker or dealer, agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or indexes. Credit default swaps are agreements where one party (the protection buyer) will make periodic payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for protection against specified credit events, such as defaults and bankruptcies related to an issuer or underlying credit instrument. Swap futures are futures contracts on interest rate swaps that enable purchasers to settle in cash at a future date at the price determined by a specific benchmark rate at the end of a fixed period. Swaps, swaptions, and swap futures can be used for a variety of purposes, including to manage the fund’s overall exposure to changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates and credit quality; as an efficient means of adjusting the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income or total return or protect the value of portfolio securities; to serve as a cash management tool; and to adjust portfolio duration or credit risk exposure.
There are risks in the use of swaps and related instruments. Swaps could result in losses if interest or foreign currency exchange rates or credit quality changes are not correctly anticipated by the fund. Total return swaps could result in losses if the reference index, security, or investments do not perform as anticipated. Credit default swaps can increase the fund’s exposure to credit risk and could result in losses if evaluation of the creditworthiness of the counterparty, or of the company or government on which the credit default swap is based, is incorrect. The use of swaps, swaptions, and swap futures may not always be successful. Using them could lower the fund’s total return, their prices can be highly volatile, and the potential loss from the use of swaps can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such instruments. Also, the other party to a swap agreement could default on its obligations or refuse to cash out the fund’s investment at a reasonable price, which could turn an expected gain into a loss. Although there should be minimal counterparty risk associated with investments in interest
T. ROWE PRICE | 30 |
rate swap futures, the fund could experience delays and/or losses due to the bankruptcy of a swap dealer through which the fund engaged in the transaction.
Currency Derivatives The fund may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward currency exchange contracts, which are contracts between two counterparties to exchange one currency for another on a future date at a specified exchange rate. In addition to foreign currency forwards, futures, swaps, and options on foreign currencies may also be used to protect the fund’s foreign securities from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar, as well as to gain exposure to currencies and markets expected to increase or decrease in value relative to other currencies or securities.
The fund may attempt to hedge its exposure to potentially unfavorable currency changes. Forward currency contracts can be used to adjust the foreign exchange exposure of the fund with a view to protecting the portfolio from adverse currency movements, based on the investment adviser’s outlook. However, forward currency contracts can also be used in an effort to benefit from a currency believed to be appreciating in value versus other currencies. The fund may invest in non-U.S. currencies directly without holding any non-U.S. bonds or securities denominated in those currencies.
Forward currency contracts involve special risks, including, but not limited to, the potential for significant volatility in currency markets, and the risk that in certain markets, particularly emerging markets, it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging. In addition, such transactions involve the risk that currency movements will not occur as anticipated by the investment adviser, which could reduce the fund’s total return.
When-Issued Securities and Forwards
The fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. There is no limit on the fund’s investments in these securities. The price of these securities is fixed at the time of the commitment to buy, but delivery and payment take place after the customary settlement period for that type of security (often a month or more later). During the interim period, the price and yield of the securities can fluctuate, and typically no interest accrues to the purchaser. At the time of delivery, the market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. To the extent the fund remains fully or almost fully invested (in securities with a remaining maturity of more than one year) at the same time it purchases these securities, there will be greater fluctuations in the fund’s net asset value than if the fund did not purchase them.
Investments in Other Investment Companies
The fund may invest in other investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds.
The fund may purchase the securities of another investment company to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the market while awaiting the purchase of securities or as an efficient means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class. The fund might also purchase shares of another investment company, including shares of other mutual funds sponsored and managed
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by T. Rowe Price (“T. Rowe Price Funds”), to gain exposure to the securities in the investment company’s portfolio at times when the fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or as a means of gaining efficient and cost-effective exposure to certain asset classes. Any investment in another investment company would be consistent with the fund’s objective and investment program.
The risks of owning another investment company are generally similar to the risks of investing directly in the securities in which that investment company invests. However, an investment company may not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategy effectively, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance. In addition, because closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds trade on a secondary market, their shares may trade at a premium or discount to the actual net asset value of their portfolio securities and their shares may have greater volatility if an active trading market does not exist.
As a shareholder of another investment company, the fund must pay its pro-rata share of that investment company’s fees and expenses. The fund’s investments in non-T. Rowe Price investment companies are subject to the limits that apply to investments in other funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any applicable exemptive order.
Investments in other investment companies could allow the fund to obtain the benefits of a more diversified portfolio than might otherwise be available through direct investments in a particular asset class, and will subject the fund to the risks associated with the particular asset class or asset classes in which an underlying fund invests. Examples of asset classes in which other mutual funds (including T. Rowe Price Funds) focus their investments include high yield bonds, inflation-linked securities, floating rate loans, international bonds, emerging market bonds, stocks of companies involved in activities related to real assets, stocks of companies that focus on a particular industry or sector, and emerging market stocks. If the fund invests in another T. Rowe Price Fund, the management fee paid by the fund will be reduced to ensure that the fund does not incur duplicate management fees as a result of its investment.
Illiquid Investments
Some of the fund’s holdings may be considered illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The determination of liquidity involves a variety of factors. Illiquid investments may include private placements that are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered with the SEC. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold (for example, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) and therefore deemed liquid, others may have resale restrictions and be considered illiquid. The sale of illiquid investments may involve substantial delays and additional costs, and the fund may only be able to sell such investments at prices substantially lower than what it believes they are worth. In addition, the fund’s investments in illiquid investments may reduce the returns of the fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time, which could prevent the fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities.
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Types of Investment Management Practices
Reserve Position
A certain portion of the fund’s assets may be held in reserves. The fund’s reserve positions will primarily consist of: (1) shares of a T. Rowe Price internal money market fund or short-term bond fund (which do not charge any management fees); (2) short-term, high-quality U.S. and foreign dollar-denominated money market securities, including repurchase agreements; and (3) U.S. dollar or non-U.S. dollar currencies. In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its principal investment objective(s) and/or strategies and may invest, without limitation, in reserves. If the fund has significant holdings in reserves, it could compromise its ability to achieve its objective(s). The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, and managing cash flows into the fund and can serve as a short-term defense during periods of unusual market volatility. Non-U.S. dollar reserves are subject to currency risk.
Borrowing Money and Transferring Assets
The fund may borrow from banks, other persons, and other T. Rowe Price Funds for temporary or emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the fund’s policies as set forth in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information. Such borrowings may be collateralized with the fund’s assets, subject to certain restrictions.
Borrowings may not exceed 331/3% of the fund’s total assets. This limitation includes any borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, applies at the time of the transaction, and continues to the extent required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Meeting Redemption Requests
We expect that the fund will hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The fund may also use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the fund. These redemption methods will be used regularly and may also be used in deteriorating or stressed market conditions. The fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds with securities from the fund’s portfolio rather than in cash (redemptions in-kind), as described under “Large Redemptions.” Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the fund and its remaining shareholders. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of the fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above and may also be used in stressed market conditions.
The fund, along with other T. Rowe Price Funds, is a party to an interfund lending exemptive order received from the SEC that permits the T. Rowe Price Funds to borrow money from and/or lend money to other T. Rowe Price Funds to help the funds meet short-term redemptions and liquidity needs.
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During periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions, when an increased portion of the fund’s portfolio may be composed of holdings with reduced liquidity or lengthy settlement periods, or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances, the fund may be more likely to pay redemption proceeds with cash obtained through interfund lending or short-term borrowing arrangements (if available), or by redeeming a large redemption request in-kind.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The fund may lend its securities to broker-dealers, other institutions, or other persons to earn additional income. Risks include the potential insolvency of the broker-dealer or other borrower that could result in delays in recovering securities and capital losses. Additionally, losses could result from the reinvestment of collateral received on loaned securities in investments that decline in value, default, or do not perform as well as expected. Cash collateral from securities lending is invested in the T. Rowe Price Short-Term Fund.
Credit Quality Considerations
The credit quality of many fund holdings is evaluated by rating agencies such as Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s), S&P Global Ratings (S&P), and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch). Credit quality refers to the issuer’s ability and willingness to meet all required interest and principal payments. The highest ratings are assigned to issuers perceived to have the lowest credit risks. T. Rowe Price credit research analysts also evaluate the fund’s holdings, including those rated by outside agencies. Other things being equal, bonds and other debt obligations with lower ratings typically have higher yields due to greater credit risk.
Credit quality ratings are not guarantees. They are estimates of an issuer’s creditworthiness and ability to make interest and principal payments as they come due. Ratings can change at any time due to actual or perceived changes in an issuer’s creditworthiness or financial fundamentals.
Bonds rated Baa and above by Moody’s, and BBB and above by S&P and Fitch, are considered to be “investment grade.” Bonds that are rated below these categories are considered to have greater credit risk and are referred to as “below investment grade” or “noninvestment grade.” Bonds rated below investment grade range from speculative to highly speculative with respect to the issuer’s ability or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The following table summarizes the rating scales and associated credit risk assigned by the major rating agencies. Within these categories, the rating may be modified with a symbol (such as 1, 2, and 3, or a plus or minus) to indicate whether the bond is ranked in the higher or lower end of its rating category. T. Rowe Price generally relies upon its own credit analysis when selecting investments.
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Ratings of Debt Instruments
Moody’s | S&P | Fitch | Description of Category |
Aaa | AAA | AAA | Lowest level of credit risk with extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments |
Aa | AA | AA | Very low credit risk with very strong capacity to meet financial commitments |
A | A | A | Low credit risk with strong capacity to meet financial commitments |
Baa | BBB | BBB | Moderate credit risk with adequate capacity to meet financial commitments |
Ba | BB | BB | Subject to substantial credit risk, and adverse conditions could lead to inadequate capacity to meet financial commitments |
B | B | B | Subject to high credit risk, and adverse conditions will likely impair capacity to meet financial commitments |
Caa | CCC | CCC | Subject to very high credit risk and dependent upon favorable conditions to meet financial commitments |
Ca | CC | CC | Highly vulnerable to nonpayment and likely in, or very near, default with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest |
C | C | C | Typically in default with little prospect for recovery of principal and interest |
— | D | D | In default |
The Statement of Additional Information contains more detailed information about the fund and its investments, operations, and expenses.
Portfolio Turnover
Turnover is an indication of frequency of trading. Each time the fund purchases or sells a security, it incurs a cost. This cost is reflected in the fund’s net asset value but not in its operating expenses. The higher the turnover rate, the higher the transaction costs and the greater the impact on the fund’s total return. Higher turnover can also increase the possibility of taxable capital gain distributions. The fund’s portfolio turnover rates are shown in the Financial Highlights tables.
The Financial Highlights tables, which provide information about the financial history for each class that was in operation at the end of the prior fiscal year, are based on a single share outstanding throughout the periods shown. The tables are part of the fund’s financial statements, which are included in its annual report and are incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information (available upon request). The financial statements in the
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annual report were audited by the fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||
Year | 12/31/18 | 12/31/17 | 12/31/16 | 1/22/15(1) | ||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | ||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period | $ | 9.49 | $ | 9.82 | $ | 10.07 | $ | 9.89 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment | 0.29 | 0.28 | 0.21 | 0.15 | 0.21 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | (0.33 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.40 | ) | 0.31 | 0.19 | ||||||||||||
Total from investment | (0.04 | ) | 0.08 | (0.19 | ) | 0.46 | 0.40 | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.05 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.10 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | (0.17 | ) | – | (4) | (0.18 | ) | (0.41 | ) | |||||||||||
Tax return of capital | (0.18 | ) | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.23 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (0.06 | ) | (0.28 | ) | (0.51 | ) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | $ | 9.22 | $ | 9.49 | $ | 9.82 | $ | 10.07 | $ | 9.89 |
T. ROWE PRICE | 36 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 12/31/18 |
| 12/31/17 |
| 12/31/16 |
| 1/22/15(1) | |||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(3) (5) | (0.40 | )% | 0.87 | % | (1.90 | )% | 4.62 | % | 4.05 | % | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 0.65 | % | 0.68 | % | 0.63 | % | 1.16 | % | 1.69 | %(6) | ||||||||||
Net expenses
after | 0.65 | % | 0.68 | % | 0.60 | % | 0.65 | % | 0.75 | %(6) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 3.12 | % | 2.88 | % | 2.47 | % | 1.49 | % | 2.17 | %(6) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 188.3 | % | 165.2 | % | 109.6 | % | 178.5 | % | 183.1 | % | ||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 3,155,573 | $ | 3,280,114 | $ | 1,647,814 | $ | 44,067 | $ | 33,900 |
(1) Inception date
(2) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(3) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(4) Amounts round to less than $0.01 per share.
(5) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(6) Annualized
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 37 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 12/31/18 |
| 12/31/17 |
| 12/31/16 |
| 8/28/15(1) | ||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | |||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period | $ | 9.49 | $ | 9.82 | $ | 10.07 | $ | 9.89 | $ | 10.28 | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.24 | 0.17 | 0.16 | ||||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | (0.33 | ) | (0.21 | ) | (0.42 | ) | 0.29 | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total from investment | (0.03 | ) | 0.09 | (0.18 | ) | 0.46 | 0.10 | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.05 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.08 | ) | |||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | (0.17 | ) | – | (4) | (0.18 | ) | (0.41 | ) | ||||||||||||
Tax return of capital | (0.19 | ) | – | – | – | – | |||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.24 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.07 | ) | (0.28 | ) | (0.49 | ) | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
NET
ASSET VALUE | $ | 9.22 | $ | 9.49 | $ | 9.82 | $ | 10.07 | $ | 9.89 |
T. ROWE PRICE | 38 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 12/31/18 |
| 12/31/17 |
| 12/31/16 |
| 8/28/15(1) | |||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(3) (5) | (0.26 | )% | 0.98 | % | (1.80 | )% | 4.69 | % | 1.04 | % | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 0.51 | % | 0.54 | % | 0.59 | % | 0.69 | % | 1.88 | %(6) | ||||||||||
Net expenses
after | 0.51 | % | 0.54 | % | 0.54 | % | 0.54 | % | 0.54 | %(6) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 3.27 | % | 3.04 | % | 2.46 | % | 1.76 | % | 4.67 | %(6) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 188.3 | % | 165.2 | % | 109.6 | % | 178.5 | % | 183.1 | % | ||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 1,455,619 | $ | 1,161,045 | $ | 523,274 | $ | 195,881 | $ | 240 |
(1) Inception date
(2) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(3) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(4) Amounts round to less than $0.01 per share.
(5) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(6) Annualized
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | 39 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 12/31/18 |
| 12/31/17 |
| 12/31/16 |
| 1/22/15(1) | |||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | ||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period | $ | 9.47 | $ | 9.81 | $ | 10.06 | $ | 9.89 | $ | 10.00 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.19 | 0.13 | 0.22 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized
and | (0.33 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.41 | ) | 0.30 | 0.17 | ||||||||||||
Total from investment | (0.06 | ) | 0.05 | (0.22 | ) | 0.43 | 0.39 | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.05 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.09 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain | – | (0.17 | ) | – | (4) | (0.18 | ) | (0.41 | ) | |||||||||||
Tax return of capital | (0.16 | ) | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.21 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.03 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.50 | ) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE | $ | 9.20 |
| $ | 9.47 |
| $ | 9.81 |
| $ | 10.06 |
| $ | 9.89 |
|
T. ROWE PRICE | 40 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Advisor Class | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year |
| 12/31/18 |
| 12/31/17 |
| 12/31/16 |
| 1/22/15(1) | |||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(3) (5) | (0.66 | )% | 0.60 | % | (2.15 | )% | 4.34 | % | 3.88 | % | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios
to average net | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before | 1.21 | % | 1.25 | % | 1.18 | % | 1.52 | % | 2.18 | %(6) | ||||||||||
Net expenses
after | 0.90 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.90 | %(6) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | 2.87 | % | 2.59 | % | 2.03 | % | 1.25 | % | 2.38 | %(6) | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 188.3 | % | 165.2 | % | 109.6 | % | 178.5 | % | 183.1 | % | ||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period | $ | 271 | $ | 378 | $ | 377 | $ | 1,989 | $ | 1,555 |
(1) Inception date
(2) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(3) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(4) Amounts round to less than $0.01 per share.
(5) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(6) Annualized.
Most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their calendar quarter-end portfolio holdings on troweprice.com 15 calendar days after each quarter. At the discretion of the investment adviser, these holdings reports may exclude the issuer name and other information relating to a holding in order to protect the fund’s interests and prevent harm to the fund or its shareholders. In addition, most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their 10 largest holdings, along with the percentage of the relevant fund’s total assets that each of the 10 holdings represents, on troweprice.com on the seventh business day after each month-end. These holdings are listed in numerical order based on such percentages of the fund’s assets. A description of T. Rowe Price’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio information is available in the Statement of Additional Information.
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The following policies and procedures generally apply to Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds. The front cover and Section 1 of this prospectus indicate which share classes are available for the fund.
This section of the prospectus explains the basics of investing with T. Rowe Price and describes some of the different share classes that may be available. Certain share classes can be held directly with T. Rowe Price, while other share classes must typically be held through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, broker, retirement plan recordkeeper, or investment advisor. The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services.
Each class of a fund’s shares represents an interest in the same fund with the same investment program and investment policies. However, each class is designed for a different type of investor and has a different cost structure primarily due to shareholder services or distribution arrangements that may apply only to that class. For example, certain classes may make payments to financial intermediaries for various administrative services they provide (commonly referred to as administrative fee payments, or AFP) and/or make payments to certain financial intermediaries for distribution of the fund’s shares (commonly referred to as 12b-1 fee payments). Determining the most appropriate share class depends on many factors, including how much you plan to invest, whether you are investing directly in the fund or through a financial intermediary, and whether you are investing on behalf of a person or an organization.
This section generally describes the differences between Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class shares. This section does not describe the policies that apply to accounts in T. Rowe Price institutional funds and certain other types of funds. Policies for these other funds are described in their respective prospectuses, and all available share classes for the T. Rowe Price Funds are described more fully in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information. While many T. Rowe Price Funds are offered in more than one share class, not all funds offer all of the share classes described in this section.
Investor Class
A T. Rowe Price Fund that does not include the term “institutional” or indicate a specific share class as part of its name is considered to be the Investor Class of that fund. The Investor Class is
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available to individual investors, institutions, and a wide variety of other types of investors. The Investor Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a retirement plan or financial intermediary. The Investor Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries but may make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. In addition, you may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling Investor Class shares through a financial intermediary. For investors holding the Investor Class through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable.
I Class
The I Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a financial intermediary. The I Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries. However, you may incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling I Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The I Class requires a $1 million initial investment minimum, although the minimum generally is waived for retirement plans, financial intermediaries, certain institutional client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority, and certain other accounts. For investors eligible for the I Class through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable. Accounts that are not eligible for the I Class may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Advisor Class
The Advisor Class is designed to be sold through various financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and financial advisors. The Advisor Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The Advisor Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The Advisor Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of Advisor Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the Advisor Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
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R Class
The R Class is designed to be sold through financial intermediaries for employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans and certain other retirement accounts. The R Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The R Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets.
The R Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of R Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the R Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class or Advisor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Z Class
The Z Class is only available to funds advised by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases. The Z Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries.
Administrative Fee Payments (Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class)
Certain financial intermediaries perform recordkeeping and administrative services for their clients that would otherwise be performed by the funds’ transfer agent. T. Rowe Price Funds (other than I Class or Z Class shares) may make administrative fee payments to retirement plan recordkeepers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries (at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the fund’s average daily net assets) for transfer agency, recordkeeping, and other administrative services that they provide on behalf of the funds. These administrative services may include maintaining account records for each customer; transmitting purchase and redemption orders; delivering shareholder confirmations, statements, and tax forms; and providing support to respond to customers’ questions regarding their accounts. Except for funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, these separate administrative fee payments are reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
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12b-1 Fee Payments (Advisor Class and R Class)
Mutual funds are permitted to adopt a 12b-1 plan to pay certain expenses associated with the distribution of the fund’s shares out of the fund’s assets. Each fund offering Advisor and/or R Class shares has adopted a 12b-1 plan under which those classes may make payments (for the Advisor Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets, and for the R Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets) to various financial intermediaries, such as brokers, banks, insurance companies, investment advisers, and retirement plan recordkeepers for distribution and/or shareholder servicing of the Advisor and R Class shares. The 12b-1 plans provide for the class to pay such fees to the fund’s distributor and for the distributor to then pay such fees to the financial intermediaries that provide services for the class and/or make the class available to investors.
For the Advisor Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the Advisor Class shares available to their customers (for example, providing the fund with “shelf space” or inclusion on a “preferred list” or “supermarket” platform). For the R Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the R Class shares available as investment options to retirement plans and retirement plan participants, assisting plan sponsors in conducting searches for investment options, and providing ongoing monitoring of investment options.
Shareholder servicing payments under the plans may include payments to financial intermediaries for providing shareholder support services to existing shareholders of the Advisor and R Class. These payments may be more or less than the costs incurred by the financial intermediaries. Because the fees are paid from the Advisor Class or R Class net assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time. In addition, payments of 12b-1 fees may influence your financial advisor’s recommendation of the fund or of any particular share class of the fund. Payments of 12b-1 fees are reflected in the “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
In addition to the AFP payments made by certain funds and the 12b-1 payments made by the Advisor and R Class, T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor will, at their own expense, provide compensation to certain financial intermediaries that have sold shares of or provide shareholder or other services to the T. Rowe Price Funds, commonly referred to as revenue sharing. These payments may be in the form of asset-based, transaction-based, or flat payments. These payments are used to compensate third parties for distribution and shareholder servicing activities, including sub-accounting, sub-transfer agency, or other services. Some of these payments may include expense reimbursements and meeting and marketing support payments (out of T. Rowe Price’s or the fund’s distributor’s own resources and not as an expense of the funds) to financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, banks, insurance companies, and retirement plan recordkeepers, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing, and/or servicing of the
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T. Rowe Price Funds. The Statement of Additional Information provides more information about these payment arrangements.
The receipt of, or the prospect of receiving, these payments and expense reimbursements from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor may influence intermediaries, plan sponsors, and other third parties to offer or recommend T. Rowe Price Funds over other investment options for which an intermediary does not receive additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). In addition, financial intermediaries that receive these payments and/or expense reimbursements may elevate the prominence of the T. Rowe Price Funds by, for example, placing the T. Rowe Price Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or provide preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the T. Rowe Price Funds in various ways. Since these additional payments are not paid by a fund directly, these arrangements do not increase fund expenses and will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the T. Rowe Price Funds or the amount that is invested in a T. Rowe Price Fund on behalf of an investor. You may ask your financial intermediary for more information about any payments they receive from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor.
Comparison of Fees
The following table summarizes the distribution and service (12b-1) fee and administrative fee arrangements applicable to each class.
Class | 12b-1 Fee Payments | Administrative Fee Payments |
Investor Class | None | Up to 0.15% per year |
I Class | None | None |
Advisor Class | Up to 0.25% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
R Class | Up to 0.50% per year | Up to 0.15% per year |
Z Class | None | None |
Investor Class
In an effort to help offset the disproportionately high costs incurred by the funds in connection with servicing lower-balance accounts that are held directly with the T. Rowe Price Funds’ transfer agent, an annual $20 account service fee (paid to T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., or one of its affiliates) is charged to certain Investor Class accounts with a balance below $10,000. The determination of whether a fund account is subject to the account service fee is based on account balances and services selected for accounts as of the last business day of August of each calendar year. The fee may be charged to an account with a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation and recent redemptions. The fee, which is automatically deducted from an account by redeeming fund shares, is typically charged to accounts in early September each calendar year. Such redemption may result in a taxable gain or loss to you.
The account service fee generally does not apply to fund accounts that are held through a financial intermediary, participant accounts in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which
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T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services, accounts held through the T. Rowe Price ActivePlus Portfolios program, or money market funds that are used as a T. Rowe Price brokerage sweep account. Regardless of a particular fund account’s balance on the last business day of August, the account service fee is automatically waived for accounts that satisfy any of the following conditions:
· Any accounts for which the shareholder has elected to receive electronic delivery of all of the following: account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports (paper copies of fund documents are available, free of charge, upon request, to any shareholder regardless of whether the shareholder has elected electronic delivery);
· Any accounts of a shareholder with at least $50,000 in total assets with T. Rowe Price (for this purpose, total assets include investments through T. Rowe Price Brokerage and investments in T. Rowe Price Funds, except for those held through a retirement plan for which T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services); or
· Any accounts of a shareholder who is a T. Rowe Price Select Client Services client—visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-332-6161 for more information.
T. Rowe Price reserves the right to authorize additional waivers for other types of accounts or to modify the conditions for assessment of the account service fee. Fund shares held in a T. Rowe Price IRA, Education Savings Account, or small business retirement plan account (including certain 403(b) plan accounts) are subject to the account service fee and may be subject to additional administrative fees when distributing all fund shares from such accounts.
Investor and I Class shares may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through various financial intermediaries. Advisor and R Class shares must be purchased through a financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly at T. Rowe Price). If you are opening an account through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or other financial intermediary, you should contact the retirement plan or financial intermediary for information regarding its policies on opening an account, including the policies relating to purchasing, exchanging, and redeeming shares, and the applicable initial and subsequent investment minimums.
Tax Identification Number
Investors must provide T. Rowe Price with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number on a signed new account form or Form W-9, and financial intermediaries must provide T. Rowe Price with their certified taxpayer identification number. Otherwise, federal law requires the funds to withhold a percentage of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemptions and may subject you or the financial intermediary to an Internal Revenue Service fine. If this information is not received within 60 days of the account being established, the account may be redeemed at the fund’s then-current net asset value.
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Important Information Required to Open a New Account
Pursuant to federal law, all financial institutions must obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. This information is needed not only for the account owner and any other person who opens the account, but also for any person who has authority to act on behalf of the account.
When you open an account, you will be asked for the name, U.S. street address (post office boxes are not acceptable), date of birth, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for each account owner and person(s) opening an account on behalf of others, such as custodians, agents, trustees, or other authorized signers. When opening an entity account, you will be asked to identify and provide personal information for: (i) any individual who, either directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the equity interest of the entity and (ii) a single individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity. Corporate and other institutional accounts require documents showing the existence of the entity (such as articles of incorporation or partnership agreements) to open an account. Certain other fiduciary accounts (such as trusts or power of attorney arrangements) require documentation, which may include an original or certified copy of the trust agreement or power of attorney, to open an account.
T. Rowe Price will use this information to verify the identity of the person(s)/entity opening the account. An account cannot be opened until all of this information is received. If the identity of the account holder cannot be verified, T. Rowe Price is authorized to take any action permitted by law, including but not limited to restricting additional purchases, freezing the account, or involuntarily redeeming the shares in the account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed.
Institutional investors and financial intermediaries should call Financial Institution Services at 1-800-638-8790 for more information on these requirements, as well as to be assigned an account number and instructions for opening an account. Other investors should call Investor Services at 1-800-638-5660 for more information about these requirements.
The funds are generally available only to investors residing in the United States. In addition, nongovernment money market funds that operate as “retail money market funds” pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons. An investor in a retail money market fund is required to demonstrate eligibility (for example, by providing a valid Social Security number) before an account can be opened.
How and When Shares Are Priced
The trade date for your transaction request depends on the day and time that T. Rowe Price receives your request and will normally be executed using the next share price calculated after your order is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent (or by your financial
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intermediary if it has the authority to accept transaction orders on behalf of the fund). The share price, also called the net asset value, for each share class of a fund is calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which is normally 4 p.m. ET, on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Net asset values are not calculated for the funds on days when the NYSE is scheduled to be closed for trading (for example, weekends and certain U.S. national holidays). If the NYSE is unexpectedly closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or if the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
To calculate the net asset value, a fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and each class’ proportionate share of the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class. Market values are used to price portfolio holdings for which market quotations are readily available. Market values generally reflect the prices at which securities actually trade or represent prices that have been adjusted based on evaluations and information provided by the fund’s pricing services. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of the mutual fund on the day of valuation. If a market value for a portfolio holding is not available or normal valuation procedures are deemed to be inappropriate, the fund will make a good faith effort to assign a fair value to the holding by taking into account various factors and methodologies that have been approved by the fund’s Board. This value may differ from the value the fund receives upon sale of the securities.
Amortized cost is used to price securities held by money market funds and certain short-term debt securities held by other funds. The retail and government money market funds, which seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00, use the amortized cost method of valuation to calculate their net asset value. Amortized cost allows the money market funds to value a holding at the fund’s acquisition cost with adjustments for any premiums or discounts and then round the net asset value per share to the nearest whole cent. The amortized cost method of valuation enables the money market funds to maintain a $1.00 net asset value, but it may also result in periods during which the stated value of a security held by the funds differs from the market-based price the funds would receive if they sold that holding. The current market-based net asset value per share for each business day in the preceding six months is available for the retail and government money market funds through troweprice.com. These market-based net asset values are for informational purposes only and are not used to price transactions.
The funds use various pricing services to provide closing market prices, as well as information used to adjust those prices and to value most fixed income securities. A fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices or how often it will adjust those prices. As a means of evaluating its fair value process, the fund routinely compares closing market prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
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Non-U.S. equity securities are valued on the basis of their most recent closing market prices at 4 p.m. ET, except under the following circumstances. Most foreign markets close before 4 p.m. ET. For example, the most recent closing prices for securities traded in certain Asian markets may be as much as 15 hours old at 4 p.m. ET. If a fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will affect the value of some or all of the fund’s securities, the fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of 4 p.m. ET. In deciding whether to make these adjustments, the fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities.
A fund may also fair value certain securities or a group of securities in other situations—for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. For a fund that has investments in securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the fund does not price its shares, the fund’s net asset value may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the fund’s shares. If an event occurs that affects the value of a security after the close of the market, such as a default of a commercial paper issuer or a significant move in short-term interest rates, a fund may make a price adjustment depending on the nature and significance of the event. The funds also evaluate a variety of factors when assigning fair values to private placements and other restricted securities. Other mutual funds may adjust the prices of their securities by different amounts or assign different fair values than the fair value that the fund assigns to the same security.
The various ways you can purchase, sell, and exchange shares are explained throughout this section. These procedures differ based on whether you hold your account directly with T. Rowe Price or through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or financial intermediary.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held directly with T. Rowe Price and not through a financial intermediary.
Options for Opening Your Account
If you own other T. Rowe Price Funds, you should consider registering any new account identically to your existing accounts so you can exchange shares among them easily (the name(s) of the account owner(s) and the account type must be identical).
For joint accounts or other types of accounts owned or controlled by more than one party, either owner/party has complete authority to act on behalf of all and give instructions concerning the account without notice to the other party. T. Rowe Price may, in its sole discretion, require written authorization from all owners/parties to act on the account for