|
UNITED STATES |
|
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
|
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
|
|
|
FORM N-CSR |
|
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED |
|
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES |
|
|
|
Investment Company Act File Number: 811-4358 |
|
T. Rowe
Price New America Growth Fund |
|
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
|
100 East Pratt Street,
Baltimore, MD 21202 |
|
(Address of
principal executive offices) |
|
David Oestreicher |
|
100 East Pratt Street,
Baltimore, MD 21202 |
|
(Name and
address of agent for service) |
|
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (410) 345-2000 |
| Date of fiscal year end: December 31 |
| Date of reporting period: June 30, 2011 |
Item 1: Report to Shareholders
 |
| New America Growth Fund | June 30, 2011 |
The views and opinions in this report were current as of June 30, 2011. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Investment decisions reflect a variety of factors, and the managers reserve the right to change their views about individual stocks, sectors, and the markets at any time. As a result, the views expressed should not be relied upon as a forecast of the fund’s future investment intent. The report is certified under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires mutual funds and other public companies to affirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the information in their financial reports is fairly and accurately stated in all material respects.
REPORTS ON THE WEB
Sign up for our E-mail Program, and you can begin to receive updated fund reports and prospectuses online rather than through the mail. Log in to your account at troweprice.com for more information.
Manager’s Letter
Fellow Shareholders
Equities rose during the first half of 2011, though it was hardly a smooth ride. Positive momentum in the first quarter met resistance during the second quarter. Investors became concerned about a slowdown in U.S. economic growth, monetary tightening in emerging markets, negative headlines regarding the European debt crisis, and the unfortunate events in Japan following a massive earthquake and tsunami.
PORTFOLIO PERFORMANCE
The New America Growth Fund returned 5.88% in the first half of the year, narrowly behind the 6.02% return for the S&P 500 Index and lagging the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index’s 6.82% advance by a somewhat wider margin. Your fund’s largest sector allocations, information technology, health care, and industrials and business services, generated strong performance, and every sector in the portfolio gained ground in the six-month period. Our comparison with the S&P 500 was hurt by stock selection and underweight allocations in the energy and materials sectors. (Results for Advisor Class shares were slightly lower, reflecting their higher fee structure.)
As shown in the Growth of $10,000 chart on page 9, the fund has outpaced the S&P 500 Index over the past 10 years. The New America Growth Fund also generated solid results compared with its Lipper peer group of multi-cap growth funds over the long term. Lipper ranked the fund in the top 18% of its category for the five-year period and in the top 22% of its peer group for three years ended June 30, 2011. (Based on cumulative total return, Lipper ranked the New America Growth Fund 182 of 463, 85 of 391, 57 of 324, and 79 of 220 funds in its multi-cap growth funds universe for the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Past performance cannot guarantee future results.)
MARKET ENVIRONMENT
During the first half of 2011, the macroeconomic environment remained an area of focus for investors. While many individual companies continued to perform well, investors remained nervous about a slowdown in global growth, particularly during the second quarter. This was driven by a nasty confluence of events, including the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan; a resurgence in European debt crisis fears; continued attempts at slowing economies in several emerging markets, including China; and, last but not least, some disappointing data on the U.S. economy.
All S&P 500 sectors rose except for financials. The best-performing sector in the fund and in the S&P 500 during the period was health care. In the first half of the year, I increased the fund’s health care exposure significantly, to 18.4% from 13.9% of assets. Stock selection and our significant overweight allocation benefited the portfolio’s comparison with the benchmark. At the other end of the performance spectrum, financials fell due to continued concerns about anemic loan growth, an unfavorable interest rate environment, and ongoing regulatory uncertainty. However, because the fund has fairly limited exposure to financials—6.3% of the fund versus 15.1% in the S&P—the sector’s poor performance did not hurt the fund’s results on an absolute basis and contributed positively to relative results. The poor performance of our energy and materials holdings, which account for 5.2% and 7.5% of the portfolio, respectively, hurt our comparison with the S&P 500.
Equity market performance based on size and style varied only modestly. Small- and mid-caps generally outperformed large-caps but not by a wide margin. Growth outpaced value across all market-cap segments, but the difference in performance was modest, especially across the larger-capitalization universe in which the fund primarily invests.
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
During the past six months, the fund’s strongest performance contributor was Fastenal. The fund bought its first shares of this industrial parts distributor in 2003, and the stock continued to perform well due to strong revenue growth; rising profit margins; and the sharp leadership team, which I believe is second to none. Even as the company has grown into a large-cap, it continues to find ways to add new growth legs, such as international expansion and its newer “vending” concept. At the end of the period, the stock was a top five position, and I expect it to remain a prominent holding for many years to come. (Please refer to the fund’s portfolio of investments for a complete list of holdings and the amount each represents in the portfolio.)
WellPoint is a newer name in the fund, and it paid back our confidence fairly quickly. I bought the stock in mid-2010, with the view that fears over the impact of health care reform on WellPoint were overblown and that low health care utilization combined with big share buybacks could drive better-than-expected earnings growth. This thesis has largely played out. The stock is up about 50% from the original purchase price, and while I still own a significant stake in the stock, I have lightened the position size.
I like the long-term growth prospects for Nuance Communications, which dominates in the speech recognition market. The company has a broad patent portfolio and substantial exposure to key end markets including mobile communications, health care, and automotive. I believe in the company’s business model, the shares are priced at a reasonable valuation, and I think the firm can generate double-digit earnings and cash flow growth for years to come. The company is doing an excellent job of executing its business strategy, and I have high hopes for further growth in its mobile and health care segments, which drove the stock higher during the period.
Research In Motion was the portfolio’s largest detractor during the six-month period. The company has struggled mightily to hold onto its market share against Apple’s iPhone and phones based on Google’s Android mobile operating system, but disappointing year-to-date results drove the stock sharply lower. I continue to be patient with the stock due to the company’s strong international performance, the potential for new devices to stem some of the market share losses domestically, and its cheap valuation. However, I acknowledge that holding the stock has been painful in recent reporting periods.
Google’s strong business performance and fundamental strength has not been reflected in its stock price. Although higher-than-expected expense growth on top of a senior management change weighed on the stock during the period, I continue to have a high degree of confidence in the company’s future growth. Like Apple, Google remains one of the fund’s key holdings and, amid the recent weakness, which drove the stock down about 15% in the first half, I added to the position.
Light-emitting diode (LED) manufacturer Cree declined during the period and was one of the portfolio’s largest detractors. The company missed its earnings forecast for several consecutive quarters, largely due to a slowdown in its Chinese operations, which account for a significant portion of revenues. That said, I continue to believe in the merits of LED applications as an energy-saving tool. I intend to stick with the stock despite the potential for a few more sloppy quarters.
OUTLOOK
I continue to have a more balanced view of the overall investing landscape for the foreseeable future. Slowing growth across both the developed and developing world economies, and the eventual withdrawal of massive fiscal and monetary stimulus, could create headwinds for growth investors. Yet many companies are operating extremely well, producing high profit margins and generating strong cash flow to fund their businesses. Additionally, balance sheets throughout the corporate world are rock solid and could spawn an increase in mergers and acquisitions, buttressing already reasonably attractive valuations.
In this mixed environment, I continue to focus on somewhat less cyclical sectors, such as health care and business services. In the more cyclical areas, such as commodities and industrials, I am focused on what I believe are the best fundamental opportunities, including agricultural firms that can benefit from the need to increase the world’s food supply and so-called late-cycle industrials that should benefit from a resumption of growth in nonresidential construction starting late this year and into 2012.
To use a baseball analogy, I would say that we are seeing fewer “fat pitches” today than we did a few years ago. This doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to make money on behalf of our shareholders. However, I think it is becoming more of a “singles and doubles” market with fewer potential home runs. As such, I’m looking to get base hits, and I am focused on trying not to swing at bad pitches.
Despite a neutral big-picture view, I like the makeup of this portfolio. I believe I have invested in some of the world’s best larger-capitalization growth companies and have stakes in many up-and-coming names that I believe will flourish over the long term. Regardless of the investing climate, I remain committed to building this portfolio one name at a time in an effort to maintain the best portfolio of stocks I possibly can. While it is difficult not to obsess about near-term performance in a six-month reporting period, I remain focused on driving long-term results for our shareholders. I look forward to updating you on the fund’s progress at year-end.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph M. Milano
Chairman of the fund’s Investment Advisory Committee
July 14, 2011
The committee chairman has day-to-day responsibility for managing the portfolio and works with committee members in developing and executing the fund’s investment program.
RISKS OF STOCK INVESTING
The fund’s share price can fall because of weakness in the stock markets, a particular industry, or specific holdings. Stock markets can decline for many reasons, including adverse political 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 investment manager’s assessment of companies held in a fund may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor performance even in rising markets.
GLOSSARY
Lipper indexes: Fund benchmarks that consist of a small number (10 to 30) of the largest mutual funds in a particular category as tracked by Lipper Inc.
S&P 500 Index: An unmanaged index that tracks the stocks of 500 primarily large-cap U.S. companies.
Performance and Expenses
| GROWTH OF $10,000 |
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records). The result is compared with benchmarks, which may include a broad-based market index and a peer group average or index. Market indexes do not include expenses, which are deducted from fund returns as well as mutual fund averages and indexes.
| FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLE |
As a mutual fund shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other fund expenses. The following example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the most recent six-month period and held for the entire period.
Please note that the fund has two share classes: The original share class (“investor class”) charges no distribution and service (12b-1) fee, and the Advisor Class shares are offered only through unaffiliated brokers and other financial intermediaries and charge a 0.25% 12b-1 fee. Each share class is presented separately in the table.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the following table (“Actual”) provides information about actual account values and expenses based on the fund’s actual returns. You may use the information on this line, together with your account
balance, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under
the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The information on the second line of the table (“Hypothetical”) is based on hypothetical account values and expenses derived from the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% per year rate of return before expenses
(not the fund’s actual return). You may compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund with other funds by contrasting this 5% hypothetical example and the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
Note: T. Rowe Price charges an annual account service fee of $20, generally for accounts with less than $10,000 ($1,000 for UGMA/UTMA). The fee is waived for any investor whose T. Rowe Price mutual fund accounts total $50,000 or more; accounts employing automatic investing; accounts electing to receive electronic delivery of account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports; accounts of an investor who is a T. Rowe Price Preferred Services, Personal Services, or Enhanced Personal Services client (enrollment in these programs generally requires T. Rowe Price assets of at least $100,000); and IRAs and other retirement plan accounts that utilize a prototype plan sponsored by T. Rowe Price (although a separate custodial or administrative fee may apply to such accounts). This fee is not included in the accompanying table. If you are subject to the fee, keep it in mind when you are estimating the ongoing expenses of investing in the fund and when comparing the expenses of this fund with other funds.
You should also be aware that the expenses shown in the table highlight only your ongoing costs and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. To the extent a fund charges transaction costs, however, the total cost of owning that fund is higher.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
T. Rowe Price New America Growth Fund (the fund), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth by investing primarily in the common stocks of growth companies. The fund has two classes of shares: the New America Growth Fund original share class, referred to in this report as the Investor Class, offered since September 30, 1985, and the New America Growth Fund – Advisor Class (Advisor Class), offered since December 29, 2005. Advisor Class shares are sold only through unaffiliated brokers and other unaffiliated financial intermediaries that are compensated by the class for distribution, shareholder servicing, and/or certain administrative services under a Board-approved Rule 12b-1 plan. Each class has exclusive voting rights on matters related solely to that class; separate voting rights on matters that relate to both classes; and, in all other respects, the same rights and obligations as the other class.
NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), which require the use of estimates made by management. Management believes that estimates and valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the valuations reflected in the accompanying financial statements may differ from the value ultimately realized upon sale or maturity.
Investment Transactions, Investment Income, and Distributions Income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized for financial reporting purposes. Dividends received from mutual fund investments are reflected as dividend income; capital gain distributions are reflected as realized gain/loss. Dividend income and capital gain distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income tax-related interest and penalties, if incurred, would be recorded as income tax expense. Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses are reported on the identified cost basis. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income distributions are declared and paid by each class annually. Capital gain distributions, if any, are generally declared and paid by the fund annually.
Currency Translation Assets, including investments, and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar values each day at the prevailing exchange rate, using the mean of the bid and asked prices of such currencies against U.S. dollars as quoted by a major bank. Purchases and sales of securities, income, and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of the transaction. The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on realized and unrealized security gains and losses is reflected as a component of security gains and losses.
Class Accounting The Advisor Class pays distribution, shareholder servicing, and/or certain administrative expenses in the form of Rule 12b-1 fees, in an amount not exceeding 0.25% of the class’s average daily net assets. Shareholder servicing, prospectus, and shareholder report expenses incurred by each class are charged directly to the class to which they relate. Expenses common to both classes, investment income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to the classes based upon the relative daily net assets of each class.
Rebates and Credits Subject to best execution, the fund may direct certain security trades to brokers who have agreed to rebate a portion of the related brokerage commission to the fund in cash. Commission rebates are reflected as realized gain on securities in the accompanying financial statements and totaled $13,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Additionally, the fund earns credits on temporarily uninvested cash balances held at the custodian, which reduce the fund’s custody charges. Custody expense in the accompanying financial statements is presented before reduction for credits.
NOTE 2 - VALUATION
The fund’s financial instruments are reported at fair value as defined by GAAP. The fund determines the values of its assets and liabilities and computes each class’s net asset value per share at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. ET, each day that the NYSE is open for business.
Valuation Methods Equity securities listed or regularly traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter (OTC) market are valued at the last quoted sale price or, for certain markets, the official closing price at the time the valuations are made, except for OTC Bulletin Board securities, which are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices. A security that is listed or traded on more than one exchange is valued at the quotation on the exchange determined to be the primary market for such security. Listed securities not traded on a particular day are valued at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices for domestic securities and the last quoted sale price for international securities.
Investments in mutual funds are valued at the mutual fund’s closing net asset value per share on the day of valuation.
Other investments, including restricted securities, and those financial instruments for which the above valuation procedures are inappropriate or are deemed not to reflect fair value are stated at fair value as determined in good faith by the T. Rowe Price Valuation Committee, established by the fund’s Board of Trustees.
For valuation purposes, the last quoted prices of non-U.S. equity securities may be adjusted under the circumstances described below. If the fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will, in its judgment, materially affect the value of some or all of its portfolio securities, the fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of the close of the NYSE. In deciding whether it is necessary to adjust closing prices to reflect fair value, 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 securities in other situations, such as when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. The fund uses outside pricing services to provide it with closing prices and information to evaluate and/or adjust those prices. The fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices and how often it will determine it necessary to adjust those prices to reflect fair value. As a means of evaluating its security valuation process, the fund routinely compares closing prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
Valuation Inputs Various inputs are used to determine the value of the fund’s financial instruments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical financial instruments
Level 2 – observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar financial instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk)
Level 3 – unobservable inputs
Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the fund, and unobservable inputs reflect the fund’s own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level. For example, non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in foreign markets generally are reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices because the fund evaluates and determines whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment, as described above. The following table summarizes the fund’s financial instruments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on June 30, 2011:
Following is a reconciliation of the fund’s Level 3 holdings for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Gain (loss) reflects both realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) on Level 3 holdings during the period, if any, and is included on the accompanying Statement of Operations. The change in unrealized gain (loss) on Level 3 instruments held at June 30, 2011, totaled $935,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011.
NOTE 3 - OTHER INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Consistent with its investment objective, the fund engages in the following practices to manage exposure to certain risks and/or to enhance performance. The investment objective, policies, program, and risk factors of the fund are described more fully in the fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Restricted Securities The fund may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Prompt sale of such securities at an acceptable price may be difficult and may involve substantial delays and additional costs.
Securities Lending The fund lends its securities to approved brokers to earn additional income. It receives as collateral cash and U.S. government securities valued at 102% to 105% of the value of the securities on loan. Cash collateral is invested by the fund’s lending agent(s) in accordance with investment guidelines approved by management. Although risk is mitigated by the collateral, the fund could experience a delay in recovering its securities and a possible loss of income or value if the borrower fails to return the securities or if collateral investments decline in value. Securities lending revenue recognized by the fund consists of earnings on invested collateral and borrowing fees, net of any rebates to the borrower and compensation to the lending agent. In accordance with GAAP, investments made with cash collateral are reflected in the accompanying financial statements, but collateral received in the form of securities are not. On June 30, 2011, the value of loaned securities was $2,365,000 and cash collateral investments totaled $2,356,000.
American and Global Depository Receipts The fund may invest in American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and/or Global Depository Receipts (GDRs), certificates issued by U.S. and international banks that represent ownership of foreign securities held by the issuing bank. ADRs and GDRs are transferable, trade on established markets, and entitle the holder to all dividends and capital gains paid by the underlying foreign security. Issuing banks generally charge a security administration fee. Such fees are included in custody and accounting expense in the accompanying Statement of Operations and totaled $6,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011.
Other Purchases and sales of portfolio securities other than short-term securities aggregated $889,528,000 and $315,359,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2011.
NOTE 4 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
No provision for federal income taxes is required since the fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and distribute to shareholders all of its taxable income and gains. Distributions determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations may differ in amount or character from net investment income and realized gains for financial reporting purposes. Financial reporting records are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character but are not adjusted for temporary differences. The amount and character of tax-basis distributions and composition of net assets are finalized at fiscal year-end; accordingly, tax-basis balances have not been determined as of the date of this report.
In accordance with federal tax regulations, the fund recognized capital losses in the current period for tax purposes that had been recognized in the prior fiscal year for financial reporting purposes. Such deferrals relate to net capital losses realized between November 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010, and totaled $1,896,000.
At June 30, 2011, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,684,825,000. Net unrealized gain aggregated $277,002,000 at period-end, of which $311,119,000 related to appreciated investments and $34,117,000 related to depreciated investments.
NOTE 5 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates), a wholly owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (Price Group). The investment management agreement between the fund and Price Associates provides for an annual investment management fee, which is computed daily and paid monthly. The fee consists of an individual fund fee, equal to 0.35% of the fund’s average daily net assets, and a group fee. The group fee rate is calculated based on the combined net assets of certain mutual funds sponsored by Price Associates (the group) applied to a graduated fee schedule, with rates ranging from 0.48% for the first $1 billion of assets to 0.28% for assets in excess of $300 billion. The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. At June 30, 2011, the effective annual group fee rate was 0.30%.
The Advisor Class is also subject to a contractual expense limitation through April 30, 2012. During the limitation period, Price Associates is required to waive its management fee and/or reimburse expenses, excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses, that would otherwise cause the class’s ratio of annualized total expenses to average net assets (expense ratio) to exceed its expense limitation of 1.10%. For a period of three years after the date of any reimbursement or waiver, each class is required to repay Price Associates for expenses previously reimbursed and management fees waived to the extent the class’s net assets have grown or expenses have declined sufficiently to allow repayment without causing the class’s expense ratio to exceed its expense limitation. At June 30, 2011, there were no amounts subject to repayment. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Advisor Class operated below its expense limitation.
In addition, the fund has entered into service agreements with Price Associates and two wholly owned subsidiaries of Price Associates (collectively, Price). Price Associates computes the daily share prices and provides certain other administrative services to the fund. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., provides shareholder and administrative services in its capacity as the fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for certain retirement accounts invested in the Investor Class. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, expenses incurred pursuant to these service agreements were $55,000 for Price Associates; $350,000 for T. Rowe Price Services, Inc.; and $211,000 for T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. The total amount payable at period-end pursuant to these service agreements is reflected as Due to Affiliates in the accompanying financial statements.
The fund may invest in the T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Fund and the T. Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund (collectively, the T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Funds), open-end management investment companies managed by Price Associates and considered affiliates of the fund. The T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Funds are offered as cash management options to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by Price Associates and/or its affiliates and are not available for direct purchase by members of the public. The T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Funds pay no investment management fees.
As of June 30, 2011, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and/or its wholly owned subsidiaries owned 371,427 shares of the Investor Class, representing less than 1% of the fund’s net assets.
| INFORMATION ON PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RECORDS |
A description of the policies and procedures used by T. Rowe Price funds and portfolios to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available in each fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which you may request by calling 1-800-225-5132 or by accessing the SEC’s website, sec.gov. The description of our proxy voting policies and procedures is also available on our website, troweprice.com. To access it, click on the words “Our Company” at the top of our corporate homepage. Then, when the next page appears, click on the words “Proxy Voting Policies” on the left side of the page.
Each fund’s most recent annual proxy voting record is available on our website and through the SEC’s website. To access it through our website, follow the directions above, then click on the words “Proxy Voting
Records” on the right side of the Proxy Voting Policies page.
| HOW TO OBTAIN QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
The fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The fund’s Form N-Q is available electronically on the
SEC’s website (sec.gov); hard copies may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth St. N.W., Washington, DC 20549. For more information on the Public Reference Room, call 1-800-SEC-0330.
| APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT |
On March 9, 2011, the fund’s Board of Directors (Board) unanimously approved the continuation of the investment advisory contract (Contract) between the fund and its investment advisor, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Advisor). The Board considered a variety of factors in connection with its review of the Contract, also taking into account information provided by the Advisor during the course of the year, as discussed below:
Services Provided by the Advisor
The Board considered the nature, quality, and extent of the services provided to the fund by the Advisor. These services included, but were not limited to, management of the fund’s portfolio and a variety of related activities, as
well as financial and administrative services, reporting, and communications. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the Advisor’s senior management team and investment personnel involved in the management of the fund. The
Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, quality, and extent of the services provided by the Advisor.
Investment Performance of the Fund
The Board reviewed the fund’s average annual total returns over the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods, as well as the fund’s year-by-year returns, and compared these returns with a wide variety of previously agreed upon
comparable performance measures and market data, including those supplied by Lipper and Morningstar, which are independent providers of mutual fund data. On the basis of this evaluation and the Board’s ongoing review of investment results, and
factoring in the relative market conditions during certain of the performance periods, the Board concluded that the fund’s performance was satisfactory.
Costs, Benefits, Profits, and Economies of Scale
The Board reviewed detailed information regarding the revenues received by the Advisor under the Contract and other benefits that the Advisor (and its affiliates) may have realized from its relationship with the fund, including research
received under “soft dollar” agreements and commission-sharing arrangements with broker-dealers. The Board considered that the Advisor may receive some benefit from soft-dollar arrangements pursuant to which research is received from
broker-dealers that execute the applicable fund’s portfolio transactions. The Board also received information on the estimated costs incurred and profits realized by the Advisor and its affiliates from advising T. Rowe Price mutual funds, as
well as estimates of the gross profits realized from managing the fund in particular. The Board concluded that the Advisor’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the fund. The Board also considered whether the fund or
other funds benefit under the fee levels set forth in the Contract from any economies of scale realized by the Advisor. Under the Contract, the fund pays a fee to the Advisor composed of two components—a group fee rate based on the aggregate
assets of certain T. Rowe Price mutual funds (including the fund) that declines at certain asset levels and an individual fund fee rate that is assessed on the assets of the fund. The Board determined that it would be appropriate to introduce
another breakpoint into the group fee rate, effective May 1, 2011, to allow fund shareholders to participate in additional economies of scale. The Board concluded that the advisory fee structure for the fund continued to provide for a reasonable sharing of benefits from any economies of scale with the
fund’s investors.
Fees
The Board reviewed the fund’s management fee rate, operating expenses, and total expense ratio (for the Investor Class and Advisor Class) and compared them with fees and expenses of other comparable funds based on information and
data supplied by Lipper. The information provided to the Board indicated that the fund’s management fee rate was above the median for certain groups of comparable funds but at or below the median for other groups of comparable funds. The
information also indicated that the total expense ratio for both classes was below the median for comparable funds. The Board also reviewed the fee schedules for institutional accounts of the Advisor and its affiliates with similar mandates.
Management provided the Board with information about the Advisor’s responsibilities and services provided to institutional account clients, which are more limited than its responsibilities for the fund and other T. Rowe Price mutual funds that
it advises, and showing that the Advisor performs significant additional services and assumes greater risk for the fund and other T. Rowe Price mutual funds that it advises than it does for institutional account clients. On the basis of the
information provided, the Board concluded that the fees paid by the fund under the Contract were reasonable.
Approval of the Contract
As noted, the Board approved the continuation of the Contract. No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision. Rather, the Board was assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel and concluded,
in light of a weighting and balancing of all factors considered, that it was in the best interests of the fund to approve the continuation of the Contract (including the fees to be charged for services thereunder).
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
A code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions is filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to this code of ethics during the registrant’s most recent fiscal half-year.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Not applicable. The complete schedule of investments is included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported timely.
(b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) The registrant’s code of ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed with the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
(2) Separate certifications by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.
(3) Written solicitation to repurchase securities issued by closed-end companies: not applicable.
(b) A certification by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, is attached.
SIGNATURES |
|
| Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment | |
| Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the | |
| undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. | |
| T. Rowe Price New America Growth Fund | |
| By | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
| Edward C. Bernard | |
| Principal Executive Officer | |
| Date | August 17, 2011 |
| Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment | |
| Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of | |
| the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. | |
| By | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
| Edward C. Bernard | |
| Principal Executive Officer | |
| Date | August 17, 2011 |
| By | /s/ Gregory K. Hinkle |
| Gregory K. Hinkle | |
| Principal Financial Officer | |
| Date | August 17, 2011 |