N-CSRS 1 srieb_ncsrs.htm CERTIFIED SEMI-ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT

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: 811-05833

T. Rowe Price Institutional International Funds, Inc.

(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, 2012





Item 1. Report to Shareholders

T. Rowe Price Annual Report
Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
June 30, 2012

Highlights

  • Emerging market bonds posted solid gains through the first six months of 2012, largely due to an exceptionally strong first quarter.
     
  • The Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund gained 7.32% for the period, performing roughly in line with the J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified.
     
  • Our diversified approach across the emerging market debt universe currently finds value in emerging market corporate bonds, with an emphasis on companies that stand to benefit from growing domestic demand from the emerging market consumer.
     
  • We reduced our local currency debt exposure, prompted by heightened volatility in capital flows and the potential for increased government intervention in certain markets.
     
  • We expect short-term volatility amid ongoing economic uncertainties, but healthy fiscal positions, solid growth potential, and attractive yields should continue to attract investors to emerging market bonds.

The views and opinions in this report were current as of June 30, 2012. 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.

Manager’s Letter
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Dear Investor

Emerging market bonds posted solid gains through the first six months of 2012, largely due to an exceptionally strong first quarter. Investors’ appetite for riskier assets was high during the first three months of the year, and the asset class benefited amid signs of progress in the European debt crisis, an improving U.S. recovery, and an orderly slowdown of the Chinese economy. Risk aversion returned in the second quarter amid renewed concerns about Europe, the U.S., and China, but appealing yields on emerging market debt continued to attract investors and helped to minimize the negative impact.


As seen in the Performance Comparison table, the Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund gained 7.32% for the six months ended June 30, 2012, and performed roughly in line with J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified. Allocations to off-benchmark corporate bonds, particularly in China and Russia, were our biggest performance contributors, due largely to exceptionally strong first-quarter gains. Our exposure to locally denominated Brazilian debt weighed on returns.

Market Environment

The first half of 2012 was a tale of two quarters. Investor sentiment was decidedly upbeat through the first three months of the period, buoyed by positive economic and political developments. The U.S. economic recovery was progressing nicely amid unexpected strength in manufacturing and employment, the European Central Bank’s two long-term refinancing operations (LTROs) signaled progress on the eurozone debt crisis, and China’s economy seemed to be cooling in an orderly manner to more sustainable growth. Emerging market debt posted solid gains for the first quarter. Sovereign debt denominated in local currencies experienced the best returns in U.S. dollar terms, as emerging market currencies generally appreciated during the period. Corporate debt markets also outpaced hard currency government debt, with the high yield corporate segment delivering exceptional returns. Many high-risk markets performed relatively well, but higher-quality government debt underperformed.

Risk aversion returned in the second quarter, however, as signs of a weakening global economy sapped investor confidence. Much of Europe remained mired in recession, and election results in Greece and France revealed widespread discontent over fiscal austerity measures. Mixed economic data in the U.S., including persistently high unemployment, indicated that the previously resilient recovery was starting to falter, and the Chinese economic slowdown was sharper than expected. Emerging market bonds generated mixed returns but managed a modest overall gain. Yield-hungry investors were still drawn to the asset class but preferred the safety of debt denominated in hard currency. Local currency debt was punished as the U.S. dollar strengthened. Reduced global economic activity weighed on corporate debt, particularly in the noninvestment-grade segment.

Portfolio Review And Positioning

Our exposure to emerging market corporate debt—a sector not included in the J.P. Morgan index—was the primary driver of the portfolio’s outperformance versus the benchmark. Gains in this market segment were exceptionally good in the first three months of the period, which more than made up for relative weakness in the second quarter. Our positions in Russia and China were particularly strong. Russian company Metalloinvest, a steel manufacturer that is also one of the world’s largest iron ore miners, delivered strong gains. The firm’s vertical integration allows for significant economies of scale and provides a key competitive advantage against nonintegrated producers. Chinese companies also performed well in the period, led by our corporate holdings focused on the property sector. Firms such as KWG Property Holding and Central China Real Estate advanced following the release of encouraging economic data, indicating that China was managing its way to a soft economic landing. We believe the Chinese real estate sector remains well supported by continued urbanization trends, a high savings rate, and a lack of investment alternatives in the region. (Please refer to the fund’s portfolio of investments for a complete list of holdings and the amount each represents in the portfolio.)

Our exposure to Brazilian debt denominated in the local currency, the real, was the worst performer during the period. Growth indicators in the country deteriorated appreciably in the latter half of the period. Expectations for commodities pricing were particularly weak against a backdrop of a slowing global economy and reduced demand from China, where fixed-asset investments have fallen sharply from previous years. Brazilian policy-makers cut interest rates aggressively in response to the slowdown. Although rate cuts typically have a beneficial impact on local debt pricing, the Brazilian real fell substantially against the U.S. dollar, which weighed on the portfolio’s total return. In fact, the dollar strengthened against a broad swath of emerging market currencies, including the Mexican peso.

In terms of portfolio positioning, we modestly reduced our allocation to local currency debt in the second half of the period. While interest rate cuts prevailed across many emerging markets amid muted inflation and weak global growth, heightened volatility in capital flows and the potential for increased government intervention in some markets prompted our reduction. We continue to like certain local markets, Mexico and Brazil most notably. The majority of our Brazilian exposure is hedged to the U.S. dollar, and we are currently evaluating the merits of adding exposure to the increasingly attractive inflation-linked market.


It is important to note that the choice to invest in local debt and the respective currency in which the debt is issued are two distinct decisions. We have significantly reduced our local currency exposure as decreased risk appetite and lower growth expectations are likely to lead to currency weakness. We still expect emerging market currencies to appreciate over time, but the U.S. dollar should benefit over the near term given global economic uncertainty. Our largest net currency positions include the Mexican peso and Turkish lira. We expect the Mexican government to hold off cutting interest rates, and the currency continues to be attractively valued. Turkey’s unorthodox monetary policy has resulted in a modest reduction of the current account deficit, which has supported the lira.

Our conviction in the corporate market remains firm despite the recent rise in risk aversion. Higher growth rates in emerging economies provide a direct benefit to local corporations, and we believe the asset class has the potential to perform well over the long term. Although we modestly trimmed our corporate allocation during the reporting period, this was done primarily to leave room to participate in new issues anticipated in the second half of the year. We expect relatively more issuance in the below investment-grade space, where more attractive valuations may be found for investors with an independent risk assessment such as ours. Within our corporate allocation, the portfolio is positioned across companies that stand to benefit from growing domestic demand from the emerging market consumer, particularly in Brazil, Russia, China, India, and Mexico, and emphasizes the industrial and retail industries. We also recently added to our banking sector exposure and reduced our positions in oil-related companies in view of the gloomy outlook for oil prices.




Latin America remains our largest regional exposure, and Brazil is our largest overweight relative to the index. The country has a healthy reserve position, a diverse mix of commodity exports, and healthy domestic demand despite the recent slowdown. Eastern Europe is our next-largest allocation, and our overweight position is due largely to an emphasis on Russia. The country maintains a relatively robust growth outlook, led by consumer activity, lower inflation, and an ongoing resumption in lending activity. We remain underweight in troubled Eastern European countries such as Belarus, Croatia, and Hungary, which are more exposed to contagion risks from the deteriorating eurozone economy. We are maintaining our underweight exposure in Asian sovereign debt, due mostly to rich valuations. We narrowed the underweight during the period by adding to the Chinese property sector, which performed well.

Outlook

We remain optimistic about the prospects for emerging market debt. While recent data indicate that the global economy is slowing, we maintain confidence in a continuing, albeit modest, U.S. recovery and an eventual soft landing in China, which would likely provide meaningful support for investor risk tolerance. While the recent European Council summit has eased some of the concerns surrounding the eurozone crisis, we believe several structural issues need to be corrected before stability is restored. Consequently, valuations on select emerging market credits may remain sensitive in the near term as eurozone leaders struggle to address sluggish economic growth and high debt levels.

Amid the challenges faced by developed economies, emerging market sovereign and corporate debt remains relatively well supported from both fundamental and technical standpoints. In addition to higher growth expectations and lower debt burdens than the average developed country, emerging markets benefit from a much broader variety of policy tools than many developed markets. Overall, we are encouraged that credit fundamentals and economic growth potential in emerging countries are generally favorable relative to many highly indebted developed countries. We believe this will continue to drive secular capital flows into emerging debt markets in the long term and support bond prices.

Effective security selection is becoming increasingly important as the international bond market grows in size, complexity, and maturity. We believe that the extended reach of T. Rowe Price’s global credit and equity research platforms, combined with our emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, gives our portfolio managers a critical edge in evaluating opportunities and risks in the global bond market.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael J. Conelius
Portfolio manager of the Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund and chairman of the fund’s Investment Advisory Committee

July 27, 2012

The committee chairman has day-to-day responsibility for the portfolio and works with committee members in developing and executing the fund’s investment program.

Risk of International Bond Investing

Funds that invest overseas generally carry more risk than funds that invest strictly in U.S. assets, including unpredictable changes in currency values. Investments in emerging markets are subject to abrupt and severe price declines and should be regarded as speculative. The economic and political structures of developing nations, 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. Some countries also have legacies of hyperinflation, currency devaluations, and governmental interference in markets.

International investments are subject to currency risk, a decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar, which reduces the dollar value of securities denominated in that currency. The overall impact on a fund’s holdings can be significant and long-lasting depending on the currencies represented in the portfolio, how each one appreciates or depreciates in relation to the U.S. dollar, and whether currency positions are hedged. Further, exchange rate movements are unpredictable and it is not possible to effectively hedge the currency risks of many developing countries.

Bonds are also subject to interest rate risk, the decline in bond prices that usually accompanies a rise in interest rates, and credit risk, the chance that any fund holding could have its credit rating downgraded or that a bond issuer will default (fail to make timely payments of interest or principal), potentially reducing the fund’s income level and share price.

Glossary

Duration: A measure of a bond fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, a fund with a duration of six years would fall about 6% in response to a one-percentage-point rise in rates, and vice versa.

J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global: Tracks U.S. dollar government bonds of 31 foreign countries.

Quasi-sovereign debt: Debt issued by a corporation and backed by the respective government, typically offering the higher yields of corporate debt with the added benefit of government support.

Weighted average effective duration (years): A measure of a portfolio’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Portfolios with longer weighted average effective durations are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than securities with shorter durations.

Weighted average maturity: A measure of a fund’s sensitivity to interest rates. In general, the longer the average maturity, the greater the fund’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The weighted average maturity may take into account the interest rate readjustment dates for certain securities. Money funds must maintain a weighted average maturity of less than 60 days.

Portfolio Highlights


Performance and Expenses
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund

Performance Comparison

This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $1 million 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.

Actual Expenses
The first line of the following table (Actual) provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. 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.

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.


Financial Highlights
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
(Unaudited)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Portfolio of Investments
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
June 30, 2012 (Unaudited)






































The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
June 30, 2012 (Unaudited)
($000s, except shares and per share amounts)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Operations
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
(Unaudited)
($000s)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
(Unaudited)
($000s)


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Notes to Financial Statements
T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund
June 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

T. Rowe Price Institutional International Funds, Inc. (the corporation), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). The Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the fund) is a nondiversified, open-end management investment company established by the corporation. The fund commenced operations on November 30, 2006. The fund seeks to provide high income and capital appreciation.

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. Paydown gains and losses are recorded as an adjustment to interest income. Inflation adjustments to the principal amount of inflation-indexed bonds are reflected as interest income. 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 daily and paid monthly. 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.

Credits Credits are earned on the fund’s temporarily uninvested cash balances held at the custodian and such credits reduce the amount paid by the manager for custody of the fund’s assets. In order to pass the benefit of custody credits to the fund, the manager has voluntarily reduced its investment management and administrative expense in the accompanying financial statements.

Redemption Fees A 2% fee is assessed on redemptions of fund shares held for 90 days or less to deter short-term trading and to protect the interests of long-term shareholders. Redemption fees are withheld from proceeds that shareholders receive from the sale or exchange of fund shares. The fees are paid to the fund and are recorded as an increase to paid-in capital. The fees may cause the redemption price per share to differ from the net asset value per share.

New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued amended guidance to align fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP with International Financial Reporting Standards. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Adoption had no effect on net assets or results of operations.

In December 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to enhance disclosure for offsetting assets and liabilities. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Adoption will have no effect on the fund’s net assets or results of operations.

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 its 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 Debt securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Securities with remaining maturities of one year or more at the time of acquisition are valued at prices furnished by dealers who make markets in such securities or by an independent pricing service, which considers the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Securities with remaining maturities of less than one year at the time of acquisition generally use amortized cost in local currency to approximate fair value. However, if amortized cost is deemed not to reflect fair value or the fund holds a significant amount of such securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the securities are valued at prices furnished by dealers who make markets in such securities or by an independent pricing service.

Investments in mutual funds are valued at the mutual fund’s closing net asset value per share on the day of valuation. Forward currency exchange contracts are valued using the prevailing forward exchange rate. Swaps are valued at prices furnished by independent swap dealers or by an independent pricing service.

Other investments, including restricted securities and private placements, 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 Directors (the Board). Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee develops pricing-related policies and procedures and approves all fair-value determinations. The Valuation Committee regularly makes good faith judgments, using a wide variety of sources and information, to establish and adjust valuations of certain securities as events occur and circumstances warrant. For instance, in determining the fair value of private-equity instruments, the Valuation Committee considers a variety of factors, including the company’s business prospects, its financial performance, strategic events impacting the company, relevant valuations of similar companies, new rounds of financing, and any negotiated transactions of significant size between other investors in the company. Because any fair-value determination involves a significant amount of judgment, there is a degree of subjectivity inherent in such pricing decisions.

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. The following table summarizes the fund’s financial instruments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on June 30, 2012:


NOTE 3 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the fund invested in derivative instruments. As defined by GAAP, a derivative is a financial instrument whose value is derived from an underlying security price, foreign exchange rate, interest rate, index of prices or rates, or other variable; it requires little or no initial investment and permits or requires net settlement. The fund invests in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards are consistent with its investment objectives, policies, and overall risk profile, as described in its prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The fund may use derivatives for a variety of purposes, such as seeking to hedge against declines in principal value, increase yield, invest in an asset with greater efficiency and at a lower cost than is possible through direct investment, or to adjust portfolio duration and credit exposure. The risks associated with the use of derivatives are different from, and potentially much greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the instruments on which the derivatives are based. Investments in derivatives can magnify returns positively or negatively; however, the fund at all times maintains sufficient cash reserves, liquid assets, or other SEC-permitted asset types to cover the settlement obligations under its open derivative contracts.

The fund values its derivatives at fair value, as described below and in Note 2, and recognizes changes in fair value currently in its results of operations. Accordingly, the fund does not follow hedge accounting, even for derivatives employed as economic hedges. The fund does not offset the fair value of derivative instruments against the right to reclaim or obligation to return collateral.

The following table summarizes the fair value of the fund’s derivative instruments held as of June 30, 2012, and the related location on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities, presented by primary underlying risk exposure:


Additionally, the amount of gains and losses on derivative instruments recognized in fund earnings during the six months ended June 30, 2012, and the related location on the accompanying Statement of Operations is summarized in the following table by primary underlying risk exposure:


Forward Currency Exchange Contracts The fund is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. It uses forward currency exchange contracts (forwards) primarily to protect its non-U.S. dollar-denominated holdings from adverse currency movements and to gain exposure to currencies for the purposes of risk management or enhanced return. A forward involves an obligation to purchase or sell a fixed amount of a specific currency on a future date at a price set at the time of the contract. Although certain forwards may be settled by exchanging only the net gain or loss on the contract, most forwards are settled with the exchange of the underlying currencies in accordance with the specified terms. Forwards are valued at the unrealized gain or loss on the contract, which reflects the net amount the fund either is entitled to receive or obligated to deliver, as measured by the difference between the forward exchange rates at the date of entry into the contract and the forward rates at the reporting date. Appreciated forwards are reflected as assets, and depreciated forwards are reflected as liabilities on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks related to the use of forwards include the possible failure of counterparties to meet the terms of the agreements; that anticipated currency movements will not occur, thereby reducing the fund’s total return; and the potential for losses in excess of the fund’s initial investment. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the fund’s exposure to forwards, based on underlying notional amounts, was generally between 8% and 12% of net assets.

Credit Default Swaps The fund is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and uses swap contracts to help manage such risk. The fund may use swaps in an effort to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, inflation rates, and credit quality; to adjust overall exposure to certain markets; to enhance total return or protect the value of portfolio securities; to serve as a cash management tool; and/or to adjust portfolio duration or credit exposure. Credit default swaps are agreements where one party (the protection buyer) agrees to make periodic payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for protection against specified credit events, such as certain defaults and bankruptcies related to an underlying credit instrument, or issuer or index of such instruments. Upon occurrence of a specified credit event, the protection seller is required to pay the buyer the difference between the notional amount of the swap and the value of the underlying credit, either in the form of a net cash settlement or by paying the gross notional amount and accepting delivery of the relevant underlying credit. For credit default swaps where the underlying credit is an index, a specified credit event may affect all or individual underlying securities included in the index and will be settled based upon the relative weighting of the affected underlying security(s) within the index. Generally, the payment risk for the seller of protection is inversely related to the current market price of the underlying credit; or, in the case of an index swap, the market value of the contract relative to the notional amount. Therefore, the payment risk increases as the price of the relevant underlying credit, or market value of the index swap, declines due to market valuations of credit quality. As of June 30, 2012, the notional amount of protection sold by the fund totaled $2,100,000 (0.9% of net assets), which reflects the maximum potential amount the fund could be required to pay under such contracts. The value of a swap included in net assets is the unrealized gain or loss on the contract plus or minus any unamortized premiums paid or received, respectively. Appreciated swaps and premiums paid are reflected as assets, and depreciated swaps and premiums received are reflected as liabilities on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Net periodic receipts or payments required by swaps are accrued daily and are recorded as realized gain or loss for financial reporting purposes when settled; fluctuations in the fair value of swaps are reflected in the change in net unrealized gain or loss and are reclassified to realized gain or loss upon termination prior to maturity or cash settlement. Risks related to the use of credit default swaps include the possible inability of the fund to accurately assess the current and future creditworthiness of underlying issuers, the possible failure of a counterparty to perform in accordance with the terms of the swap agreements, potential government regulation that could adversely affect the fund’s swap investments, and potential losses in excess of the fund’s initial investment. During the six months ended June 30, 2012, the fund’s exposure to swaps, based on underlying notional amounts, was generally between 0% and 1% of net assets.

NOTE 4 - 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.

Emerging Markets At June 30, 2012, approximately 93% of the fund’s net assets were invested, either directly or through investments in T. Rowe Price institutional funds, in securities of companies located in emerging markets, securities issued by governments of emerging market countries, and/or securities denominated in or linked to the currencies of emerging market countries. Emerging market securities are often subject to greater price volatility, less liquidity, and higher rates of inflation than U.S. securities. In addition, emerging markets may be subject to greater political, economic, and social uncertainty, and differing regulatory environments that may potentially impact the fund’s ability to buy or sell certain securities or repatriate proceeds to U.S. dollars.

Noninvestment-Grade Debt Securities At June 30, 2012, approximately 50% of the fund’s net assets were invested, either directly or through its investment in T. Rowe Price institutional funds, in noninvestment-grade debt securities, commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds. The noninvestment-grade bond market may experience sudden and sharp price swings due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by major investors, a high-profile default, or a change in the market’s psychology. These events may decrease the ability of issuers to make principal and interest payments and adversely affect the liquidity or value, or both, of such securities.

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.

Counterparty Risk and Collateral The fund has entered into collateral agreements with certain counterparties to mitigate counterparty risk associated with certain over-the-counter (OTC) financial instruments, including swaps, forward currency exchange contracts, TBA purchase commitments, and OTC options (collectively, covered OTC instruments). Subject to certain minimum exposure requirements (which typically range from $100,000 to $500,000), collateral requirements generally are determined and transfers made based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on all covered OTC instruments covered by a particular collateral agreement with a specified counterparty. Collateral, both pledged by the fund to a counterparty and pledged by a counterparty to the fund, is held in a segregated account by a third-party agent and can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. government or related agencies. Securities posted as collateral by the fund to a counterparty are so noted in the accompanying Portfolio of Investments and remain in the fund’s assets. As of June 30, 2012, no collateral had been posted by the fund to counterparties for covered OTC instruments. Collateral pledged by counterparties to the fund is not included in the fund’s assets because the fund does not obtain effective control over those assets. As of June 30, 2012, collateral pledged by counterparties to the fund for covered OTC instruments consisted of securities valued at $347,000.

At any point in time, the fund’s risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on covered OTC instruments is the aggregate unrealized gain on appreciated covered OTC instruments in excess of collateral, if any, pledged by the counterparty to the fund. In accordance with the terms of the relevant derivatives agreements, counterparties to OTC derivatives may be able to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity after the occurrence of certain stated events, such as a decline in net assets above a certain percentage or a failure by the fund to perform its obligations under the contract. Upon termination, all transactions would typically be liquidated and a net amount would be owed by or payable to the fund.

Other Purchases and sales of portfolio securities other than short-term and U.S. government securities aggregated $60,601,000 and $39,630,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Purchases and sales of U.S. government securities aggregated $210,000 and $842,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

NOTE 5 - 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.

The fund intends to retain realized gains to the extent of available capital loss carryforwards. Net realized capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future realized capital gains.

At June 30, 2012, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $224,334,000. Net unrealized gain aggregated $9,974,000 at period-end, of which $15,194,000 related to appreciated investments and $5,220,000 related to depreciated investments.

NOTE 6 - 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 and administrative agreement between the fund and Price Associates provides for an all-inclusive annual fee equal to 0.70% of the fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is computed daily and paid monthly. The all-inclusive fee covers investment management, shareholder servicing, transfer agency, accounting, and custody services provided to the fund, as well as fund directors’ fees and expenses; interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses are paid directly by the fund.

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.

Mutual funds and other accounts managed by T. Rowe Price and its affiliates (collectively, T. Rowe Price funds) may invest in the fund; however, no T. Rowe Price fund may invest for the purpose of exercising management or control over the fund. At June 30, 2012, approximately 74% of the fund’s outstanding shares were held by T. Rowe Price funds.

As of June 30, 2012, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and/or its wholly owned subsidiaries owned 1,152,874 shares of the fund, representing 5% 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, 100 F St. N.E., Washington, DC 20549. For more information on the Public Reference Room, call 1-800-SEC-0330.

Approval of Investment Management Agreement

On March 6, 2012, the fund’s Board of Directors (Board), including a majority of the fund’s independent directors, approved the continuation of the investment management agreement (Advisory Contract) between the fund and its investment advisor, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Advisor). In connection with its deliberations, the Board requested, and the Advisor provided, such information as the Board (with advice from independent legal counsel) deemed reasonably necessary. The Board considered a variety of factors in connection with its review of the Advisory 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, directing the fund’s investments in accordance with its investment program and the overall management of the fund’s portfolio, as well as a variety of related activities such as financial, investment operations, and administrative services; compliance; maintaining the fund’s records and registrations; and shareholder 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, as well as the Advisor’s compliance record. 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 three-month; one-, three-, and five-year; and since-inception 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 Advisory Contract and other benefits that the Advisor (and its affiliates) may have realized from its relationship with the fund, including any 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 received information on the estimated costs incurred and profits realized by the Advisor from managing T. Rowe Price mutual funds. The Board also reviewed estimates of the profits realized from managing the fund in particular and 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 benefits under the fee levels set forth in the Advisory Contract from any economies of scale realized by the Advisor. The Board noted that, under the Advisory Contract, the fund pays the Advisor a single fee based on the fund’s average daily net assets that includes investment management services and provides for the Advisor to pay all expenses of the fund’s operations except for interest, taxes, portfolio transaction fees, and any nonrecurring extraordinary expenses that may arise. The Board concluded that the fund’s single-fee structure continued to be appropriate.

Fees
The Board was provided with information regarding industry trends in management fees and expenses, and the Board reviewed the fund’s single-fee structure in comparison to fees and expenses of other comparable funds based on information and data supplied by Lipper. For these purposes, the Board assumed that the fund’s management fee rate was equal to the single fee less the fund’s operating expenses. The information provided to the Board indicated that the fund’s management fee rate was at or below the median for comparable funds and the fund’s total expense ratio was below the median for comparable funds.

The Board also reviewed the fee schedules for institutional accounts and private accounts with similar mandates that are advised or subadvised by the Advisor and its affiliates. Management provided the Board with information about the Advisor’s responsibilities and services provided to institutional account clients, including information about how the requirements and economics of the institutional business are fundamentally different from those of the mutual fund business. The Board considered information showing that the mutual fund business is generally more complex from a business and compliance perspective than the institutional business and that the Advisor generally performs significant additional services and assumes greater risk in managing the fund and other T. Rowe Price mutual funds than it does for institutional account clients.

On the basis of the information provided and the factors considered, the Board concluded that the fees paid by the fund under the Advisory Contract are reasonable.

Approval of the Advisory Contract
As noted, the Board approved the continuation of the Advisory Contract. No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision. Rather, the Board concluded, in light of a weighting and balancing of all factors considered, that it was in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders for the Board to approve the continuation of the Advisory Contract (including the fees to be charged for services thereunder). The independent directors were advised throughout the process by independent legal counsel.

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 Institutional International Funds, Inc.
 

By      /s/ Edward C. Bernard
Edward C. Bernard
Principal Executive Officer     
   
Date     August 16, 2012
 

     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 16, 2012
   
    
By /s/ Gregory K. Hinkle
Gregory K. Hinkle
Principal Financial Officer     
   
Date     August 16, 2012