PROSPECTUS |
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T. ROWE PRICE | ||||
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PRCIX PRXEX PANIX RRNIX TRVZX |
Investor Class I Class Advisor Class R Class Z Class | |||
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. |
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Table of Contents
1 |
SUMMARY |
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2 |
MORE ABOUT THE FUND | ||
More
Information About the Fund’s | |||
3 |
INFORMATION
ABOUT ACCOUNTS | ||
Investing with T. Rowe Price 41 Distribution
and Shareholder Policies for Opening an Account 46 Pricing of Shares and Transactions 48 Investing Directly with T. Rowe Price 49 Investing
Through a Financial General Policies Relating to Transactions 58 |
SUMMARY |
1 | |
The fund seeks to maximize total return through income and capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold, and sell shares of the fund. You may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling shares of the fund, which are not reflected in the table or example below.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund |
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Maximum account fee |
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Management fees |
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Distribution and service (12b-1) fees |
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Other expenses |
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Total annual fund operating expenses |
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Fee waiver/expense reimbursement |
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Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement |
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a |
Subject to certain exceptions, accounts with a balance of less than $10,000 are charged an annual $20 fee. | ||||||||||
b |
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (at least through September 30, 2023) to waive a portion of the fund’s management fees so that an individual fund fee of 0.0255% is applied to the fund’s average daily net assets that are equal to or greater than $20 billion. Thereafter, this agreement will automatically renew for one-year terms unless terminated by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived under this agreement are not subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund. | ||||||||||
c |
Restated to show maximum 12b-1 fee rate of 0.50%. Actual rate for the prior fiscal year was 0.49%. | ||||||||||
d |
Restated to reflect current fees. | ||||||||||
e |
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed (through September 30, 2023) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to average daily net assets to exceed 1.08%. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after September 30, 2023, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 1.15%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 1.08%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived or (2) the class’ current expense limitation. | ||||||||||
f |
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., has contractually agreed to waive and/or bear all the Z Class’ expenses (excluding interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) in their entirety. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., expects this fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangement to remain in place indefinitely, and the agreement may only be amended or terminated with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. |
T. ROWE PRICE |
2 |
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1 Year |
3 Years |
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10 Years |
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Investor Class |
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I Class |
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Advisor Class |
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R Class |
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Z Class |
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Investments, Risks, and Performance
The fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in income-producing securities, which may include, but are not limited to, U.S. government and agency obligations, mortgage- and asset-backed securities (including commercial mortgage-backed securities), corporate bonds, foreign bonds, and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities. For purposes of this 80% policy, the fund includes derivative instruments that are linked to, or provide investment exposure to, income-producing securities.
Active management of the portfolio can result in securities being sold at gains or losses. However, over the long term, the fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in income-producing securities that possess what the fund believes are favorable total return (income plus increases in principal value) characteristics.
Eighty percent (80%) of the debt securities purchased by the fund will be rated investment grade (i.e., rated in one of the four highest rating categories) by each of the major credit rating agencies (S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s, and Fitch) that have assigned a rating to the security or, if unrated, deemed by T. Rowe Price to be of investment-grade quality. Up to 15% of the fund’s net assets may be invested in “split-rated securities,” which are securities that have been
SUMMARY |
3 |
rated investment grade by at least one rating agency but below investment grade by another rating agency. The fund may maintain a net exposure of up to 5% of its net assets in instruments (through direct holdings and derivatives) that have received below investment-grade ratings from each of the rating agencies that have assigned ratings to the instruments or, if unrated, deemed by T. Rowe Price to be below investment-grade quality (including high yield or “junk” bonds). The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. dollar-denominated foreign debt securities (including securities of issuers in emerging markets) and take currency positions to hedge this exposure as well as to capture appreciation from favorable currency changes.
The fund has considerable flexibility in seeking high income. There are no maturity restrictions so the fund can purchase long-term bonds, which tend to have higher yields than shorter-term bonds. In addition, when there is a large yield difference between the various quality levels, the fund may move down the credit scale and purchase lower-rated bonds with higher yields. When the difference is small or the outlook warrants, the fund may concentrate investments in higher-rated issues.
The fund may purchase or sell mortgage-backed securities on a delayed delivery or forward commitment basis through the “to-be-announced” (TBA) market. With TBA transactions, the particular securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date, but the delivered securities must meet specified terms and standards. The fund will generally enter into TBA transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying mortgage-backed securities. However, in an effort to obtain underlying mortgage-backed securities on more preferable terms or to enhance returns, the fund may extend the settlement by entering into “dollar roll” transactions in which the fund sells mortgage-backed securities and simultaneously agrees to purchase substantially similar securities on a future date. The fund also expects to engage in short sales of TBA mortgages, including short sales on TBA mortgages the fund does not own, to potentially enhance returns or manage risk.
While most assets will typically be invested in bonds, the fund also uses interest rate futures, credit default swaps and forward currency exchange contracts. Interest rate futures would typically be used to manage the fund’s exposure to interest rate changes or to adjust portfolio duration. Credit default swaps can be used to protect the value of certain portfolio holdings, as an alternative to cash bonds, and to manage the fund’s overall credit risk exposure. Forward currency exchange contracts would be used to gain exposure to certain currencies expected to increase or decrease in value relative to other currencies or to protect the fund’s foreign bond holdings from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar.
As
with any fund, there is no guarantee that the fund will achieve its
objective(s).
T. ROWE PRICE |
4 |
Fixed income markets Economic and other market developments can adversely affect the fixed income securities markets. At times, participants in these markets may develop concerns about the ability of certain issuers of debt instruments to make timely principal and interest payments, or they may develop concerns about the ability of financial institutions that make markets in certain debt instruments to facilitate an orderly market. Those concerns could cause increased volatility and reduced liquidity in particular securities or in the overall fixed income markets and the related derivatives markets. A lack of liquidity or other adverse credit market conditions may hamper the fund’s ability to sell the debt instruments in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Market conditions The value of the fund’s investments may decrease, sometimes rapidly or unexpectedly, due to factors affecting an issuer held by the fund, particular industries, or the overall securities markets. A variety of factors can increase the volatility of the fund’s holdings and markets generally, including political or regulatory developments, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, war, military conflict, or acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other widespread public health issues such as the coronavirus pandemic and related governmental and public responses (including sanctions). Certain events may cause instability across global markets, including reduced liquidity and disruptions in trading markets, while some events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors, and industries more significantly than others. Government intervention in markets may impact interest rates, market volatility, and security pricing. These adverse developments may cause broad declines in market value due to short-term market movements or for significantly longer periods during more prolonged market downturns.
Interest rates The prices of, and the income generated by, debt instruments held by the fund may be affected by changes in interest rates. A rise in interest rates typically causes the price of a fixed rate debt instrument to fall and its yield to rise. Conversely, a decline in interest rates typically causes the price of a fixed rate debt instrument to rise and the yield to fall. The prices and yields of inflation-linked bonds are directly impacted by the rate of inflation as well as changes in interest rates. Generally, funds with longer weighted average maturities and durations carry greater interest rate risk. Changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or governments, such as the discontinuation and replacement of benchmark rates, are likely to affect the interest rates or yields of the securities in which the fund invests.
Prepayments and extensions The fund is subject to prepayment risks because the principal on mortgage-backed securities, other asset-backed securities, or any debt instrument with an embedded call option may be prepaid at any time, which could reduce the security’s yield and market value. The rate of prepayments tends to increase as interest rates fall, which could cause the average maturity of the portfolio to shorten. Extension risk may result from a rise in interest rates, which tends to make mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and other callable debt instruments more volatile.
LIBOR transition Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. After June 30, 2023, LIBOR will cease
SUMMARY |
5 |
to be published and therefore all loans outstanding will be benchmarked to an alternate rate. Floating rate bank loan coupons may be benchmarked to a short-term interest rate, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), in the future. The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance and/or net asset value.
TBAs and dollar rolls Although the securities that are delivered in TBA transactions must meet certain standards, there is a risk that the actual securities received by the fund may be less favorable than what was anticipated when entering into the transaction. TBA transactions are collateralized but they still involve the risk that a counterparty will fail to deliver the security, exposing the fund to potential losses. Whether or not the fund takes delivery of the securities at the termination date of a TBA transaction, it will nonetheless be exposed to changes in the value of the underlying investments during the term of the agreement. Forward settling securities, such as TBAs, involve leverage which may magnify investment risks and can cause losses to be realized more quickly. In addition, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate and transaction costs are increased when the fund enters into dollar roll transactions.
Derivatives The use of interest rate futures, forward currency exchange contracts, and credit default swaps potentially exposes the fund to additional volatility in comparison to investing directly in bonds and other debt instruments. These instruments can be illiquid and difficult to value, may involve leverage so that small changes produce disproportionate losses for the fund and, if not traded on an exchange, are subject to the risk that a counterparty to the transaction will fail to meet its obligations under the derivatives contract. The fund’s principal use of derivatives involves the risk that anticipated interest rate movements, the creditworthiness of an issuer, or expected changes in currency values and currency exchange rates will not be accurately predicted, which could significantly harm the fund’s performance and impair the fund’s efforts to reduce its overall volatility.
Foreign investing Investments in the securities of non-U.S. issuers may be adversely affected by local, political, social, and economic conditions overseas; greater volatility; reduced liquidity; or decreases in foreign currency values relative to the U.S. dollar. The risks of investing outside the U.S. are heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are susceptible to greater volatility than investments in developed markets.
Credit quality An issuer of a debt instrument could suffer an adverse change in financial condition that results in a payment default (failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments), rating downgrade, or inability to meet a financial obligation. Securities that are rated below investment grade carry greater risk of default and should be considered speculative.
Liquidity The fund may not be able to meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of the remaining shareholders’ interests in the fund. In addition, the fund may not be able to sell a holding in a timely manner at a desired price. Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading
T. ROWE PRICE |
6 |
activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Markets with lower overall liquidity could lead to greater price volatility and limit the fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.
Portfolio turnover High portfolio turnover may adversely affect the fund’s performance and increase transaction costs, which could increase the fund’s expenses. High portfolio turnover may also result in the distribution of higher capital gains when compared with a fund with less active trading policies, which could have an adverse tax impact if the fund’s shares are held in a taxable account.
Active management The fund’s overall investment program and holdings selected by the fund’s investment adviser may underperform the broad markets, relevant indices, or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.
Cybersecurity breaches The fund could be harmed by intentional cyberattacks and other cybersecurity breaches, including unauthorized access to the fund’s assets, customer data and confidential shareholder information, or other proprietary information. In addition, a cybersecurity breach could cause one of the fund’s service providers or financial intermediaries to suffer unauthorized data access, data corruption, or loss of operational functionality.
The following bar chart illustrates how much returns can differ from year to year by showing calendar year returns and the best and worst calendar quarter returns during those years for the fund’s Investor Class. Returns for other share classes vary since they have different expenses.
SUMMARY |
7 |
NEW INCOME FUND |
Quarter Ended |
Total Return |
Quarter Ended |
Total Return |
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The following table shows the average annual total returns for each class of the fund that has been in operation for at least one full calendar year, and also compares the returns with the returns of a relevant broad-based market index, as well as with the returns of one or more comparative indexes that have investment characteristics similar to those of the fund, if applicable.
In
addition, the table shows hypothetical after-tax returns to demonstrate how
taxes paid by a shareholder may influence returns.
T. ROWE PRICE |
8 |
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Periods ended |
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December 31, 2021 |
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Returns before taxes |
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Returns after taxes on distributions |
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Returns after taxes on distributions and sale |
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of fund shares |
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I Class |
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Returns before taxes |
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Advisor Class |
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Returns before taxes |
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R Class |
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Returns before taxes |
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Z Class |
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Returns before taxes |
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Management
Investment Adviser T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price or Price Associates)
Investment Subadviser T. Rowe Price International Ltd (Price International)
Investment Subadviser T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Limited (Price Hong Kong)
Portfolio Manager |
Title |
Managed |
Joined |
Stephen L. Bartolini |
Chair of Investment Advisory Committee |
2018 |
2010 |
SUMMARY |
9 |
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment if opening an IRA, a custodial account for a minor, or a small business retirement plan account). Additional purchases generally require a $100 minimum. These investment minimums generally are waived for financial intermediaries and certain employer-sponsored retirement plans submitting orders on behalf of their customers. Advisor Class and R Class shares may generally only be purchased through a financial intermediary or retirement plan.
The I Class requires a $500,000 minimum initial investment per fund per account registration, although the initial investment minimum generally is waived or reduced for financial intermediaries, eligible retirement plans, certain client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority, qualifying directly held accounts, and certain other types of accounts.
The Z Class is only available to funds managed by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases.
For investors holding shares of the fund directly with T. Rowe Price, you may purchase, redeem, or exchange fund shares by mail; by telephone (1-800-225-5132 for IRAs and nonretirement accounts; 1-800-492-7670 for small business retirement plans; and 1-800-638-8790 for institutional investors and financial intermediaries); or, for certain accounts, by accessing your account online through troweprice.com.
If you hold shares through a financial intermediary or retirement plan, you must purchase, redeem, and exchange shares of the fund through your intermediary or retirement plan. You should check with your intermediary or retirement plan to determine the investment minimums that apply to your account.
Tax Information
The fund declares dividends, if any, daily and pays them on the first business day of each month. Any capital gains are declared and paid annually, usually in December. Redemptions or exchanges of fund shares and distributions by the fund, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional fund shares, generally may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains unless you invest through a tax-deferred account (in which case you will be taxed upon withdrawal from such account).
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND |
2 | |
Investment Adviser(s)
T. Rowe Price is the fund’s investment adviser and oversees the selection of the fund’s investments and management of the fund’s portfolio pursuant to an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and the fund. T. Rowe Price is the investment adviser for all funds sponsored and managed by T. Rowe Price (T. Rowe Price Funds); is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides investment management services to individual and institutional investors and sponsors; and serves as adviser and subadviser to registered investment companies, institutional separate accounts, and common trust funds. The address for T. Rowe Price is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. As of June 30, 2022, T. Rowe Price and its affiliates (Firm) had approximately $1.31 trillion in assets under management and provided investment management services for more than 6.2 million individual and institutional investor accounts.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Price International under which Price International is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of the fund. Price International is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser, and is authorized or licensed by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority and other global regulators. Price International sponsors and serves as adviser to foreign collective investment schemes and provides investment management services to registered investment companies and other institutional investors. Price International is headquartered in London and has several branch offices around the world. Price International is a direct subsidiary of T. Rowe Price and its address is 60 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4TZ, United Kingdom.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Price Hong Kong under which Price Hong Kong is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of the fund. Price Hong Kong is licensed with the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong and is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. Price Hong Kong serves as a subadviser to investment companies and provides investment management services for other clients who seek to primarily invest in the Asia-Pacific securities markets. Price Hong Kong is a subsidiary of T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price International, and its address is 6/F Chater House, 8 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong.
Portfolio Management
T. Rowe Price has established an Investment Advisory Committee with respect to the fund. The committee chair is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s portfolio and works with the committee in developing and executing the fund’s investment program. The members of the committee are as follows: Stephen L. Bartolini, chair, Jason A.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND |
11 |
Bauer, Steven E. Boothe, Christopher P. Brown, Ramon Roberto de Castro, Anna Alexandra Dreyer, Geoffrey M. Hardin, Keir R. Joyce, Robert M. Larkins, Matthew Lawton, Samy B. Muaddi, and Lauren T. Wagandt. The following information provides the year that the chair first joined the Firm and the chair’s specific business experience during the past five years (although the chair may have had portfolio management responsibilities for a longer period). Mr. Bartolini served as cochair of the Investment Advisory Committee beginning in January 2018, and became sole chair in December 2018. He joined the Firm in 2010, and his investment experience dates from 2000. During the past five years, he has served as a portfolio manager of the U.S. Inflation Protected Bond and U.S. Short-Term Inflation Focused Bond strategies. In addition, he co-heads the Global Interest Rate and Currency Strategy team and is a member of the portfolio strategy team for the Core/Core Plus bond strategies. The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of the fund’s shares.
The Management Fee
The management fee consists of two components—an “individual fund fee,” which reflects the fund’s particular characteristics, and a “group fee.” The group fee, which is designed to reflect the benefits of the shared resources of the Firm, is calculated daily based on the combined net assets of all T. Rowe Price Funds (except the funds-of-funds, TRP Reserve Funds, Multi-Sector Account Portfolios, and any index or private-label mutual funds). The group fee schedule (in the following table) is graduated, declining as the combined assets of the T. Rowe Price Funds rise, so shareholders benefit from the overall growth in mutual fund assets.
Group Fee Schedule
0.334%* |
First $50 billion |
0.305% |
Next $30 billion |
0.300% |
Next $40 billion |
0.295% |
Next $40 billion |
0.290% |
Next $60 billion |
0.285% |
Next $80 billion |
0.280% |
Next $100 billion |
0.275% |
Next $100 billion |
0.270% |
Next $150 billion |
0.265% |
Next $195 billion |
0.260% |
Thereafter |
* Represents a blended group fee rate containing various breakpoints.
The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the group fee rate fluctuated between 0.28% and 0.29%. On May 31, 2022, the effective annual group fee rate was 0.29%. The individual fund fee rate, also applied to the fund’s average daily net assets, is 0.03%.
With respect to the Investor Class, T. Rowe Price has contractually agreed (through September 30, 2023) to waive its fees and/or bear any expenses (excluding interest; expenses
T. ROWE PRICE |
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related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses) that would cause the class’ ratio of expenses to average daily net assets to exceed 0.44%. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after September 30, 2023, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under this agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the fund whenever the class’ expense ratio is below 0.44%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price if such repayment does not cause the class’ expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the class’ current expense limitation.
With respect to the I Class, T. Rowe Price has contractually agreed (through September 30, 2023) to pay the operating expenses of the fund’s I Class excluding management fees; interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, and brokerage; nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses; and acquired fund fees and expenses (“I Class Operating Expenses”), to the extent the I Class Operating Expenses exceed 0.05% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after September 30, 2023, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any expenses paid under this agreement (and a previous limitation of 0.05%) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the fund whenever the fund’s I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.05%. However, no reimbursement will be made more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or reimbursed. The fund may only make repayments to T. Rowe Price if such repayment does not cause the I Class Operating Expenses (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed the lesser of: (1) the limitation on I Class Operating Expenses in place at the time such amounts were waived; or (2) the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses.
A discussion about the factors considered by the fund’s Board of Directors (Board) and its conclusions in approving the fund’s investment management agreement (and any subadvisory agreement, if applicable) appear in the fund’s annual shareholder report for the period ended May 31.
Investment Objective(s)
The fund seeks to maximize total return through income and capital appreciation.
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in income-producing securities, which may include, but are not limited to, U.S. government and agency obligations, mortgage- and asset-backed securities (including commercial mortgage-backed securities), corporate bonds, foreign bonds, and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities. For purposes of this 80% policy, the fund
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includes derivative instruments that are linked to, or provide investment exposure to, income-producing securities.
Eighty percent (80%) of the debt securities purchased by the fund will be rated investment grade (i.e., rated in one of the four highest rating categories) by each of the major credit rating agencies (S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s, and Fitch) that have assigned a rating to the security or, if unrated, deemed by T. Rowe Price to be of investment-grade quality. Up to 15% of the fund’s net assets may be invested in “split-rated securities,” which are securities that have been rated investment grade by at least one rating agency but below investment grade by another rating agency. The fund may maintain a net exposure of up to 5% of its net assets in instruments (through direct holdings and derivatives) that have received below investment-grade ratings from each of the rating agencies that have assigned ratings to the instruments or, if unrated, deemed by T. Rowe Price to be below investment-grade quality (including high yield or “junk” bonds). The fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in non-U.S. dollar-denominated foreign debt securities (including securities of issuers in emerging markets) and take currency positions to hedge this exposure as well as to capture appreciation from favorable currency changes.
The fund has considerable flexibility in seeking high income. There are no maturity restrictions so the fund can purchase long-term bonds, which tend to have higher yields than shorter-term bonds. In addition, when there is a large yield difference between the various quality levels, the fund may move down the credit scale and purchase lower-rated bonds with higher yields. When the difference is small or the outlook warrants, the fund may concentrate investments in higher-rated issues.
The fund should offer higher yields than money market and short-term bond funds and generally less volatility than long-term bond funds. In addition, the portfolio is widely diversified among a broad range of fixed income securities, thus reducing the effect of a single bond’s price fluctuations on the fund’s share price or total return.
While most assets will typically be invested in bonds, the fund also uses interest rate futures, credit default swaps and forward currency exchange contracts. Interest rate futures would typically be used to manage the fund’s exposure to interest rate changes or to adjust portfolio duration. Credit default swaps can be used to protect the value of certain portfolio holdings, as an alternative to cash bonds, and to manage the fund’s overall credit risk exposure. Forward currency exchange contracts would be used to gain exposure to certain currencies expected to increase or decrease in value relative to other currencies or to protect the fund’s foreign bond holdings from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar.
The fund’s yield will vary. The fund’s yield is the annualized dividends earned for a given period (typically 30 days for bond funds), divided by the share price at the end of the period. The fund’s total return includes distributions from income and capital gains and the change in share price for a given period.
Credit quality refers to a bond issuer’s expected ability to make all required interest and principal payments on time. Because highly-rated issuers represent less risk, they can borrow at
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lower interest rates than less creditworthy issuers. Therefore, a fund investing in high-quality securities should have a lower yield than an otherwise comparable fund investing in lower-quality securities.
Mortgage-backed securities differ from other high-quality bonds in one major respect. Non-mortgage bonds generally repay principal (face value of the bond) when their maturity date is reached, but most mortgage-backed securities repay principal continually as homeowners make mortgage payments. Homeowners have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, perhaps to refinance or buy a new home. As a result, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is virtually always shorter than its stated maturity. For example, a newly issued pass-through certificate backed by 30-year, fixed rate mortgages will generally have a far shorter life than 30 years—probably 12 years or less. Therefore, it will usually be about as volatile as a 10-year Treasury bond. It is possible to estimate the average life of an entire mortgage pool backing a particular security with some accuracy, but not with certainty.
The fund may gain investment exposure to mortgage-backed securities by entering into agreements to buy or sell securities through the TBA market. The fund would enter into a commitment to either purchase or sell mortgage-backed securities for a fixed price, with payment and delivery at a scheduled future date beyond the customary settlement period for mortgage-backed securities. These transactions are considered to be TBA because the fund commits to buy a pool of mortgages that have yet to be specifically identified but will meet certain standardized parameters (such as yield, duration, and credit quality) and contain similar loan characteristics. For either purchase or sale transactions, the fund may choose to extend the settlement through a “dollar roll” transaction in which it sells mortgage-backed securities to a dealer and simultaneously agrees to purchase substantially similar securities in the future at a predetermined price. These transactions have the potential to enhance the fund’s returns and reduce its administrative burdens when compared with holding mortgage-backed securities directly, although these transactions will increase the fund’s portfolio turnover rate. During the roll period, the fund forgoes principal and interest paid on the securities. However, the fund would be compensated by the difference between the current sale price and the forward price for the future purchase, as well as by the interest earned on the cash proceeds of the initial sale. The fund also expects to engage in short sales of TBA mortgages, including short sales on TBA mortgages the fund does not own, to potentially enhance returns or manage risk.
Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a bond or a bond fund to changes in interest rates. It is expressed in years, like maturity, but it is a better indicator of price sensitivity than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the bond’s life. Future interest and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years—the duration. “Effective” duration takes into account call features and sinking fund payments that may shorten a bond’s life.
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Since duration can be computed for bond funds, you can estimate the effect of interest rate fluctuations on share prices by multiplying the fund’s duration by an expected change in interest rates. For example, the price of a bond fund with a duration of five years would be expected to fall approximately 5% if interest rates rose by one percentage point. A bond fund with a longer duration will generally be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a bond fund with a shorter duration.
The Firm integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into its investment research process for certain investments. While ESG matters vary widely, we generally consider ESG factors such as climate change, resource depletion, labor standards, diversity, human rights issues, and governance structure and practices. For certain types of investments, including, but not limited to, cash, currency positions, and particular types of derivatives, an ESG analysis may not be relevant or possible due to a lack of data. Where ESG considerations are integrated into the investment research process, we focus on the ESG factors we consider most likely to have a material impact on the performance of the holdings in the fund’s portfolio. We may conclude that other attributes of an investment outweigh ESG considerations when making investment decisions for the fund.
The fund may sell holdings for a variety of reasons, such as to adjust the portfolio’s average maturity, duration, or overall credit quality or to shift assets into and out of higher- or lower-yielding securities or certain sectors.
The fund invests in the following types of securities or assets:
Bonds
A bond is an interest-bearing security. The issuer has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay principal (the bond’s face value) on a specified date. An issuer may have the right to redeem or “call” a bond before maturity, and the investor may have to invest the proceeds at lower market rates. Bonds can be issued by U.S. and foreign governments, states, and municipalities, as well as a wide variety of companies.
A bond’s annual interest income, set by its coupon rate, is usually fixed for the life of the bond. Its yield (income as a percent of current price) will fluctuate to reflect changes in interest rate levels. A bond’s price usually rises when interest rates fall and vice versa, so its yield generally stays consistent with current market conditions.
Conventional fixed rate bonds offer a coupon rate for a fixed maturity with no adjustment for inflation. Real rate of return bonds also offer a fixed coupon but include ongoing inflation adjustments for the life of the bond.
Certain bonds have floating or variable interest rates that are adjusted periodically based on a particular index. These interest rate adjustments tend to minimize fluctuations in the bonds’ principal values. The maturity of certain floating rate securities may be shortened under certain specified conditions.
Bonds, including asset- and mortgage-backed securities, may be secured (backed by specific collateral) or may be unsecured (backed only by the issuer’s general creditworthiness).
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A vast majority of bonds have a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the bond’s entire principal value to the investor. However, many bonds are “callable,” meaning their principal can be repaid before the stated maturity date. Bonds are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, just as a homeowner refinances a mortgage when interest rates fall. In that environment, a bond’s “effective maturity” is usually its nearest call date. For example, the rate at which homeowners pay down their mortgage principal determines the effective maturity of mortgage-backed bonds.
A bond fund has no real maturity, but it does have a weighted average maturity and a weighted average effective maturity. Each of these numbers is an average of the stated or effective maturities of the underlying bonds, with each bond’s maturity “weighted” by the percentage of the fund’s assets it represents, and an average effective maturity taking into consideration that securities may be called or prepaid.
Mortgage-Backed Securities
The fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage lenders pool individual home mortgages with similar characteristics to back a certificate or bond, which is sold to investors such as the fund. Interest and principal payments generated by the underlying mortgages are passed through to the investors. The “big three” issuers are the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Government National Mortgage Association certificates are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, while others, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation certificates, are only supported by the ability to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the credit of the agency. (The Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation operate under conservatorship of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, an independent federal agency.) Private mortgage bankers and other institutions also issue mortgage-backed securities.
Mortgage-backed securities are subject to scheduled and unscheduled principal payments as homeowners pay down or prepay their mortgages. As these payments are received, they must be reinvested when interest rates may be higher or lower than on the original mortgage security. Therefore, these securities are not an effective means of locking in long-term interest rates. In addition, when interest rates fall, the rate of mortgage prepayments, including refinancings, tends to increase. Refinanced mortgages are paid off at face value or “par,” causing a loss for any investor who may have purchased the security at a price above par. In such an environment, this risk limits the potential price appreciation of these securities and can negatively affect the fund’s net asset value. When interest rates rise, the prices of mortgage-backed securities can be expected to decline. In addition, when interest rates rise and prepayments slow, the effective duration of mortgage-backed securities extends, resulting in increased price volatility.
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Other types of mortgage-backed securities in which the fund may invest include:
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations Collateralized mortgage obligations are debt instruments that are fully collateralized by a portfolio of mortgages or mortgage-backed securities including Government National Mortgage Association, Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and non-agency-backed mortgages. All interest and principal payments from the underlying mortgages are passed through to the collateralized mortgage obligations in such a way as to create different classes with varying risk characteristics, payment structures, and maturity dates. Collateralized mortgage obligation classes may pay fixed or variable rates of interest, and certain classes have priority over others with respect to the receipt of prepayments and allocation of defaults.
Stripped Mortgage Securities Stripped mortgage securities are created by separating the interest and principal payments generated by a pool of mortgage-backed securities or a collateralized mortgage obligation to create additional classes of securities. Generally, one class receives interest-only payments and another receives principal-only payments. Unlike other mortgage-backed securities and principal-only strips, the value of interest-only strips tends to move in the same direction as interest rates. The fund can use interest-only strips as a hedge against falling prepayment rates (when interest rates are rising) and/or in an unfavorable market environment. Principal-only strips can be used as a hedge against rising prepayment rates (when interest rates are falling) and/or in a favorable market environment. Interest-only strips and principal-only strips are acutely sensitive to interest rate changes and to the rate of principal prepayments.
A rapid or unexpected increase in prepayments can severely depress the price of interest-only strips, while a rapid or unexpected decrease in prepayments could have the same effect on principal-only strips. Of course, under the opposite conditions these securities may appreciate in value. These securities can be very volatile in price and may have lower overall liquidity than most other mortgage-backed securities. Certain non-stripped collateralized mortgage obligation classes may also exhibit these qualities, especially those that pay variable rates of interest that adjust inversely with, and more rapidly than, short-term interest rates. In addition, if interest rates rise rapidly and prepayment rates slow more than expected, certain collateralized mortgage obligation classes, in addition to losing value, can exhibit characteristics of long-term securities and become more volatile. There is no guarantee that the fund’s investments in collateralized mortgage obligations, interest-only strips, or principal-only strips will be successful, and the fund’s total return could be adversely affected as a result.
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Commercial mortgage-backed securities are securities created from a pool of commercial mortgage loans, such as loans for hotels, shopping centers, office buildings, and apartment buildings. Interest and principal payments from the loans are passed on to the investor according to a schedule of payments. Credit quality depends primarily on the quality of the loans themselves and on the structure of the particular deal. Generally, deals are structured with senior and subordinate classes. The degree of subordination is determined by the rating agencies that rate the individual classes of the structure. Commercial mortgages are generally structured with prepayment penalties, which
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greatly reduce prepayment risk to the investor. However, the value of these securities may change because of actual or perceived changes in the creditworthiness of the individual borrowers, their tenants, the servicing agents, or the general state of commercial real estate. There is no limit on the fund’s investments in these securities.
Asset-Backed Securities
An underlying pool of assets, such as credit card or automobile trade receivables or corporate loans or bonds, backs these bonds and provides the interest and principal payments to investors. On occasion, the pool of assets may also include a swap obligation, which is used to change the cash flows on the underlying assets. As an example, a swap may be used to allow floating rate assets to back a fixed rate obligation. Credit quality depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets, the level of any credit support provided by the structure or a line of credit, and the credit quality of the swap counterparty, if any. The underlying assets (i.e., loans) are sometimes subject to prepayments, which can shorten the security’s effective maturity and may lower its return. The value of these securities also may change because of actual or perceived changes in the creditworthiness of the individual borrowers, the originator, the servicing agent, the financial institution providing the credit support, or the swap counterparty. There is no limit on the fund’s investments in asset-backed securities.
Foreign Securities
The fund may invest in foreign securities. Foreign securities could include non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities traded outside the U.S. and U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers traded in the U.S. (such as Yankee bonds). Investing in foreign securities involves special risks that can increase the potential for losses. These include exposure to potentially adverse local, political, social, and economic developments such as war, political instability, hyperinflation, currency devaluations, and overdependence on particular industries; government interference in markets such as nationalization and exchange controls, expropriation of assets, or imposition of punitive taxes; the imposition of international trade and capital barriers and other protectionist or retaliatory measures; potentially lower liquidity and higher volatility; possible problems arising from accounting, disclosure, settlement, and regulatory practices and legal rights that differ from U.S. standards; and the potential for fluctuations in foreign exchange rates to decrease the investment’s value (favorable changes can increase its value). In addition, information with respect to foreign borrowers may differ from that available for U.S. borrowers because foreign companies are not generally subject to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, practices, and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. borrowers.
Derivatives
A derivative is a financial instrument whose value is derived from an underlying security, such as a stock or bond, or from a market benchmark, such as an interest rate index. Many types of investments representing a wide range of risks and potential rewards may be considered derivatives, including conventional instruments such as futures and options, as well as other potentially more complex investments such as swaps and structured notes. The use of derivatives can involve leverage. Leverage has the effect of magnifying returns, positively or
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negatively. The effect on returns will depend on the extent to which an investment is leveraged. For example, an investment of $1, leveraged at 2 to 1, would have the effect of an investment of $2. Leverage ratios can be higher or lower with a corresponding effect on returns. The fund may use derivatives in a variety of situations, including for the purposes of accomplishing any or all of the following: to hedge against a decline in principal value, to increase yield, to gain exposure to eligible asset classes or securities with greater efficiency and at a lower cost than is possible through a direct investment, or to adjust portfolio duration or credit risk exposures.
Derivatives that may be used include the following instruments, as well as others that combine the risk characteristics and features of these instruments:
Futures and Options Futures are often used to establish exposures or manage or hedge risk because they enable the investor to buy or sell an asset in the future at an agreed-upon price. Options may be used to generate additional income, to enhance returns, or as a defensive technique to protect against anticipated declines in the value of an asset. Call options give the investor the right to purchase (when the investor purchases the option), or the obligation to sell (when the investor “writes” or sells the option), an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Put options give the purchaser of the option the right to sell, or the seller (or “writer”) of the option the obligation to buy, an asset at a predetermined price in the future. Futures and options contracts may be bought or sold for any number of reasons, including to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, bond prices, foreign currencies, and credit quality; as an efficient means of increasing or decreasing the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income; to improve risk-adjusted returns; to protect the value of portfolio securities; and to serve as a cash management tool. Call or put options may be purchased or sold on securities, futures, financial indexes, and foreign currencies. The fund may choose to continue a futures contract by “rolling over” an expiring futures contract into an identical contract with a later maturity date. This could increase the fund’s transaction costs and portfolio turnover rate.
Futures and options contracts may not always be successful investments or hedges; their prices can be highly volatile; using them could lower the fund’s total return; the potential loss from the use of futures can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such contracts; and the losses from certain options written by the fund could be unlimited.
Swaps The fund may invest in interest rate, index, total return, credit default, and other types of swap agreements, as well as options on swaps, commonly referred to as “swaptions,” and interest rate swap futures, which are instruments that provide a way to obtain swap exposure and the benefits of futures in one contract. All of these agreements are considered derivatives and, in certain cases, high-risk derivatives. Interest rate, index, and total return swaps are two-party contracts under which the fund and a counterparty, such as a broker or dealer, agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or indexes. Credit default swaps are agreements where one party (the protection buyer) will make periodic payments to another party (the protection seller) in exchange for protection against specified credit events, such as defaults and bankruptcies related to an issuer or underlying credit instrument. Swap futures are futures contracts on
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interest rate swaps that enable purchasers to settle in cash at a future date at the price determined by a specific benchmark rate at the end of a fixed period. Swaps, swaptions, and swap futures can be used for a variety of purposes, including to manage the fund’s overall exposure to changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates and credit quality; as an efficient means of adjusting the fund’s exposure to certain markets; in an effort to enhance income or total return or protect the value of portfolio securities; to serve as a cash management tool; and to adjust portfolio duration or credit risk exposure.
There are risks in the use of swaps and related instruments. Swaps could result in losses if interest or foreign currency exchange rates or credit quality changes are not correctly anticipated by the fund. Total return swaps could result in losses if the reference index, security, or investments do not perform as anticipated. Credit default swaps can increase the fund’s exposure to credit risk and could result in losses if evaluation of the creditworthiness of the counterparty, or of the company or government on which the credit default swap is based, is incorrect. The use of swaps, swaptions, and swap futures may not always be successful. Using them could lower the fund’s total return, their prices can be highly volatile, and the potential loss from the use of swaps can exceed the fund’s initial investment in such instruments. Also, the other party to a swap agreement could default on its obligations or refuse to cash out the fund’s investment at a reasonable price, which could turn an expected gain into a loss. Although there should be minimal counterparty risk associated with investments in interest rate swap futures, the fund could experience delays and/or losses due to the bankruptcy of a swap dealer through which the fund engaged in the transaction.
Currency Derivatives The fund may engage in foreign currency transactions either on a spot (cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market at the time or through forward currency exchange contracts, which are contracts between two counterparties to exchange one currency for another on a future date at a specified exchange rate. In addition to foreign currency forwards, futures, swaps, and options on foreign currencies may also be used to protect the fund’s foreign securities from adverse currency movements relative to the U.S. dollar, as well as to gain exposure to currencies and markets expected to increase or decrease in value relative to other currencies or securities.
The fund may attempt to hedge its exposure to potentially unfavorable currency changes. Forward currency contracts can be used to adjust the foreign exchange exposure of the fund with a view to protecting the portfolio from adverse currency movements, based on the investment adviser’s outlook. However, forward currency contracts can also be used in an effort to benefit from a currency believed to be appreciating in value versus other currencies. The fund may invest in non-U.S. currencies directly without holding any non-U.S. securities denominated in those currencies.
Forward currency contracts involve special risks, including, but not limited to, the potential for significant volatility in currency markets, and the risk that in certain markets, particularly emerging markets, it is not possible to engage in effective foreign currency hedging. In addition, such transactions involve the risk that currency movements will not occur as anticipated by the investment adviser, which could reduce the fund’s total return.
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The fund may enter into foreign currency transactions under a number of circumstances, including the following:
Lock In When the fund desires to lock in the U.S. dollar price on the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency.
Cross Hedge If a particular currency is expected to decrease in value relative to another currency, the fund may sell the currency expected to decrease and purchase a currency that is expected to increase against the currency sold. The fund’s cross hedging transactions may involve currencies in which the fund’s holdings are denominated. However, the fund is not required to own securities in the particular currency being purchased or sold.
Direct Hedge If the fund seeks to eliminate substantially all of the risk of owning a particular currency or believes the portfolio could benefit from price appreciation in a given country’s bonds but did not want to hold the currency, it could employ a direct hedge back into the U.S. dollar. In either case, the fund would enter into a forward contract to sell the currency in which a portfolio security is denominated and purchase U.S. dollars at an exchange rate established at the time it initiated the contract. The cost of the direct hedge transaction may offset most, if not all, of the yield advantage offered by the foreign security, but the fund would hope to benefit from an increase (if any) in the value of the bond.
Proxy Hedge In certain circumstances, a different currency may be substituted for the currency in which the investment is denominated, as part of a strategy known as proxy hedging. In this case, the fund, having purchased a security, will sell a currency whose value is believed to be closely linked to the currency in which the security is denominated. This type of hedging entails greater risk than a direct hedge because it is dependent on a stable relationship between the two currencies paired as proxies, and that relationship may not always be maintained. The fund may also use these instruments to create a synthetic bond, which is issued in one currency with the currency component transformed into another currency.
Costs of Hedging When the fund purchases a foreign bond with a higher interest rate than is available on U.S. bonds of a similar maturity, the additional yield on the foreign bond could be substantially lessened if the fund were to enter into a direct hedge by selling the foreign currency and purchasing the U.S. dollar. This is what is known as the “cost” of hedging. A proxy hedge, which is less costly than a direct hedge, may attempt to reduce this cost through an indirect hedge back to the U.S. dollar.
It is important to note that hedging costs are treated as capital transactions and are not, therefore, deducted from the fund’s dividend distribution and are not reflected in its yield. Instead, such costs will, over time, be reflected in the fund’s net asset value per share and total return. Hedging may result in the application of the mark-to-market and straddle provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could result in an increase (or decrease) in the amount of taxable dividends paid by the fund and could affect whether dividends paid by the fund are classified as capital gains or ordinary income.
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Below Investment-Grade Debt Instruments
The fund’s holdings that are rated below investment-grade can consist of investments in bank loans, including loan participations and assignments, as well as high yield bonds. Investments in bank loans involve special types of risk, including those of being a direct lender and reduced liquidity. The price and yield of high yield bonds can be expected to fluctuate more than the price and yield of higher-quality bonds.
Investments involving below investment-grade issuers or borrowers are regarded as more volatile than investment-grade bonds and have greater risk with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to meet principal and interest payments. Normally, the fund will invest in loans and high yield bonds through investments in other T. Rowe Price Funds that concentrate their investments in these areas.
Principal Risks
The principal risks associated with the fund’s principal investment strategies, which may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions, include the following:
Fixed income markets The market price of investments owned by the fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. The fund’s investments may decline in value due to factors affecting the overall fixed income markets or particular industries or sectors. The value of a holding may decline due to developments related to a particular issuer, but also due to general fixed income market conditions, including real or perceived adverse economic developments, such as changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation, or currency rates, or generally adverse investor sentiment. The value of a holding may also decline due to factors that negatively affect a particular industry, such as labor shortages, increased production costs, or competitive conditions. The fund may experience heavy redemptions that could cause it to liquidate its assets at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value.
Market conditions The value of investments held by the fund may decline, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably, due to factors affecting certain issuers, particular industries or sectors, or the overall markets. Rapid or unexpected changes in market conditions could cause the fund to liquidate its holdings at inopportune times or at a loss or depressed value. The value of a particular holding may decrease due to developments related to that issuer but also due to general market conditions, including real or perceived economic developments, such as changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation, or currency rates, or generally adverse investor sentiment. The value of a holding may also decline due to factors that negatively affect a particular industry or sector, such as labor shortages, increased production costs, or competitive conditions. In addition, local, regional, or global events such as war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, political and social unrest, regulatory changes, recessions, shifts in monetary or trade policies, natural or environmental disasters, and the spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues could have a significant negative impact on securities markets and the fund’s investments. Any of these events may lead to unexpected suspensions or closures of securities exchanges; travel restrictions or quarantines; business disruptions and closures; inability to obtain raw materials, supplies and component parts; reduced or disrupted operations for the fund’s service providers or issuers in which the fund invests; and an
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extended adverse impact on global market conditions. Government intervention (including sanctions) in markets may impact interest rates, market volatility, and security pricing. The occurrence of any of these events could adversely affect the economies (including through changes in business activity and increased unemployment) and financial markets of specific countries or worldwide.
Interest rates The prices of bonds and other fixed income securities typically increase as interest rates fall, and prices typically decrease as interest rates rise (bond prices and interest rates usually move in opposite directions). Prices fall because the bonds and notes in the fund’s portfolio become less attractive to other investors when securities with higher yields become available. Generally, funds with longer weighted average maturities (i.e., an average of the maturities of the underlying debt instruments, “weighted” by the percentage of the fund’s assets it represents) and durations (i.e., the measure of the price sensitivity of a fund to changes in interest rates) carry greater interest rate risk. As a result, in a rising interest rate environment, the net asset value of a fund with a longer weighted average maturity or duration typically decreases at a faster rate than the net asset value of a fund with a shorter weighted average maturity or duration. In addition, recent and potential future changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates. The discontinuation and replacement of a benchmark rate such as LIBOR (an indicative measure of the average interest rate at which major global banks could borrow from one another) may have a significant impact on the financial markets and may adversely impact the fund’s performance. Extremely low or negative interest rates may increase an underlying fund’s susceptibility to interest rate risk and reduce the fund’s yield. Interest rates have recently been near historically low levels, but interest rates and inflation have been steadily rising. As a result, rapid changes in interest rates may increase the fund’s overall exposure to interest rate risk.
Prepayments and extensions A fund investing in mortgage-backed securities, certain asset-backed securities, and other debt instruments that have embedded call options can be negatively impacted when interest rates fall because borrowers tend to refinance and prepay principal. Receiving increasing prepayments in a falling interest rate environment causes the average maturity of the portfolio to shorten, reducing its potential for price gains. It also requires the fund to reinvest proceeds at lower interest rates, which reduces the fund’s total return and yield, and could result in a loss if bond prices fall below the level that the fund paid for them. A rise in interest rates or lack of refinancing opportunities can cause the fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in expected prepayments of mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and callable debt instruments. This would increase the fund’s sensitivity to rising rates and its potential for price declines.
LIBOR transition Many financial instruments use or may use a floating rate based on the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. While publication for most LIBOR currencies and lesser-used USD LIBOR settings ceased immediately after December 31, 2021, remaining USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. There remains uncertainty regarding the future utilization of LIBOR and the nature of any replacement rate. As such, the potential impact of a transition away from LIBOR on the fund
T. ROWE PRICE |
24 |
or the financial instruments in which the fund invests cannot yet be determined. The elimination of LIBOR or changes to other reference rates or any other changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of reference rates could have an adverse impact on the market for, or value of, any securities or payments linked to those reference rates, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance and/or net asset value. Furthermore, the risks associated with the expected discontinuation of LIBOR and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. Because the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur until the anticipated discontinuance date in 2023 for the majority of the LIBOR rates.
TBAs and dollar rolls TBA and dollar roll transactions present special risks to the fund. Although the particular TBA securities must meet industry-accepted “good delivery” standards, there can be no assurance that a security purchased on a forward commitment basis will ultimately be issued or delivered by the counterparty. During the settlement period, the fund will still bear the risk of any decline in the value of the security to be delivered. TBAs and other forward settling securities involve leverage because they can provide investment exposure in an amount exceeding the fund’s initial investment. Leverage can magnify investment risks and cause losses to be realized more quickly. While dollar roll transactions involve the simultaneous purchase and sale of substantially similar TBA securities with different settlement dates, these transactions do not require the purchase and sale of identical securities so the characteristics of the security delivered to the fund may be less favorable than the security delivered to the dealer.
Derivatives The use of interest rate futures, forward currency exchange contracts, and credit default swaps could expose the fund to additional volatility in comparison to investing directly in bonds and other debt instruments. These instruments can experience reduced liquidity and become difficult to value, and any of these instruments not traded on an exchange are subject to the risk that a counterparty to the transaction will fail to meet its obligations under the derivatives contract. The use of these instruments involves the risks that anticipated interest rate movements and changes in currency exchange rates will not be accurately predicted. Interest rates and yield curves vary from country to country depending on local economic conditions and monetary and fiscal policies, and interest rate changes and their impact tend to be more difficult to predict for foreign countries, particularly emerging market countries. Any efforts at buying or selling currencies could result in significant losses for the fund and, if the fund takes a short position in a particular currency, it will lose money if the currency appreciates in value. The use of credit default swaps exposes the fund to the risk of losses and the risk that anticipated changes in the creditworthiness of an issuer or the likelihood of a credit event will not be accurately predicted. If the fund buys a credit default swap and no credit event occurs, the fund may recover nothing if the swap is held through its termination date. Regulations could significantly impact the fund’s ability to invest in specific types of derivatives, which could limit the fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and make their use by funds more costly.
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Foreign investing The fund’s investments outside the U.S. are subject to special risks, whether the securities (including depositary receipts and other instruments that represent interests in a non-U.S. issuer) are denominated in U.S. dollars or foreign currencies. These risks include potentially adverse local, political, social, and economic conditions overseas; greater volatility; lower liquidity; and the possibility that settlement practices and regulatory and accounting standards will differ from those of U.S. issuers. Foreign currencies could decline against the U.S. dollar, lowering the value of securities denominated in those currencies and possibly the fund’s share price. These risks are heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are more susceptible to governmental interference, less efficient trading markets, and the imposition of local taxes or restrictions on gaining access to sales proceeds for foreign investors.
Credit quality An issuer of a debt instrument held by the fund could default (fail to make scheduled interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the fund’s income and share price. Credit risk is increased when portfolio holdings are downgraded or the perceived financial condition of an issuer deteriorates. Holdings with an investment-grade rating (AAA through BBB, or an equivalent rating) should have a relatively low risk of encountering financial problems and a relatively high probability of future payments. However, holdings rated BBB (or an equivalent rating) are more susceptible to adverse economic conditions than other investment-grade holdings and may have speculative characteristics. Holdings rated below investment grade should be regarded as speculative because their issuers may be more susceptible to financial setbacks and recession than more creditworthy issuers (commonly referred to as “junk”).
Liquidity The fund may not be able to meet requests to redeem shares issued by the fund without significant dilution of the remaining shareholders’ interests in the fund. In addition, the fund may not be able to sell a holding in a timely manner at a desired price. Sectors of the bond market can experience sudden downturns in trading activity. During periods of reduced market liquidity, the spread between the price at which a security can be bought and the price at which it can be sold can widen, and the fund may not be able to sell a holding readily at a price that reflects what the fund believes it should be worth. Securities with lower overall liquidity can also become more difficult to value. Liquidity risk may be the result of, among other things, the reduced number and capacity of traditional broker-dealers to make a market in fixed income securities or the lack of an active market. The potential for liquidity risk may be magnified by a rising interest rate environment or other circumstances where selling activity from fixed income investors may be higher than normal, potentially causing increased supply in the market.
Portfolio turnover Generally, the higher the portfolio turnover rate, the higher the overall transaction costs and the greater the potential impact on the fund’s total return. High portfolio turnover results in increased transaction costs to the fund, which may include dealer mark-ups, brokerage commissions, and other transaction costs related to the sale of holdings and reinvestment of the proceeds in other holdings. The fund’s portfolio turnover rate may vary from year to year due to fluctuations in the levels of shareholder purchase and redemption activity, shifts in market conditions or evaluations of industries or specific issuers, and/or
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changes in the portfolio manager’s overall investment outlook. Since bonds typically have a maturity date and will eventually require reinvestment, funds investing primarily in bonds tend to have higher portfolio turnover than funds investing primarily in stocks. For funds investing in shorter-term securities, mortgage-backed securities, and callable debt instruments, more frequent reinvestment of principal is typically required. Certain investment strategies, such as sector rotation and duration management, may necessitate more frequent trading, and the use of certain types of derivatives may significantly increase the fund’s portfolio turnover rate.
Active management The investment adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. The fund could underperform other funds with a similar benchmark or similar investment program if the fund’s investment selections or overall strategies fail to produce the intended results. Regulatory, tax, or other developments may affect the investment strategies available to a portfolio manager, which could adversely affect the ability to implement the fund’s overall investment program and achieve the fund’s investment objective(s).
Cybersecurity breaches The fund may be subject to operational and information security risks resulting from breaches in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity breaches may involve deliberate attacks and unauthorized access to the digital information systems (for example, through “hacking” or malicious software coding) used by the fund, its investment adviser and subadviser(s) (as applicable), or its third-party service providers but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks, which are efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. These breaches may, among other things, result in financial losses to the fund and its shareholders, cause the fund to lose proprietary information, disrupt business operations, or result in the unauthorized release of confidential information. Further, cybersecurity breaches involving the fund’s third-party service providers, financial intermediaries, trading counterparties, or issuers in which the fund invests could subject the fund to many of the same risks associated with direct breaches.
Additional Investment Management Practices
The SAI contains more detailed information about the fund and its investments, operations, and expenses. The fund’s investments may be subject to further restrictions and risks described in the SAI.
Municipal Securities
The fund may invest in municipal notes and bonds, which are interest-bearing securities issued by state and local governments and governmental authorities to pay for public projects and services. The issuer of a municipal security has a contractual obligation to pay interest at a stated rate and to repay principal (the bond’s face value) on a specified date. An issuer may have the right to redeem or “call” a bond before maturity, which could require reinvestment of the proceeds at lower rates. The fund may purchase insured municipal bonds, which provide a guarantee that the bond’s interest and principal will be paid when due if the issuing entity defaults. Municipal bond insurance does not guarantee the price of the bond.
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Income received from most municipal securities is exempt from federal income taxes. As a result, the yield on a municipal bond is typically lower than the yield on a taxable bond of similar quality and maturity. Like a taxable bond, a municipal bond’s price usually rises when interest rates fall and vice versa, so its yield generally stays consistent with current market conditions.
Common and Preferred Stocks
Stocks represent shares of ownership in a company. Generally, preferred stocks have a specified dividend rate and rank after bonds and before common stocks in their claim on income for dividend payments and on assets should the company be liquidated. After other claims are satisfied, common stockholders participate in company profits on a pro-rata basis and profits may be paid out in dividends or reinvested in the company to help it grow. Increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price, so common stocks generally have the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential of all corporate securities. Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not ordinarily carry voting rights. While most preferred stocks pay a dividend, the fund may decide to purchase preferred stock where the issuer has suspended, or is in danger of suspending, payment of its dividend.
Convertible Securities and Warrants
The fund may invest in debt instruments or preferred equity securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities at specified times in the future and according to a certain exchange ratio. Convertible bonds are typically callable by the issuer, which could in effect force conversion before the holder would otherwise choose. Traditionally, convertible securities have paid dividends or interest at rates higher than common stocks but lower than nonconvertible securities. They generally participate in the appreciation or depreciation of the underlying stock into which they are convertible, but to a lesser degree than common stock. Some convertible securities combine higher or lower current income with options and other features. Warrants are options to buy, directly from the issuer, a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price anytime during the life of the warrants (generally, two or more years). Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and can be highly volatile. In some cases, the redemption value of a warrant could be zero.
Investments in convertible securities and preferred stocks subject the fund to risks associated with both equity and fixed income securities, depending on the price of the underlying security and the conversion price. A convertible security may be called back by the issuer prior to maturity at a price that is disadvantageous to the fund. In addition, convertible securities are typically issued by smaller-capitalized companies whose stock prices are more volatile than companies that have access to more conventional means of raising capital. Preferred stockholders would be paid after corporate bondholders, but before common stockholders, in the event a company fails.
When-Issued Securities and Forwards
The fund may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis or may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. There is no limit on the fund’s investments in these securities. The price of these securities is fixed at the time of the commitment to buy, but
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delivery and payment take place after the customary settlement period for that type of security (often a month or more later). During the interim period, the price and yield of the securities can fluctuate, and typically no interest accrues to the purchaser. At the time of delivery, the market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase or sale price. To the extent the fund remains fully or almost fully invested (in securities with a remaining maturity of more than one year) at the same time it purchases these securities, there will be greater fluctuations in the fund’s net asset value than if the fund did not purchase them.
Investments in Other Investment Companies
The fund may invest in other investment companies, including open-end funds, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds, subject to any applicable limitations under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The fund may purchase the securities of another investment company to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the market while awaiting the purchase of securities or as an efficient means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class. The fund might also purchase shares of another investment company, including shares of other T. Rowe Price Funds, to gain exposure to the securities in the investment company’s portfolio at times when the fund may not be able to buy those securities directly, or as a means of gaining efficient and cost-effective exposure to certain asset classes. Any investment in another investment company would be consistent with the fund’s objective(s) and investment program.
The risks of owning another investment company are generally similar to the risks of investing directly in the securities in which that investment company invests. However, an investment company may not achieve its investment objective or execute its investment strategy effectively, which may adversely affect the fund’s performance. In addition, because closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds trade on a secondary market, their shares may trade at a premium or discount to the actual net asset value of their portfolio securities, and their shares may have greater volatility if an active trading market does not exist.
As a shareholder of another investment company, the fund must pay its pro-rata share of that investment company’s fees and expenses. If the fund invests in another T. Rowe Price Fund, the management fee paid by the fund will be reduced to ensure that the fund does not incur duplicate management fees as a result of its investment.
Investments in other investment companies could allow the fund to obtain the benefits of a more diversified portfolio than might otherwise be available through direct investments in a particular asset class and will subject the fund to the risks associated with the particular asset class or asset classes in which an underlying fund invests. Examples of asset classes in which other investment companies (including T. Rowe Price Funds) focus their investments include high yield bonds, inflation-linked securities, floating rate loans, international bonds, emerging market bonds, stocks of companies involved in activities related to real assets, stocks of companies that focus on a particular industry or sector, and emerging market stocks.
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Illiquid Investments
Some of the fund’s holdings may be considered illiquid because they are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale or because they cannot reasonably be expected to be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. The determination of liquidity involves a variety of factors. Illiquid investments may include private placements that are sold directly to a small number of investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are not registered with the SEC. Although certain of these securities may be readily sold (for example, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) and therefore deemed liquid, others may have resale restrictions and be considered illiquid. The sale of illiquid investments may involve substantial delays and additional costs, and the fund may only be able to sell such investments at prices substantially lower than what it believes they are worth. In addition, the fund’s investments in illiquid investments may reduce the returns of the fund because it may be unable to sell such investments at an advantageous time, which could prevent the fund from taking advantage of other investment opportunities.
Temporary Defensive Position
In order to respond to adverse market, economic, or political conditions, or to provide flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses, managing cash flows into the fund, and responding to periods of unusual market volatility, the fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its principal investment objective(s) and/or strategies.
Reserve Position
A certain portion of the fund’s assets may be held in reserves. The fund’s reserve positions will typically consist of: (1) shares of a T. Rowe Price internal money market fund or short-term bond fund (which do not charge any management fees and are not available for public purchase); (2) short-term, high-quality U.S. and non-U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities, including repurchase agreements; and (3) U.S. dollar or non-U.S. dollar currencies. If the fund has significant holdings in reserves, it could compromise its ability to achieve its objective(s). Non-U.S. dollar reserves are subject to currency risk.
Borrowing Money and Transferring Assets
The fund may borrow from banks, other persons, and other T. Rowe Price Funds for temporary or emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption requests, or for other purposes consistent with the fund’s policies as set forth in this prospectus and the SAI. Such borrowings may be collateralized with the fund’s assets, subject to certain restrictions.
Borrowings may not exceed 33⅓% of the fund’s total assets. This limitation includes any borrowings for temporary or emergency purposes, applies at the time of the transaction, and continues to the extent required by the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Meeting Redemption Requests
We expect that the fund will hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. The fund may also use the proceeds from the sale of portfolio securities to meet redemption requests if consistent with the management of the fund. These redemption methods will be
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used regularly and may also be used in deteriorating or stressed market conditions. The fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds with securities from the fund’s portfolio rather than in cash (redemptions in-kind), as described under “Large Redemptions.” Redemptions in-kind are typically used to meet redemption requests that represent a large percentage of the fund’s net assets in order to minimize the effect of large redemptions on the fund and its remaining shareholders. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of the fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. Redemptions in-kind may be used regularly in circumstances as described above (generally if the shareholder is able to accept securities in-kind) and may also be used in stressed market conditions.
The fund, along with other T. Rowe Price Funds, is a party to an interfund lending exemptive order received from the SEC that permits the T. Rowe Price Funds to borrow money from and/or lend money to other T. Rowe Price Funds to help the funds meet short-term redemptions and liquidity needs.
During periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions, when an increased portion of the fund’s portfolio may be composed of holdings with reduced liquidity or lengthy settlement periods, or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances, the fund may be more likely to pay redemption proceeds with cash obtained through interfund lending or short-term borrowing arrangements (if available) or by redeeming a large redemption request in-kind.
Lending of Portfolio Securities
The fund may lend its securities to broker-dealers, other institutions, or other persons to earn additional income. Risks include the potential insolvency of the broker-dealer or other borrower that could result in delays in recovering securities and capital losses. Additionally, losses could result from the reinvestment of collateral received on loaned securities in investments that decline in value, default, or do not perform as well as expected. Cash collateral from securities lending is invested in a T. Rowe Price short-term bond or money market fund.
Turnover is an indication of frequency of trading. Each time the fund purchases or sells a security, it incurs a cost. This cost is reflected in the fund’s net asset value but not in its operating expenses. The higher the turnover rate, the higher the transaction costs and the greater the impact on the fund’s total return. Higher turnover can also increase the possibility of taxable capital gain distributions. The fund’s portfolio turnover rates are shown in the Financial Highlights tables.
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The Financial Highlights tables, which provide information about each class’ financial history, are based on a single share outstanding throughout the periods shown. The tables are part of the fund’s financial statements, which are included in its annual report and are incorporated by reference into the SAI (available upon request). The financial statements in the annual report were audited by the fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | |||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
$ |
9.71 |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.51 |
$ |
9.22 |
$ |
9.50 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(1)(2) |
0.15 |
1.19 |
0.26 |
0.27 |
0.24 |
|||||||||||||||
Net
realized and unrealized gain/ |
(0.96 |
) |
0.11 |
0.20 |
0.31 |
(0.26 |
) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment activities |
(0.81 |
) |
0.30 |
0.46 |
0.58 |
(0.02 |
) | |||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.14 |
) |
(0.20 |
) |
(0.27 |
) |
(0.29 |
) |
(0.26 |
) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain |
(0.10 |
) |
(0.09 |
) |
— |
— |
— |
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.24 |
) |
(0.29 |
) |
(0.27 |
) |
(0.29 |
) |
(0.26 |
) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
NET
ASSET VALUE |
$ |
8.66 |
$ |
9.71 |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.51 |
$ |
9.22 |
T. ROWE PRICE |
32 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Investor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) |
(8.50 |
)% |
3.08 |
% |
4.85 |
% |
6.38 |
% |
(0.21 |
)% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
expenses before waivers/ |
0.45 |
% |
0.47 |
% |
0.51 |
% |
0.51 |
% |
0.53 |
% | |||||||||||
Net
expenses after waivers/ |
0.45 |
% |
0.47 |
% |
0.49 |
% |
0.50 |
% |
0.51 |
% | |||||||||||
Net investment income |
1.51 |
% |
1.96 |
% |
2.68 |
% |
2.97 |
% |
2.54 |
% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate(5) |
229.1 |
% |
126.4 |
% |
153.7 |
% |
139.4 |
% |
96.1 |
% | |||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate, excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions |
93.1 |
% |
74.6 |
% |
69.5 |
% |
86.4 |
% |
75.5 |
% | |||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in millions) |
$ |
1,000 |
$ |
2,911 |
$ |
4,430 |
$ |
17,423 |
$ |
21,083 |
(1) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
(4) Prior to 5/31/20, the gross expense ratios presented are net of a management fee waiver in effect during the period, as applicable.
(5) The portfolio turnover rate calculation includes purchases and sales from the mortgage dollar roll transactions.
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33 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | |||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.50 |
$ |
9.21 |
$ |
9.50 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(1)(2) |
0.16 |
0.20 |
0.27 |
0.28 |
0.26 |
|||||||||||||||
Net
realized and unrealized gain/ |
(0.96 |
) |
0.11 |
0.20 |
0.31 |
(0.28 |
) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment activities |
(0.80 |
) |
0.31 |
0.47 |
0.59 |
(0.02 |
) | |||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.15 |
) |
(0.21 |
) |
(0.28 |
) |
(0.30 |
) |
(0.27 |
) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain |
(0.10 |
) |
(0.09 |
) |
— |
— |
— |
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.25 |
) |
(0.30 |
) |
(0.28 |
) |
(0.30 |
) |
(0.27 |
) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
NET
ASSET VALUE |
$ |
8.65 |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.50 |
$ |
9.21 |
T. ROWE PRICE |
34 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
I Class | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) |
(8.42 |
)% |
3.16 |
% |
4.98 |
% |
6.52 |
% |
(0.18 |
)% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
expenses before waivers/ |
0.36 |
% |
0.39 |
% |
0.39 |
% |
0.39 |
% |
0.39 |
% | |||||||||||
Net
expenses after waivers/ |
0.36 |
% |
0.39 |
% |
0.37 |
% |
0.37 |
% |
0.37 |
% | |||||||||||
Net investment income |
1.67 |
% |
2.04 |
% |
2.79 |
% |
3.10 |
% |
2.72 |
% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate(5) |
229.1 |
% |
126.4 |
% |
153.7 |
% |
139.4 |
% |
96.1 |
% | |||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate, excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions |
93.1 |
% |
74.6 |
% |
69.5 |
% |
86.4 |
% |
75.5 |
% | |||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in millions) |
$ |
3,015 |
$ |
2,543 |
$ |
3,695 |
$ |
8,136 |
$ |
7,412 |
(1) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
(4) Prior to 5/31/20, the gross expense ratios presented are net of a management fee waiver in effect during the period, as applicable.
(5) The portfolio turnover rate calculation includes purchases and sales from the mortgage dollar roll transactions.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND |
35 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Advisor Class |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | |||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.68 |
$ |
9.49 |
$ |
9.20 |
$ |
9.49 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(1)(2) |
0.06 |
0.16 |
0.22 |
0.24 |
0.22 |
|||||||||||||||
Net
realized and unrealized gain/ |
(0.95 |
) |
0.11 |
0.21 |
0.30 |
(0.27 |
) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment activities |
(0.89 |
) |
0.27 |
0.43 |
0.54 |
(0.05 |
) | |||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.06 |
) |
(0.17 |
) |
(0.24 |
) |
(0.25 |
) |
(0.24 |
) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain |
(0.10 |
) |
(0.09 |
) |
— |
— |
— |
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.16 |
) |
(0.26 |
) |
(0.24 |
) |
(0.25 |
) |
(0.24 |
) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
NET
ASSET VALUE |
$ |
8.64 |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.68 |
$ |
9.49 |
$ |
9.20 |
T. ROWE PRICE |
36 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Advisor Class | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) |
(9.31 |
)% |
2.75 |
% |
4.52 |
% |
6.04 |
% |
(0.59 |
)% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
expenses before waivers/ |
1.31 |
% |
0.80 |
% |
0.83 |
% |
0.84 |
% |
0.79 |
% | |||||||||||
Net
expenses after waivers/ |
1.31 |
% |
0.80 |
% |
0.82 |
% |
0.82 |
% |
0.77 |
% | |||||||||||
Net investment income |
0.65 |
% |
1.62 |
% |
2.32 |
% |
2.65 |
% |
2.29 |
% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate(5) |
229.1 |
% |
126.4 |
% |
153.7 |
% |
139.4 |
% |
96.1 |
% | |||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate, excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions |
93.1 |
% |
74.6 |
% |
69.5 |
% |
86.4 |
% |
75.5 |
% | |||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period (in |
$ |
14,228 |
$ |
20,183 |
$ |
45,409 |
$ |
51,936 |
$ |
58,584 |
(1) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
(4) Prior to 5/31/20, the gross expense ratios presented are net of a management fee waiver in effect during the period, as applicable.
(5) The portfolio turnover rate calculation includes purchases and sales from the mortgage dollar roll transactions.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND |
37 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
R Class |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | |||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.50 |
$ |
9.21 |
$ |
9.50 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(1)(2) |
0.08 |
0.12 |
0.20 |
0.21 |
0.18 |
|||||||||||||||
Net
realized and unrealized gain/ |
(0.95 |
) |
0.11 |
0.20 |
0.31 |
(0.27 |
) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment activities |
(0.87 |
) |
0.23 |
0.40 |
0.52 |
(0.09 |
) | |||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.08 |
) |
(0.13 |
) |
(0.21 |
) |
(0.23 |
) |
(0.20 |
) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain |
(0.10 |
) |
(0.09 |
) |
— |
— |
— |
|||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.18 |
) |
(0.22 |
) |
(0.21 |
) |
(0.23 |
) |
(0.20 |
) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
NET
ASSET VALUE |
$ |
8.65 |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.50 |
$ |
9.21 |
T. ROWE PRICE |
38 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
R Class | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
5/31/20 |
|
5/31/19 |
|
5/31/18 | ||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) |
(9.10 |
)% |
2.38 |
% |
4.19 |
% |
5.71 |
% |
(0.94 |
)% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
expenses before waivers/ |
1.16 |
% |
1.30 |
% |
1.31 |
% |
1.25 |
% |
1.15 |
% | |||||||||||
Net
expenses after waivers/ |
1.11 |
% |
1.15 |
% |
1.14 |
% |
1.14 |
% |
1.13 |
% | |||||||||||
Net investment income |
0.84 |
% |
1.26 |
% |
2.03 |
% |
2.34 |
% |
1.92 |
% | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate(5) |
229.1 |
% |
126.4 |
% |
153.7 |
% |
139.4 |
% |
96.1 |
% | |||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate, excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions |
93.1 |
% |
74.6 |
% |
69.5 |
% |
86.4 |
% |
75.5 |
% | |||||||||||
Net
assets, end of period (in |
$ |
1,407 |
$ |
2,024 |
$ |
2,927 |
$ |
3,808 |
$ |
4,322 |
(1) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(2) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(3) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable.
(4) Prior to 5/31/20, the gross expense ratios presented are net of a management fee waiver in effect during the period, as applicable.
(5) The portfolio turnover rate calculation includes purchases and sales from the mortgage dollar roll transactions.
MORE ABOUT THE FUND |
39 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Z Class |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
3/16/20(1) | ||||||||||||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.69 |
$ |
9.60 |
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Investment activities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income(2)(3) |
0.18 |
0.23 |
0.06 |
|||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss |
(0.94 |
) |
0.12 |
0.09 |
||||||||||||||||
Total from investment activities |
(0.76 |
) |
0.35 |
0.15 |
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.19 |
) |
(0.25 |
) |
(0.06 |
) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain |
(0.10 |
) |
(0.09 |
) |
— |
|||||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.29 |
) |
(0.34 |
) |
(0.06 |
) | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
NET
ASSET VALUE |
$ |
8.65 |
$ |
9.70 |
$ |
9.69 |
T. ROWE PRICE |
40 |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Z Class |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Year |
|
5/31/21 |
|
3/16/20(1) | ||||||||||||||
Ratios/Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Total return(3)(4) |
(8.09 |
)% |
3.56 |
% |
1.60 |
% | ||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(3) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses before waivers/payments by Price Associates |
0.34 |
% |
0.38 |
% |
0.38 |
%(5) | ||||||||||||||
Net expenses after waivers/payments by Price Associates |
0.00 |
% |
0.00 |
% |
0.00 |
%(5) | ||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
1.93 |
% |
2.37 |
% |
3.01 |
%(5) | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate(6) |
229.1 |
% |
126.4 |
% |
153.7 |
% | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate, excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions |
93.1 |
% |
74.6 |
% |
69.5 |
% | ||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period (in millions) |
$ |
13,847 |
$ |
15,804 |
$ |
13,684 |
(1) Inception date
(2) Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method.
(3) Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates.
(4) Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year.
(5) Annualized
(6) The portfolio turnover rate calculation includes purchases and sales from the mortgage dollar roll transactions.
Most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their calendar quarter-end portfolio holdings on troweprice.com 15 calendar days after each quarter. At the discretion of the investment adviser, these holdings reports may exclude the issuer name and other information relating to a holding in order to protect the fund’s interests and to prevent harm to the fund or its shareholders. In addition, most T. Rowe Price Funds disclose their 10 largest holdings, along with the percentage of the relevant fund’s total assets that each of the 10 holdings represents, on troweprice.com on the seventh business day after each month-end. These holdings are listed in numerical order based on such percentages of the fund’s assets. A description of T. Rowe Price’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio information is available in the SAI.
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS |
3 | |
The following policies and procedures generally apply to Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds. The front cover and Section 1 of this prospectus indicate which share classes are available for the fund.
This section of the prospectus explains the basics of investing with T. Rowe Price and describes some of the different share classes that may be available. Certain share classes can be held directly with T. Rowe Price, while other share classes must typically be held through a financial intermediary, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and investment advisers. The Z Class is only available to funds managed by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services.
Each class of a fund’s shares represents an interest in the same fund with the same investment program and investment policies. However, each class is designed for a different type of investor and has a different cost structure primarily due to shareholder services or distribution arrangements that may apply only to that class. For example, certain classes may make payments to financial intermediaries for various administrative services they provide (commonly referred to as administrative fee payments (AFP)) and/or make payments to certain financial intermediaries for distribution of the fund’s shares (commonly referred to as 12b-1 fee payments). Determining the most appropriate share class depends on many factors, including how much you plan to invest, whether you are investing directly in the fund or through a financial intermediary, and whether you are investing on behalf of a person or an organization.
This section generally describes the differences between Investor Class, I Class, Advisor Class, R Class, and Z Class shares. This section does not describe the policies that apply to accounts in T. Rowe Price Institutional Funds and certain other types of funds. Policies for these other funds are described in their respective prospectuses, and all available share classes for the T. Rowe Price Funds are described more fully in the funds’ SAI. While many T. Rowe Price Funds are offered in more than one share class, not all funds offer all of the share classes described in this section.
Investor Class
A T. Rowe Price Fund that does not include the term “institutional” or indicate a specific share class as part of its name is considered to be the Investor Class of that fund. The Investor Class is
T. ROWE PRICE |
42 |
available to individual investors, institutions, and a wide variety of other types of investors. The Investor Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a retirement plan or financial intermediary. The Investor Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries but may make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. In addition, you may also incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling Investor Class shares through a financial intermediary. For investors holding the Investor Class through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program, the terms and conditions of the program will be applicable.
I Class
The I Class may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through a financial intermediary. The I Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries. However, you may incur brokerage commissions and other charges when buying or selling I Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The I Class requires a $500,000 minimum initial investment per fund per account registration, although the minimum generally is waived or reduced for financial intermediaries, eligible retirement plans, certain client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary investment authority, and certain other types of accounts.
Certain qualifying accounts are eligible to invest in the I Class at a lower investment minimum through programs available to investors holding their accounts directly with T. Rowe Price, including, but not limited to, programs for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliate has discretionary authority. For investors eligible for the I Class through such programs, the terms and conditions, including applicable minimums, of the respective program will apply. Certain accounts, including most T. Rowe Price Brokerage sweep accounts and small business retirement plans with more than one participant that are held directly with T. Rowe Price, are not eligible to invest in the I Class, regardless of account balance.
Advisor Class
The Advisor Class is designed to be sold through various financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and advisers. The Advisor Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The Advisor Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. You may also incur other fees or charges when buying or selling Advisor Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The Advisor Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of Advisor Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS |
43 |
the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the Advisor Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
R Class
The R Class is designed to be sold through financial intermediaries for employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plans and certain other retirement accounts. The R Class must be purchased through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). The R Class does not impose sales charges but may make 12b-1 fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets and may also separately make administrative fee payments at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets. You may also incur other fees or charges when buying or selling R Class shares through a financial intermediary.
The R Class requires an agreement between the financial intermediary and T. Rowe Price to be executed prior to investment. Purchases of R Class shares for which the required agreement with T. Rowe Price has not been executed or that are not made through an eligible financial intermediary are subject to rejection or cancellation without prior notice to the financial intermediary or investor, and accounts that are no longer eligible for the R Class (including any accounts that are no longer serviced by a financial intermediary or for which the financial intermediary does not accept or assess 12b-1 fee payments) may be converted to the Investor Class or Advisor Class following notice to the financial intermediary or investor.
Z Class
The Z Class is only available to funds managed by T. Rowe Price and other advisory clients of T. Rowe Price or its affiliates that are subject to a contractual fee for investment management services. There is no minimum initial investment and no minimum for additional purchases. The Z Class does not impose sales charges and does not make any administrative fee payments or 12b-1 fee payments to financial intermediaries.
Administrative Fee Payments (Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class)
Certain financial intermediaries perform recordkeeping and administrative services for their clients that would otherwise be performed by the funds’ transfer agent. Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class shares may make administrative fee payments to retirement plan recordkeepers, broker-dealers, and other financial intermediaries (at an annual rate of up to 0.15% of the class’ average daily net assets) for transfer agency, recordkeeping, and other administrative services that they provide on behalf of the funds. These administrative services may include maintaining account records for each customer; transmitting purchase and redemption orders; delivering shareholder confirmations, statements, and tax forms; and providing support to respond to customers’ questions regarding their accounts. Except for
T. ROWE PRICE |
44 |
funds that have an all-inclusive management fee, these separate administrative fee payments are reflected in the “Other expenses” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
12b-1 Fee Payments (Advisor Class and R Class)
Mutual funds are permitted to adopt a 12b-1 plan to pay certain expenses associated with the distribution of the fund’s shares out of the fund’s assets. Each fund offering Advisor Class and/or R Class shares has adopted a 12b-1 plan under which those classes may make payments (for the Advisor Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the class’ average daily net assets and, for the R Class, at an annual rate of up to 0.50% of the class’ average daily net assets) to various financial intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and investment advisers, for distribution and/or shareholder servicing of the Advisor Class and R Class shares. The 12b-1 plans provide for the class to pay such fees to the fund’s distributor and for the distributor to then pay such fees to the financial intermediaries that provide services for the class and/or make the class available to investors.
For the Advisor Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the Advisor Class shares available to their customers (for example, providing the fund with “shelf space” or inclusion on a “preferred list” or “supermarket” platform). For the R Class, distribution payments may include payments to financial intermediaries for making the R Class shares available as investment options to retirement plans and retirement plan participants, assisting plan sponsors in conducting searches for investment options, and providing ongoing monitoring of investment options.
Shareholder servicing payments under the plans may include payments to financial intermediaries for providing shareholder support services to existing shareholders of the Advisor Class and R Class. These payments may be more or less than the costs incurred by the financial intermediaries. Because the fees are paid from the Advisor Class or R Class net assets on an ongoing basis, they will increase the cost of your investment over time. In addition, payments of 12b-1 fees may influence your financial adviser’s recommendation of the fund or of any particular share class of the fund. Payments of 12b-1 fees are reflected in the “Distribution and service (12b-1) fees” line that appears in the table titled “Fees and Expenses of the Fund” in Section 1.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries
In addition to the administrative fee payments made by the Investor Class, Advisor Class, and R Class, and the 12b-1 payments made by the Advisor Class and R Class, T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor will, at their own expense, provide compensation to certain financial intermediaries that have sold shares of or provide shareholder or other services to the T. Rowe Price Funds, commonly referred to as revenue sharing. These payments may be in the form of asset-based, transaction-based, or flat payments. These payments are used to compensate third parties for distribution and shareholder servicing activities, including subaccounting, sub-transfer agency, or other services. Some of these payments may include expense reimbursements and meeting and marketing support payments (out of T. Rowe Price’s or the fund’s distributor’s own resources and not as an expense of the funds) to financial
INFORMATION ABOUT ACCOUNTS IN T. ROWE PRICE FUNDS |
45 |
intermediaries, such as broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies, retirement plan recordkeepers, and investment advisers, in connection with the sale, distribution, marketing, and/or servicing of the T. Rowe Price Funds. The SAI provides more information about these payment arrangements.
The receipt of, or the prospect of receiving, these payments and expense reimbursements from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor may influence financial intermediaries, plan sponsors, and other third parties to offer or recommend T. Rowe Price Funds over other investment options for which an intermediary does not receive additional compensation (or receives lower levels of additional compensation). In addition, financial intermediaries that receive these payments and/or expense reimbursements may elevate the prominence of the T. Rowe Price Funds by, for example, placing the T. Rowe Price Funds on a list of preferred or recommended funds and/or provide preferential or enhanced opportunities to promote the T. Rowe Price Funds in various ways. Since these additional payments are not paid by a fund directly, these arrangements do not increase fund expenses and will not change the price that an investor pays for shares of the T. Rowe Price Funds or the amount that is invested in a T. Rowe Price Fund on behalf of an investor. You may ask your financial intermediary for more information about any payments they receive from T. Rowe Price or the fund’s distributor.
Comparison of Fees
The following table summarizes the distribution and service (12b-1) fee and administrative fee arrangements applicable to each class based on its average daily net assets.
Class |
12b-1 Fee Payments |
Administrative Fee Payments |
Investor Class |
None |
Up to 0.15% per year |
I Class |
None |
None |
Advisor Class |
Up to 0.25% per year |
Up to 0.15% per year |
R Class |
Up to 0.50% per year |
Up to 0.15% per year |
Z Class |
None |
None |
Investor Class
In an effort to help offset the disproportionately high costs incurred by the funds in connection with servicing lower-balance accounts that are held directly with the T. Rowe Price Funds’ transfer agent, an annual $20 account service fee (paid to T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., or one of its affiliates) is charged to certain Investor Class accounts with a balance below $10,000. The determination of whether a fund account is subject to the account service fee is based on account balances and services selected for accounts as of the last business day of August of each calendar year. The fee may be charged to an account with a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation and recent redemptions. The fee, which is automatically deducted from an account by redeeming fund shares, is typically charged to accounts in early September each calendar year. Such redemption may result in a taxable gain or loss to you.
T. ROWE PRICE |
46 |
The account service fee generally does not apply to fund accounts that are held through a financial intermediary, participant accounts in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services, accounts held through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program, or money market funds that are used as a T. Rowe Price Brokerage sweep account. The account service fee is automatically waived for accounts that satisfy any of the following conditions as of the last business day in August:
· Any accounts for which the shareholder has elected to receive electronic delivery of all of the following: account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports (paper copies of fund documents are available, free of charge, upon request, to any shareholder regardless of whether the shareholder has elected electronic delivery);
· Any accounts of a shareholder with at least $50,000 in total assets with T. Rowe Price (for this purpose, total assets include investments through T. Rowe Price Brokerage and investments in T. Rowe Price Funds, except for those held through a retirement plan for which T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services provides recordkeeping services); or
· Certain accounts enrolled in the T. Rowe Price Summit Program—visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-332-6161 for more information.
T. Rowe Price reserves the right to authorize additional waivers for other types of accounts or to modify the conditions for assessment of the account service fee. Fund shares held in a T. Rowe Price IRA, Education Savings Account, or small business retirement plan account (including certain 403(b) plan accounts) are subject to the account service fee and may be subject to additional administrative fees when distributing all fund shares from such accounts.
Investor Class and I Class shares may be purchased directly from T. Rowe Price or through various financial intermediaries. Advisor Class and R Class shares must be purchased through a financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). If you are opening an account through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or other financial intermediary, you should contact the retirement plan or financial intermediary for information regarding its policies on opening an account, including the policies relating to purchasing, exchanging, and redeeming shares, and the applicable initial and subsequent investment minimums.
Tax Identification Number
Investors must provide T. Rowe Price with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number on a signed new account form or Form W-9, and financial intermediaries must provide T. Rowe Price with their certified taxpayer identification number. Otherwise, federal law requires the funds to withhold a percentage of dividends, capital gain distributions, and redemptions and may subject you or the financial intermediary to an
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Internal Revenue Service fine. If this information is not received within 60 days of the account being established, the account may be redeemed at the fund’s then-current net asset value.
Important Information Required to Open a New Account
Pursuant to federal law, all financial institutions must obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or entity that opens an account. This information is needed not only for the account owner and any other person who opens the account, but also for any person who has authority to act on behalf of the account.
When you open an account, you will be asked for the name, U.S. street address (post office boxes are not acceptable), date of birth, and Social Security number or taxpayer identification number for each account owner and person(s) opening an account on behalf of others, such as custodians, agents, trustees, or other authorized signers. When opening an entity account, you will be asked to identify and provide personal information for: (i) any individual who, either directly or indirectly, owns 25% or more of the equity interest of the entity and (ii) a single individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity. Corporate and other institutional accounts require documents showing the existence of the entity (such as articles of incorporation or partnership agreements) to open an account. Certain other fiduciary accounts (such as trusts or power of attorney arrangements) require documentation, which may include an original or certified copy of the trust agreement or power of attorney, to open an account.
T. Rowe Price will use this information to verify the identity of the person(s)/entity opening the account. An account cannot be opened until all of this information is received. If the identity of the account holder cannot be verified, T. Rowe Price is authorized to take any action permitted by law, including, but not limited to, restricting additional purchases, freezing the account, or involuntarily redeeming the shares in the account at the net asset value calculated the day the account is redeemed.
Institutional investors and financial intermediaries should call Client Account Management at 1-800-638-8790 for more information on these requirements, as well as to be assigned an account number and instructions for opening an account. Other investors should call Investor Services at 1-800-638-5660 for more information about these requirements.
The funds are generally available only to investors residing in the United States. In addition, nongovernment money market funds that operate as “retail money market funds” pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons. An investor in a retail money market fund is required to demonstrate eligibility (for example, by providing a valid Social Security number) before an account can be opened.
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How and When Shares Are Priced
The trade date for your transaction request depends on the day and time that T. Rowe Price receives your request and will normally be executed using the next share price calculated after your order is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent (or by your financial intermediary if it has the authority to accept transaction orders on behalf of the fund). The share price, also called the net asset value, for each share class of a fund is calculated as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which is normally 4 p.m. ET, on each day that the NYSE is open for business. Net asset values are not calculated for the funds on days when the NYSE is scheduled to be closed for trading (for example, weekends and certain U.S. national holidays). If the NYSE is unexpectedly closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances on a day it would typically be open for business, or if the NYSE has an unscheduled early closing on a day it has opened for business, the funds reserve the right to treat such day as a business day and accept purchase and redemption orders and calculate their share price as of the normally scheduled close of regular trading on the NYSE for that day.
To calculate the net asset value, a fund’s assets are valued and totaled, liabilities are subtracted, and each class’ proportionate share of the balance, called net assets, is divided by the number of shares outstanding of that class. Market values are used to price portfolio holdings for which market quotations are readily available. Market values generally reflect the prices at which securities actually trade or represent prices that have been adjusted based on evaluations and information provided by the fund’s pricing services. Investments in other mutual funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of the mutual fund on the day of valuation. If a market value for a portfolio holding is not available or normal valuation procedures are deemed to be inappropriate, the fund will make a good faith effort to assign a fair value to the holding by taking into account various factors and methodologies that have been approved by the fund’s Board. This value may differ from the value the fund receives upon sale of the securities.
Amortized cost is used to price securities held by money market funds and certain short-term debt securities held by other funds. The retail and government money market funds, which seek to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00, use the amortized cost method of valuation to calculate their net asset value. Amortized cost allows the money market funds to value a holding at the fund’s acquisition cost with adjustments for any premiums or discounts and then round the net asset value per share to the nearest whole cent. The amortized cost method of valuation enables the money market funds to maintain a $1.00 net asset value, but it may also result in periods during which the stated value of a security held by the funds differs from the market-based price the funds would receive if they sold that holding. The current market-based net asset value per share for each business day in the preceding six months is available for the retail and government money market funds through troweprice.com/money-market/en/money-market-fund-information.html. These market-based net asset values are for informational purposes only and are not used to price transactions.
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The funds use various pricing services to provide closing market prices, as well as information used to adjust those prices and to value most fixed income securities. A fund cannot predict how often it will use closing prices or how often it will adjust those prices. As a means of evaluating its fair-value process, the fund routinely compares closing market prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
Non-U.S. equity securities are valued on the basis of their most recent closing market prices at 4 p.m. ET, except under the following circumstances. Most foreign markets close before 4 p.m. ET. For example, the most recent closing prices for securities traded in certain Asian markets may be as much as 15 hours old at 4 p.m. ET. If a fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will affect the value of some or all of the fund’s securities, the fund will adjust the previous closing prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of 4 p.m. ET. In deciding whether to make these adjustments, the fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities.
A fund may also fair value certain securities or a group of securities in other situations—for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. For a fund that has investments in securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that trade on weekends or other days when the fund does not price its shares, the fund’s net asset value may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem the fund’s shares. If an event occurs that affects the value of a security after the close of the market, such as a default of a commercial paper issuer or a significant move in short-term interest rates, a fund may make a price adjustment depending on the nature and significance of the event. The funds also evaluate a variety of factors when assigning fair values to private placements and other restricted securities. Other mutual funds may adjust the prices of their securities by different amounts or assign different fair values than the fair value that the fund assigns to the same security.
The various ways you can purchase, sell, and exchange shares are explained throughout this section. These procedures differ based on whether you hold your account directly with T. Rowe Price or through an employer-sponsored retirement plan or financial intermediary.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held directly with T. Rowe Price and not through a financial intermediary.
Options for Opening Your Account
If you own other T. Rowe Price Funds, you should consider registering any new account identically to your existing accounts so you can exchange shares among them easily (the name(s) of the account owner(s) and the account type must be identical).
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For joint accounts or other types of accounts owned or controlled by more than one party, either owner/party has complete authority to act on behalf of all and give instructions concerning the account without notice to the other party. T. Rowe Price may, in its sole discretion, require written authorization from all owners/parties to act on the account for certain transactions (for example, to transfer ownership). There are multiple ways to establish a new account directly with T. Rowe Price.
Online In general, you can open a new Investor Class or I Class account online. Go to troweprice.com/newaccount to choose the type of account you wish to open.
You can exchange shares online from an existing account in one fund to open a new account in another fund. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging, and any services (other than systematic purchase and systematic distribution arrangements) that you have preauthorized will carry over from the existing account to the new account.
To open an account online for the first time or with a different account registration, you must be a U.S. citizen residing in the U.S. or a resident alien and not subject to Internal Revenue Service backup withholding. Additionally, you must provide consent to receive certain documents electronically. You will have the option of providing your bank account information, which will enable you to make electronic funds transfers to and from your bank account. To set up this banking service online, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity.
By Mail If you are sending a check, please make your check payable to T. Rowe Price Funds (otherwise it may be returned) and send the check, together with the applicable new account form, to the appropriate address. (Please refer to the appropriate address under “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section to avoid a delay in opening your new account.) T. Rowe Price does not accept third-party checks for initial purchases; however, third-party checks are typically accepted for additional purchases to an existing account. In addition, T. Rowe Price does not accept purchases by cash, traveler’s checks, money orders, or credit card checks. For exchanges from an identically registered account, be sure to specify the fund(s) and account number(s) that you are exchanging out of and the fund(s) you wish to exchange into.
By Telephone Direct investors can call Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-5132 (institutional investors should call 1-800-638-8790) to exchange from an existing fund account to open a new identically registered account in another fund. You may also be eligible to open a new account by telephone and provide your bank account information in order to make an initial purchase. To set up the account and banking service by telephone, additional steps will be taken to verify your identity and the authenticity of your bank account. Although the account may be opened and the purchase made, services may not be established and an Internal Revenue Service penalty withholding may occur until we receive the necessary signed form to certify your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number.
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How Your Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest directly with T. Rowe Price and your request to purchase, sell, or exchange shares is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE (normally 4 p.m. ET), your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value. Systematic transactions that are scheduled to occur on a date the NYSE is closed will normally be processed the next business day (except for certain retirement plan payroll deduction orders generated by T. Rowe Price where the orders are processed the day before the day the NYSE is closed).
Note: There may be times when you are unable to contact us by telephone or access your account online due to extreme market activity, the unavailability of the T. Rowe Price website, or other circumstances. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value. The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET.
Transaction Confirmations
T. Rowe Price sends immediate confirmations for most of your fund transactions. However, certain transactions, such as systematic purchases and systematic redemptions, dividend reinvestments, checkwriting redemptions from money market funds, and transactions in money market funds used as a brokerage sweep account, do not receive an immediate transaction confirmation but are reported on your account statement. Please review transaction confirmations and account statements as soon as you receive them, and promptly report any discrepancies to Shareholder Services.
Telephone and Online Account Transactions
You may access your accounts and conduct most transactions involving Investor Class or I Class accounts using the telephone or the T. Rowe Price website at troweprice.com. Telephone conversations are recorded.
Preventing Unauthorized Transactions
The T. Rowe Price Funds and their agents use reasonably designed procedures to verify that telephone, electronic, and other instructions are genuine. These procedures include, among other things, recording telephone calls; requiring personalized security codes or other information online and certain identifying information for telephone calls; requiring Medallion signature guarantees for certain transactions and account changes; and promptly sending confirmations of transactions and address changes. For transactions conducted online, we recommend the use of a secure internet browser.
T. Rowe Price Account Protection Program Shareholders who invest in the T. Rowe Price Funds directly are eligible for the Account Protection Program. The Account Protection
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Program restores eligible losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent activity, provided that you follow all security best practices when you access and maintain your account(s). T. Rowe Price reserves the right to modify or withdraw the Account Protection Program at any time. The Account Protection Program security best practices and additional information may be accessed online at troweprice.com/personal-investing/help/policies-and-security/account-protection-program.html.
If our verification procedures are followed and the losses are not eligible to be restored under the Account Protection Program, the funds and their agents are not liable for any losses that may occur from acting on unauthorized instructions.
If you suspect any unauthorized account activity, notice errors or discrepancies in your T. Rowe Price account, or are not receiving your T. Rowe Price account statements, please contact T. Rowe Price immediately.
Trusted Contacts Investors who hold shares of a T. Rowe Price Fund directly or through a T. Rowe Price Brokerage account have the option to add one or more trusted contacts to their brokerage and mutual fund accounts. Trusted contacts are intended to be a resource to help protect client assets. Any individuals designated as a trusted contact will be authorized to serve as a primary contact if T. Rowe Price has questions or concerns related to potentially fraudulent account activity or suspected financial exploitation or to confirm your contact information if we are unable to reach you (but are not authorized to act on your account). For more information or to add trusted contacts to your account, visit troweprice.com or call 1-800-225-5132.
If you are age 65 or older, or if you are age 18 or older and we have reason to believe you have a mental or physical impairment that renders you unable to protect your own interest, we may place a temporary hold on the disbursement of redemption proceeds from your account in an effort to protect you if we reasonably believe that you have been or will be the victim of actual or attempted financial exploitation. You will receive notice of this temporary delay, and it will be for no more than 15 business days while we conduct an internal review of the suspected financial exploitation (including contacting your trusted contact if one is on file). We may delay an additional 10 business days if T. Rowe Price reasonably believes that actual or attempted financial exploitation has occurred or will occur. At the expiration of the hold time, if we have not confirmed that exploitation has occurred, the proceeds will be released to you. Depending upon the state in which you reside, we may be required to report to the authorities suspected elder or vulnerable adult exploitation.
Purchasing Shares
Shares may be purchased in a variety of ways.
By Check Please make your check payable to the T. Rowe Price Funds. Include a new account form if establishing a new account, and include either a fund investment slip or a letter indicating the fund and your account number if adding to an existing account. Your transaction will receive the share price for the business day that the request is received by
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T. Rowe Price or its agent prior to the close of the NYSE (not the day the request is received at the post office box).
By Electronic Transfer Shares may be purchased using the Automated Clearing House system if you have established the service on your account, which allows T. Rowe Price to request payment for your shares directly from your bank account or other financial institution account. You may also arrange for a wire to be sent to T. Rowe Price (wire transfer instructions can be found at troweprice.com/wireinstructions or by calling Shareholder Services). T. Rowe Price must receive the wire by the close of the NYSE to receive that day’s share price. There is no assurance that you will receive the share price for the same day you initiated the wire from your financial institution.
By Exchange You may purchase shares of a fund using the proceeds from the redemption of shares from another fund. The redemption and purchase will receive the same trade date, and if you are establishing a new account, it will have the same registration as the account from which you are exchanging. The purchase must still generally meet the applicable minimum investment requirement.
Systematic Purchases (Automatic Asset Builder) You can instruct T. Rowe Price to automatically transfer money from your account at your bank or other financial institution at least once per month, or you can instruct your employer to send all or a portion of your paycheck to the fund or funds that you designate. Each systematic purchase must be at least $100 per fund account to be eligible for the Automatic Asset Builder service. To automatically transfer money to your account from a bank account or through payroll deductions, complete the appropriate section of the new account form when opening a new account or complete an Account Services Form to add the service to an existing account. Prior to establishing payroll deductions, you must set up the service with T. Rowe Price so that the appropriate instructions can be provided to your employer.
Initial Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than the Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds, require a $2,500 minimum initial investment ($1,000 minimum initial investment for IRAs; certain small business retirement accounts; and custodial accounts for minors, known as Uniform Gifts to Minors Act or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act accounts). The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment. I Class accounts require a $500,000 minimum initial investment per fund for each account registration, although the minimum is waived or reduced for certain types of accounts. If you request the I Class of a particular fund when you open a new account, but the investment amount does not meet the applicable minimum, the purchase will be automatically invested in the Investor Class of the same fund (if available).
Additional Investment Minimums
Investor Class accounts, other than Summit Funds, require a $100 minimum for additional purchases, including those made through Automatic Asset Builder. Summit Funds require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder and a $1,000
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minimum for all other additional purchases. I Class accounts require a $100 minimum for additional purchases through Automatic Asset Builder but do not require a minimum amount for other additional purchases.
Exchanging and Redeeming Shares
Exchanges You can move money from one account to an existing, identically registered account or open a new identically registered account. For taxable accounts, an exchange from one fund to another will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service as a sale for tax purposes. (Institutional investors are restricted from exchanging into a fund that operates as a retail money market fund.) You can set up systematic exchanges so that money is automatically moved from one fund account to another on a regular basis.
Receiving Redemption Proceeds Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address by check or sent electronically to your bank account by Automated Clearing House transfer or bank wire. You can set up systematic redemptions and have the proceeds automatically sent via check or Automated Clearing House on a regular basis. If your request is received in correct form by T. Rowe Price or its agent on a business day prior to the close of the NYSE, proceeds are usually sent on the next business day. However, if you request a redemption from a money market fund on a business day prior to 12 p.m. ET and request to have proceeds sent via bank wire, proceeds are normally sent later that same day.
Proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House transfer are usually credited to your account the second business day after the sale, and there are typically no fees associated with such payments. Proceeds sent by bank wire are usually credited to your account the next business day after the sale (except for wire redemptions from money market funds received prior to 12 p.m. ET). A $5 fee will be charged for an outgoing wire of less than $5,000, in addition to any fees your financial institution may charge for an incoming wire.
If, for some reason, your request to exchange or redeem shares cannot be processed because it is not received in correct form, we will attempt to contact you as soon as administratively possible.
If you request to redeem a specific dollar amount and the market value of your account is less than the amount of your request and we are unable to contact you, your redemption will not be processed and you must submit a new redemption request in correct form.
If you change your address on an account, proceeds may not be mailed to the new address for 15 calendar days after the address change, unless we receive a letter of instruction with a Medallion signature guarantee.
Please note that large purchase and redemption requests initiated through the Automated Clearing House may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by calling Shareholder Services.
Checkwriting You may write an unlimited number of free checks on any money market fund and certain bond funds, with a minimum of $500 per check. Keep in mind, however, that a
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check results in a sale of fund shares; a check written on a bond fund will create a taxable event that must be reported by T. Rowe Price to the Internal Revenue Service as a redemption.
Converting to Another Share Class
You may convert from one share class of a fund to another share class of the same fund (which may have a different expense ratio) over the telephone or in writing. Although the conversion has no effect on the dollar value of your investment in the fund, the number of shares owned after the conversion may be greater or less than the number of shares owned before the conversion, depending on the net asset values of the two share classes. A conversion between share classes of the same fund is a nontaxable event. The new account will have the same registration as the account from which you are converting.
Shareholders may contact T. Rowe Price at any time to convert eligible account balances to the I Class. In addition, T. Rowe Price may conduct periodic reviews of account balances. If your account balance in a fund meets or exceeds the applicable minimum amount required for the I Class, T. Rowe Price may, but is not required to, automatically convert your Investor Class shares to I Class shares of the same fund with advance notice, which may be in writing or delivered electronically if you have a valid email address on file with T. Rowe Price. Certain account restrictions will prevent an automatic conversion. If you opt out of any automatic conversions to the I Class, your election will apply to any future periodic reviews and automatic conversions for which you may otherwise be eligible unless you contact T. Rowe Price to change your election. If T. Rowe Price or its affiliates have investment discretion for your account, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares to a different share class without any advance notice to you. Automatic conversions only occur between share classes of the same fund.
Maintaining Your Account Balance
Investor Class Due to the relatively high cost to a fund of maintaining small accounts, we ask that you maintain an account balance of at least $1,000 ($10,000 for Summit Funds). If, for any reason, your balance is below this amount for three months or longer, we have the right to redeem your account at the then-current net asset value after giving you 60 days to increase your balance.
I Class To keep operating expenses lower, we ask that you maintain an account balance that at least meets the applicable I Class minimum necessary to open an account. If your investment in a fund falls below the applicable I Class minimum (even if due to market depreciation), we have the right to convert your account to a different share class in the same fund (if available) with a higher expense ratio or redeem your account at the then-current net asset value, after giving you 60 days’ advance notice to increase your balance. The redemption of your account by T. Rowe Price could result in a taxable gain or loss. However, if T. Rowe Price or its affiliates have investment discretion for your account, T. Rowe Price may convert your shares to a different share class without advance notice. Shareholders investing in a fund as part of a program that allows for a lower initial investment minimum will be subject to the applicable minimum account balance requirements of the respective program.
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The redemption of your account could result in a taxable gain or loss.
Investors holding the fund through the T. Rowe Price® ActivePlus Portfolios program will be subject to the minimum account balance requirements of the program, which may differ from the minimum account balance requirements listed above.
Eligibility Through Certain T. Rowe Price Programs
Direct investors with qualifying accounts may be eligible to invest in the I Class with a lower initial investment minimum and may be eligible to open new accounts in funds that are generally closed to new investors. For certain programs, eligibility is based on the aggregate value of qualifying accounts and certain other accounts held by direct investors in the same household. The terms and conditions of the respective program will apply and are subject to change. Contact T. Rowe Price for more information.
The following policies apply to accounts that are held through a financial intermediary.
Accounts in Investor Class and I Class shares are not required to be held through a financial intermediary, but accounts in Advisor Class and R Class shares must be held through an eligible financial intermediary (except for certain retirement plans held directly with T. Rowe Price). It is important that you contact your retirement plan or financial intermediary to determine the policies, procedures, and transaction deadlines that apply to your account. The financial intermediary may charge a fee, such as transaction fees or brokerage commissions, for its services.
Opening an Account
The financial intermediary must provide T. Rowe Price with its certified taxpayer identification number. Financial intermediaries should call Client Account Management for an account number and wire transfer instructions. In order to obtain an account number, the financial intermediary must supply the name, taxpayer identification number, and business street address for the account. (Please refer to “Contacting T. Rowe Price” later in this section for the appropriate telephone number and mailing address.) Financial intermediaries must also enter into a separate agreement with the fund or its agent.
How the Trade Date Is Determined
If you invest through a financial intermediary and your transaction request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form by the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at that business day’s net asset value. If your request is received by T. Rowe Price or its agent in correct form after the close of the NYSE, your transaction will be priced at the next business day’s net asset value unless the fund has an agreement with your financial intermediary for orders to be priced at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the financial intermediary.
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The funds have authorized certain financial intermediaries or their designees to accept orders to buy or sell fund shares on their behalf. When authorized financial intermediaries receive an order in correct form, the order is considered as being placed with the fund and shares will be bought or sold at the net asset value next calculated after the order is received by the authorized financial intermediary. The financial intermediary must transmit the order to T. Rowe Price and pay for such shares in accordance with the agreement with T. Rowe Price or the order may be canceled and the financial intermediary could be held liable for the losses. If the fund does not have such an agreement in place with your financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price or its agent must receive the request in correct form from your financial intermediary by the close of the NYSE in order for your transaction to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until which orders are accepted by the fund or a financial intermediary may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET. The funds reserve the right to not treat an unscheduled intraday disruption or closure in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE and still accept transactions and calculate their net asset value as of 4 p.m. ET. Should this occur, your order must still be placed and received in correct form by T. Rowe Price (or by the financial intermediary in accordance with its agreement with T. Rowe Price) prior to the time the NYSE closes to be priced at that business day’s net asset value.
Purchasing Shares
All initial and subsequent investments by financial intermediaries should be made by bank wire or electronic payment. There is no assurance that the share price for the purchase will be the same day the wire was initiated. Purchases by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Client Account Management.
Investment Minimums
You should check with your financial intermediary to determine what minimum applies to your initial and additional investments.
The Retirement Income 2020 Fund and Summit Funds require a $25,000 minimum initial investment, and other funds generally require a $2,500 minimum initial investment, although the minimum is generally waived or modified for any retirement plans and financial intermediaries establishing accounts in the Investor Class, Advisor Class, or R Class. I Class accounts require a $500,000 minimum initial investment per fund for each account registration, although the minimum is generally waived for certain types of accounts.
Investments through a financial intermediary generally do not require a minimum amount for additional purchases.
Redeeming Shares
Unless otherwise indicated, redemption proceeds will be sent via bank wire to the financial intermediary’s designated bank. Redemptions by financial intermediaries are typically initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation or by calling Client Account Management. Normally, the fund transmits proceeds to financial intermediaries for
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redemption orders received in correct form on either the next business day or second business day after receipt of the order, depending on the arrangement with the financial intermediary. Proceeds for redemption orders received prior to 12 p.m. ET for a money market fund may be sent via wire the same business day. You must contact your financial intermediary about procedures for receiving your redemption proceeds.
Please note that certain purchase and redemption requests initiated through the National Securities Clearing Corporation may be rejected, and in such instances, the transaction must be placed by contacting Client Account Management.
The following policies and requirements apply generally to accounts in the T. Rowe Price Funds, regardless of whether the account is held directly or indirectly with T. Rowe Price.
The funds generally do not accept orders that request a particular day or price for a transaction or any other special conditions. However, when authorized by the fund, certain institutions, financial intermediaries, or retirement plans purchasing fund shares directly with T. Rowe Price may place a purchase order unaccompanied by payment. Payment for these shares must be received by the time designated by the fund (not to exceed the period established for settlement under applicable regulations). If payment is not received by this time, the order may be canceled. The institution, financial intermediary, or retirement plan is responsible for any costs or losses incurred by the fund or T. Rowe Price if payment is delayed or not received.
U.S. Dollars All purchases must be paid for in U.S. dollars; checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any purchase of $1 million or more.
Nonpayment If a check or Automated Clearing House transfer does not clear or payment for an order is not received in a timely manner, your purchase may be canceled. You (or the financial intermediary) may be responsible for any losses or expenses incurred by the fund or its transfer agent, and the fund can redeem shares in your account or another identically registered T. Rowe Price account as reimbursement. The funds and their agents have the right to reject or cancel any purchase, exchange, or redemption due to nonpayment.
Retail Money Market Funds The retail money market funds have implemented policies and procedures designed to limit purchases to accounts beneficially owned by a natural person. Purchases of a retail money market fund may be rejected from an investor who has not demonstrated sufficient eligibility to purchase shares of the fund or from a financial intermediary that has not demonstrated adequate procedures to limit investments to natural persons. In addition, purchases may be prohibited or subject to certain conditions during periods where a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in effect.
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Liquidity Fees and Redemption Gates—Retail Money Market Funds
A money market fund that operates as a retail money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 has the ability to impose liquidity fees of up to 2% of the value of the shares redeemed if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below certain thresholds, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A retail money market fund also has the ability to impose a redemption gate, which enables the fund to temporarily suspend redemptions for up to 10 business days within a 90-day period if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below a certain threshold, as specified in Rule 2a-7. A money market fund’s Board has ultimate discretion to determine whether or not a liquidity fee or redemption gate would be in the best interests of the fund’s shareholders and should be imposed.
A money market fund that operates as a government money market fund pursuant to Rule 2a-7 is not required to impose a liquidity fee or redemption gate upon the sale of your shares. The Boards of the T. Rowe Price money market funds that operate as government money market funds have determined that the funds do not currently intend to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates. However, the Board of a T. Rowe Price government money market fund reserves the right to impose liquidity fees and redemption gates in the future, at which point shareholders would be provided with at least 60 days’ notice prior to such a change.
If a liquidity fee is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be subject to the liquidity fee, and if a redemption gate is in place, all exchanges out of the fund will be suspended. When a liquidity fee or redemption gate is in place, the fund may elect to not permit the purchase of shares or to subject the purchase of shares to certain conditions, which may include affirmation of the purchaser’s knowledge that a liquidity fee or a redemption gate is in effect.
Omnibus Accounts If your shares are held through a financial intermediary, T. Rowe Price may rely on the financial intermediary to assess any applicable liquidity fees or impose redemption gates on underlying shareholder accounts. In certain situations, T. Rowe Price enters into agreements with financial intermediaries maintaining omnibus accounts that require the financial intermediary to assess liquidity fees or redemption gates. There are no assurances that T. Rowe Price will be successful in ensuring that all financial intermediaries will properly assess the fees.
Please refer to Sections 1 and 2 of the retail money market fund prospectuses for more information regarding liquidity fees and redemption gates.
Large Redemptions
Large redemptions (for example, $250,000 or more) can adversely affect a portfolio manager’s ability to implement a fund’s investment strategy by causing the premature sale of securities that would otherwise be held longer. Therefore, the fund reserves the right (without prior notice) to redeem in-kind. In general, any redemptions in-kind will represent a pro-rata distribution of a fund’s securities, subject to certain limited exceptions. The redeeming shareholder will be responsible for disposing of the securities, and the shareholder will be subject to the risks that the value of the securities could decline prior to their sale, the securities
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could be difficult to sell, and brokerage fees could be incurred. If you continue to hold the securities, you may be subject to any ownership restrictions imposed by the issuers. For example, real estate investment trusts (REITs) often impose ownership restrictions on their equity securities. In addition, we request that you give us at least three business days’ notice for any redemption of $1 million or more.
Delays in Sending Redemption Proceeds
The T. Rowe Price Funds typically expect that redemption requests will be paid out to redeeming shareholders by the business day following the receipt of a redemption request that is in correct form, regardless of the method the fund uses to make such payment (for example, check, wire, or Automated Clearing House transfer). Checks are typically mailed on the business day after the redemption, proceeds sent by wire are typically credited to your financial institution the business day after the redemption, and proceeds sent by Automated Clearing House are typically credited to your financial institution on the second business day after the redemption. However, under certain circumstances, and when deemed to be in a fund’s best interests, proceeds may not be sent for up to seven calendar days after receipt of a valid redemption order (for example, during periods of deteriorating or stressed market conditions or during extraordinary or emergency circumstances).
In addition, if shares are sold that were just purchased and paid for by check or Automated Clearing House transfer, the fund will process your redemption but will generally delay sending the proceeds for up to seven calendar days to allow the check or Automated Clearing House transfer to clear. If, during the clearing period, we receive a check drawn against your newly purchased shares, it will be returned and marked “uncollected.” (The seven-day hold does not apply to purchases paid for by bank wire or automatic purchases through payroll deduction.)
The Board of a retail money market fund may elect to temporarily suspend redemptions from the fund (i.e., a “redemption gate”) for up to 10 business days in a 90-day period if the fund’s weekly liquid assets fall below 30% of its total assets and the fund’s Board determines that imposing a redemption gate is in the fund’s best interests. In addition, under certain limited circumstances, the Board of a money market fund may elect to permanently suspend redemptions in order to facilitate an orderly liquidation of the fund (subject to any additional liquidation requirements).
Involuntary Redemptions and Share Class Conversions
Since nongovernment money market funds that operate as retail money market funds are required to limit their beneficial owners to natural persons, shares held directly by an investor or through a financial intermediary in these funds that are not eligible to invest in a retail money market fund are subject to involuntary redemption at any time without prior notice.
Shares held by any investors or financial intermediaries that are no longer eligible to invest in the I Class or who fail to meet or maintain their account(s) at the investment minimum are subject to involuntary redemption or conversion to the Investor Class of the same fund (which may have a higher expense ratio). Investments in Advisor Class shares that are no longer held
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through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder. Investments in R Class shares that are no longer held on behalf of an employer-sponsored defined contribution retirement plan or other eligible R Class account or that are not held through an eligible financial intermediary may be automatically converted by T. Rowe Price to the Investor Class or Advisor Class of the same fund following notice to the financial intermediary or shareholder.
Excessive and Short-Term Trading Policy
Excessive transactions and short-term trading can be harmful to fund shareholders in various ways, such as disrupting a fund’s portfolio management strategies, increasing a fund’s trading and other costs, and negatively affecting its performance. Short-term traders in funds that invest in foreign securities may seek to take advantage of developments overseas that could lead to an anticipated difference between the price of the funds’ shares and price movements in foreign markets. While there is no assurance that T. Rowe Price can prevent all excessive and short-term trading, the Boards of the T. Rowe Price Funds have adopted the following trading limits that are designed to deter such activity and protect the funds’ shareholders. The funds may revise their trading limits and procedures at any time as the Boards deem necessary or appropriate to better detect short-term trading that may adversely affect the funds, to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, or to impose additional or alternative restrictions.
Subject to certain exceptions, each T. Rowe Price Fund restricts a shareholder’s purchases (including through exchanges) into a fund account for a period of 30 calendar days after the shareholder has redeemed or exchanged out of that same fund account (“30-Day Purchase Block). The calendar day after the date of redemption is considered Day 1 for purposes of computing the period before another purchase may be made.
General Exceptions As of the date of this prospectus, the following types of transactions generally are not subject to the funds’ excessive and short-term trading policy:
· Shares purchased or redeemed in money market funds and ultra short-term bond funds;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through a systematic purchase or withdrawal plan;
· Checkwriting redemptions from bond funds and money market funds;
· Shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions;
· Shares redeemed automatically by a fund to pay fund fees or shareholder account fees;
· Transfers and changes of account registration within the same fund;
· Shares purchased by asset transfer or direct rollover;
· Shares purchased or redeemed through IRA conversions and recharacterizations;
· Sha