reserved against in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Acquired Fund as of said date and for the period covered thereby;
(2) any loss (whether or not covered by insurance) suffered by the Acquired Fund materially and adversely affecting the assets of the Acquired Fund, other than depreciation of securities;
(3) issued any option to purchase or other right to acquire stock of the Acquired Fund of any class granted by the Acquired Fund to any person (excluding sales in the ordinary course and a dividend reinvestment program);
(4) any indebtedness incurred by the Acquired Fund for borrowed money or any commitment to borrow money entered into by the Acquired Fund, except as provided in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund or so long as it will not prevent the Acquired Fund from complying with paragraph 8.I.;
(5) any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Acquired Fund except to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereunder or otherwise as disclosed in writing to the Acquiring Fund; or
(6) any grant or imposition of any lien, claim, charge, or encumbrance upon any asset of the Acquired Fund except as provided in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund or so long as it will not prevent the Acquired Fund from complying with paragraph 8.I.;
F. that there are no material contracts outstanding to which the Acquired Fund is bound other than as disclosed to the Acquiring Fund;
G. that the Acquired Fund has filed all federal, state, and local tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed, that all federal, state and local income, franchise, property, sales, employment, or other taxes payable pursuant to such returns and reports have been paid so far as due, or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and that, to the knowledge of the Acquired Fund, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return other than with respect to all such matters which are not material individually or in the aggregate;
H. that, as promptly as practicable, but in any case within 60 days after the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall furnish the Acquiring Fund with a statement of the earnings and profits of the Acquired Fund for federal income tax purposes;
I. that on the Closing Date the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable title to the assets of the Acquired Fund to be conveyed hereunder, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, charges, claims, and equities whatsoever, and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver such assets and shall deliver such assets to the Acquiring Fund as set forth in paragraph 1.A. hereof. Upon delivery of such assets, the Acquiring Fund will receive good and
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marketable title to such assets, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, charges, claims, and equities, except as to adverse claims of which the Acquiring Fund has notice at or prior to the time of delivery. Except as set forth on the Securities List, none of the securities comprising the assets of the Acquired Fund will be “restricted securities” under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) thereunder;
J. that the Information Statement/Prospectus (hereinafter defined) at the time of delivery by the Acquired Fund to all shareholders of record on July 31, 2019, to notify shareholders of this transaction, on the Closing Date and at the time of the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above, as amended or as supplemented if it shall have been amended or supplemented, will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading, except that no representations or warranties in this section apply to statements or omissions which are based on written information furnished by the Acquiring Fund to the Acquired Fund;
K. that the Acquired Fund is not, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in a material violation of any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound and that this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable against the Acquired Fund in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy laws, laws affecting creditors generally, and general principles of equity;
L. that the Acquired Fund will take all actions within its control necessary to cause the exchange of Acquiring Fund Shares for assets of the Acquired Fund made under this Agreement to qualify, as of and after the Closing, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code; and
M. that the Acquired Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act, classified as a management investment company, and subclassified as an open-end company.
9. Acquiring Fund Representations, Warranties, and Covenants. The Acquiring Fund hereby represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund, and covenants and agrees with the Acquired Fund:
A. that the audited statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, and the related statement of operations and statement of changes in net assets of the Acquiring Fund as of October 31, 2018, and for the year then ended heretofore delivered to the Acquired Fund were prepared in
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accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, reflect all liabilities of the Acquiring Fund, whether accrued or contingent, which are required to be reflected or reserved against in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Acquiring Fund as of said date and for the period covered thereby;
B. that there are no legal, administrative, or other proceedings pending or, to its knowledge, overtly threatened against the Acquiring Fund which would individually or in the aggregate materially affect the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
C. that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been authorized by the Board of Directors of the Acquiring Fund by vote taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Acquiring Fund duly called and held on July 31, 2019, and that approval by the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein is not required under applicable Maryland and federal law;
D. that from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, there shall not have been any material change in the business, results of operations, assets, or financial condition or the manner of conducting the business of the Acquiring Fund (other than changes in the ordinary course of its business, including, without limitation, dividends and distributions in the ordinary course, changes in the net asset value per share, redemptions in the ordinary course of business, and changes in sales volume), which has had an adverse material effect on such business, results of operations, assets, or financial condition, except in all instances as set forth in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund referred to in paragraph 9.A. and 9.B. above;
E. that the Acquiring Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act, classified as a management investment company, and subclassified as an open-end diversified company;
F. that the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued pursuant to paragraph 1.A. will be duly registered under the 1933 Act by the Registration Statement (hereinafter defined) in effect on the Closing Date and at the time of the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above;
G. that the Acquiring Fund Shares are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable, and free of any preemptive rights and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Information Statement/Prospectus as in effect on the Closing Date and at the time of the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above;
H. that the Acquiring Fund is not, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in a material violation of any provision
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of the Acquiring Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and that this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable against the Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy laws, laws affecting creditors generally, and general principles of equity;
I. that the Acquiring Fund will take all actions within its control necessary to cause the exchange of Acquiring Fund Shares for assets of the Acquired Fund made under this Agreement to qualify, as of and after the Closing, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code;
J. that the Acquiring Fund has filed all federal, state, and local tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed, that all federal, state, and local income, franchise, property, sales, employment, or other taxes payable pursuant to such returns and reports have been paid so far as due, or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and that, to the knowledge of the Acquiring Fund, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return, other than with respect to all such matters those which are not material individually or in the aggregate;
K. that the Information Statement/Prospectus at the time of delivery by the Acquired Fund to its shareholders to inform shareholders of this transaction, on the Closing Date and at the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above, as amended or as supplemented if it shall have been amended or supplemented, and the Registration Statement on the effective date thereof, on the Closing Date and at the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above, will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading, except that no representations or warranties in this section apply to statements or omissions which are based on written information furnished by the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund; and
L. the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund (copies of which are available) conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
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10. Certain Conditions.
Unless waived by the parties in writing in their sole discretion, all obligations of the parties hereunder are subject to the fulfillment, prior to or at the Closing, of each of the following conditions:
A. Registration Statement and Information Statement/Prospectus. The Acquiring Fund will file a registration statement on Form N-14 with the Commission under the 1933 Act in order to register the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued hereunder. Such registration statement in the form in which it shall become effective and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, such registration statement as amended, is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” The Acquired Fund will file a preliminary information statement with the Commission under the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, relating to this Agreement and the transactions herein contemplated, in the form of a combined Information Statement and prospectus and related statement of additional information included in the Registration Statement. The combined Information Statement and prospectus and related statement of additional information that is first filed pursuant to Rule 497(b) under the 1933 Act is referred to herein as the “Information Statement/Prospectus.” The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each will exert reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective under the 1933 Act as soon as practical and agree to cooperate in such efforts. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and, to the knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened, or contemplated under the 1933 Act. Upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Acquired Fund will cause the Information Statement/Prospectus to be delivered to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund of record, in sufficient time to comply with requirements as to notice thereof, the Information Statement/Prospectus, which complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of Section 14(c) of the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
B. Pending or Threatened Proceedings. On the Closing Date, no action, suit, or other proceeding shall be threatened or pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
C. Appropriate Articles. The Acquired Fund shall execute and cause to be filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, such articles of transfer, articles supplementary or other documents, as necessary to eliminate designation of the Acquired Fund, as appropriate.
D. Declaration of Dividend. The Acquired Fund shall have declared a dividend or dividends which, together with all previous such dividends, shall have the
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effect of distributing to the Acquired Fund shareholders all of the investment company taxable income and realized capital gain for all taxable periods of the Acquired Fund which are required to be distributed to avoid federal income or excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies.
E. State Securities Laws. The parties shall have received all permits and other authorizations necessary under state securities laws to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
F. Performance of Covenants. Each party shall have performed and complied in all material respects with each of its agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Valuation Date and the Closing Date.
G. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each party set forth in this Agreement will be true and correct on the Closing Date, and each party shall deliver to the other a certificate of a duly authorized officer of such party to that effect.
11. Notices. All notices, requests, instructions, and demands in the course of the transactions herein contemplated shall be in writing addressed to the respective parties as follows and shall be deemed given: (i) on the next day if sent by prepaid overnight courier and (ii) on the same day if given by hand delivery or telecopy.
If to the Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund:
David Oestreicher, Esquire
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Fax Number (410) 345-6575
with a copy to:
Margery K. Neale, Esquire
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Fax Number (212) 728-9138
or to such other address as the parties from time to time may designate by written notice to all other parties hereto.
12. Termination and Postponement.
A. This Agreement may be terminated or postponed by the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund at any time, before or after approval by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, upon the giving of written notice to the other, if the conditions
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specified in paragraphs 8., 9., and 10. have not been performed or do not exist on or before December 31, 2019 or to the extent permitted by law.
B. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 12.A. of this Agreement, neither party (nor its officers, or directors) shall have any liability to the other.
13. Exhibits. All Exhibits shall be considered as part of this Agreement.
14. Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. It shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund represent and warrant to each other that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund agree that no party has made any representation, warranty, or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter hereof. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder for a period of three years thereafter. The paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm, or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement. Whenever used herein, the use of any gender shall include all genders.
15. Amendments. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund by mutual consent of their Boards of Directors or authorized committees or officers may amend this Agreement in such manner as may be agreed upon.
16. Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor in any way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
17. Liability.
A. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund acknowledge and agree that all obligations of the Acquired Fund under this Agreement are binding only with respect to the Acquired Fund; that any liability of the Acquired Fund under this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall be discharged only out of the assets of the Acquired Fund.
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B. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund acknowledge and agree that all obligations of the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement are binding only with respect to the Acquiring Fund; that any liability of the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall be discharged only out of the assets of the Acquiring Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and by their officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.
| |
WITNESS: | T. ROWE PRICE INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC., on behalf of the T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund |
/s/Shannon Hofher Rauser ________________________ Shannon Hofher Rauser | By /s/Darrell N. Braman _____________________ (SEAL) Darrell N. Braman Title: Vice President and Secretary |
| |
WITNESS: | T. ROWE PRICE INSTITUTIONAL INTERNATIONAL FUNDS, INC., on behalf of the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund |
/s/Shannon Hofher Rauser _________________________ Shannon Hofher Rauser | By /s/David Oestreicher _____________________ (SEAL) David Oestreicher Title: Director, Principal Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President |
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Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (“Agreement”) is made this 31st day of July, 2019, by and between (i) T. Rowe Price Institutional Equity Funds, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland on behalf of its series, T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund (“Acquired Fund”), and (ii) T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland on behalf of its series, T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund (“Acquiring Fund”) and each of the Acquiring Fund’s classes, T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund, T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund—Advisor Class, T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund—I Class, and T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund—R Class. All references in this Agreement to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund are, as applicable, to the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund (including each of its classes) and the T. Rowe Price U.S. Structured Research Equity Fund, respectively, as if this Agreement were executed solely by each such fund.
W I T N E S S E T H:
The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund are each series of an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”). The Acquired Fund owns securities that are assets of the character in which the Acquiring Fund is permitted to invest. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund have agreed to combine through the transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for shares of the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund—I Class (par value $0.0001 per share) of the Acquiring Fund (“Acquiring Fund Shares”) and the distribution of Acquiring Fund Shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund in liquidation of the Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Fund wishes to enter into a definitive agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the foregoing transactions as a “plan of reorganization” and “liquidation” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Assets and Liabilities to be Transferred
A. Reorganization. Prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“Exchange”) on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), all the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund, net of appropriate reserves and those assets and liabilities described in paragraph 1.C. below, shall be delivered as provided in paragraph 2.C. to State Street Bank Corporation, custodian of the Acquiring Fund’s assets (“Custodian”), or, in the case of securities maintained outside of the United States, JPMorgan Chase Bank, London (“Foreign Custodian”), if applicable, in exchange for and against delivery by the Acquiring Fund to the Acquired Fund on the
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Closing Date of a number of Acquiring Fund Shares (including, if applicable, fractional shares) having an aggregate net asset value equal to the value of the assets of the Acquired Fund so transferred, assigned and delivered, all determined and adjusted as provided in paragraph 1.B. below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall constitute at least 90% of the fair market value of the net assets of the Acquired Fund and at least 70% of the fair market value of the gross assets of the Acquired Fund as described on the “Valuation Date” (hereinafter defined).
B. Valuation. The net asset value of shares of the Acquiring Fund and the value of the assets of the Acquired Fund to be transferred shall, in each case, be computed as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange on the Valuation Date (as hereinafter defined). The net asset value of the Acquiring Fund Shares shall be computed in the manner set forth in the Acquiring Fund’s current prospectus and statement of additional information under the Securities Act of 1933 (“1933 Act”) and the 1940 Act. The value of the assets of the Acquired Fund to be transferred shall be computed by the Acquiring Fund in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Acquiring Fund as described in the Acquiring Fund’s current prospectus and statement of additional information under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, subject to review and approval by the Acquired Fund and to such adjustments, if any, agreed to by the parties.
C. Excludable Assets and Liabilities. The property and assets of the Acquired Fund to be acquired by the Acquiring Fund shall consist of all assets and property, including, without limitation, all rights, cash, securities, commodities and futures interests, forwards, swaps and other financial instruments, claims (whether absolute or contingent, known or unknown), receivables (including dividends, interest, principal, subscriptions and other receivables), goodwill and other intangible property, contractual rights and choses in action, copies of all books and records belonging to the Acquired Fund (including all books and records required to be maintained under the 1940 Act), any deferred or prepaid expenses shown as an asset on the books of the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date, and all interests, rights, privileges and powers, other than the Acquired Fund’s rights under this Agreement on the Valuation Date as defined in paragraph 2.B, excluding the estimated costs of extinguishing any Excluded Liability (as defined below) and cash in an amount necessary to pay any dividends pursuant to sub-paragraph 10.E (collectively, “Assets”). The Assets of the Acquired Fund shall be delivered to the Acquiring Fund free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, hypothecations and claims whatsoever, and there shall be no restrictions on the full transfer thereof. The Acquiring Fund shall assume only those liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Acquired Fund prepared on behalf of the Acquired Fund, as of the Valuation Date, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied from the prior audited period, except for the Acquired Fund’s Excluded Liabilities (as defined below), if any, pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, “Liabilities”). If prior to the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund identifies a Liability that the Acquiring Fund and the
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Acquired Fund mutually agree should not be assumed by the Acquiring Fund, such Liability shall be excluded from the definition of Liabilities hereunder and shall be listed on a Schedule of Excluded Liabilities to be signed by the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund at the Closing (the “Excluded Liabilities”).
2. Definitions
A. Closing and Closing Date. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall be conducted at the offices of the Acquiring Fund in Baltimore, Maryland, beginning at 8:00 a.m., eastern time, on November 18, 2019, or at such other place or on such later business day as may be agreed upon by the parties. In the event that on the Valuation Date (i) the Exchange is closed or trading thereon is restricted, or (ii) trading or the reporting of trading on the Exchange or elsewhere is disrupted so that accurate appraisal of the value of the Acquired Fund assets or the net asset value of the Acquiring Fund Shares is impractical, the Closing shall be postponed until the first business day after the first business day when trading on the Exchange or elsewhere shall have been fully resumed and reporting thereon shall have been restored, or such other business day as soon thereafter as may be agreed upon by the parties. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is herein referred to as the “Closing Date.”
B. Valuation Date. The business day next preceding the Closing Date shall be the “Valuation Date.” The stock transfer books of the Acquired Fund will be permanently closed as of the close of business on the Valuation Date. The Acquired Fund shall only accept redemption requests received by it in proper form prior to the close of regular trading on the Exchange on the Valuation Date. Redemption requests received thereafter shall be deemed to be redemption requests for Acquiring Fund shares to be distributed to Acquired Fund shareholders pursuant to the Plan (assuming that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been consummated).
C. Delivery. Portfolio securities shall be delivered by the Acquired Fund to the Custodian or the Foreign Custodian, to be held until the Closing for the account of the Acquired Fund, no later than three (3) business days preceding the Closing (“Delivery Date”), duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute a good delivery thereof, in accordance with the custom of brokers, and shall be accompanied by all necessary state stock transfer stamps, if any, or a check for the appropriate purchase price thereof. Cash of the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date and shall be in the form of currency or wire transfer in federal funds, payable to the order of the Custodian or the Foreign Custodian. A confirmation for the Acquiring Fund Shares, credited to the account of the Acquired Fund and registered in the name of the Acquired Fund, shall be delivered by the Acquiring Fund to the Acquired Fund at the Closing.
3. Failure to Deliver Securities. If, on the Delivery Date, the Acquired Fund is unable to make delivery under paragraph 2.C. to the Custodian or the Foreign Custodian of any of the portfolio securities of the Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund
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may waive the delivery requirements of paragraph 2.C. with respect to said undelivered securities, if the Acquired Fund has delivered to the Custodian or the Foreign Custodian by or on the Delivery Date and, with respect to said undelivered securities, such documents in the form of executed copies of an agreement of assignment and escrow agreement and due bills and the like as may be required by the Acquiring Fund or the Custodian or the Foreign Custodian, including brokers’ confirmation slips.
4. Post-Closing Distribution and Liquidation of the Acquired Fund. As soon as practicable after the Closing, the Acquired Fund shall distribute all of the remaining assets thereof to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund. At, or as soon as may be practicable following the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall for federal income tax purposes be liquidated and distribute the Acquiring Fund Shares received hereunder by instructing the Acquiring Fund that the pro-rata interest (in full and fractional Acquiring Fund Shares) of each of the holders of record of shares of the Acquired Fund as of the close of business on the Valuation Date as certified by the Acquired Fund’s transfer agent (“Acquired Fund Record Holders”) be registered on the books of the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund—I Class in the names of each of the Acquired Fund Record Holders. The Acquiring Fund agrees to comply promptly with said instruction. All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund shall thereupon be redeemed for no value and canceled on the books of the Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Fund shall have no obligation to inquire as to the validity, propriety, or correctness of any such instruction, but shall, in each case, assume that such instruction is valid, proper, and correct. The Acquiring Fund shall record on its books the ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares by Acquired Fund Record Holders. No redemption or repurchase of any Acquiring Fund Shares credited to Acquired Fund Record Holders in respect of the Acquired Fund Shares represented by unsurrendered stock certificates shall be permitted until such certificates have been surrendered to the Custodian for cancellation. Any transfer taxes payable upon issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares in a name other than the name of the Acquired Fund Record Holder on the books of the Acquiring Fund as of the Closing Date shall, as a condition of such issuance and transfer, be paid by the person to whom such Acquiring Fund Shares are to be issued and transferred.
5. Acquired Fund Securities. The Acquired Fund has provided the Acquiring Fund with a list of all of the Acquired Fund’s portfolio investments as of the date of execution of this Agreement. The Acquired Fund may sell any of these investments and will confer with the Acquiring Fund with respect to investments for the Acquired Fund. The Acquiring Fund will, within a reasonable time prior to the Closing Date, furnish the Acquired Fund with a statement of the Acquiring Fund’s investment objectives, policies, and restrictions and a list of the investments, if any, on the list referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph 5 that do not conform to such objectives, policies, and restrictions. In the event that the Acquired Fund holds any investments that the Acquiring Fund may not hold, the Acquired Fund will, consistent with the foregoing and its own policies and restrictions, use its reasonable efforts to dispose of such investments prior to the Closing Date, provided, however, that in no
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event will the Acquired Fund be required to dispose of assets to an extent which would cause less than 50% of the historical business assets of the Acquired Fund to be transferred to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to this Agreement or to take any action that is inconsistent with paragraph 8.M. below. In addition, if it is determined that the portfolios of the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund, when aggregated, would contain any investments exceeding certain percentage limitations applicable to the Acquiring Fund with respect to such investments, the Acquired Fund will, if requested by the Acquiring Fund, in a manner consistent with the foregoing and its own policies and restrictions, use its reasonable efforts to dispose of an amount of such investments sufficient to avoid violating such limitations as of the Closing Date. On the Delivery Date, the Acquired Fund shall deliver to the Acquiring Fund a list setting forth the securities then owned by the Acquired Fund (“Securities List”), which shall be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder for specific identification tax lot accounting and which shall clearly reflect the basis used for determination of gain and loss realized on the partial sale of any security transferred to the Acquiring Fund. The records from which the Securities List will be prepared shall be made available by the Acquired Fund prior to the Closing Date for inspection by the Acquiring Fund’s treasurer or his designee or the auditors of the Acquiring Fund upon reasonable request.
6. Expenses. Neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund shall be responsible for any expenses (other than brokerage, taxes, and any non-recurring extraordinary items) in connection with the carrying-out of this Agreement.
7. Legal Opinions.
A. Opinion of Acquired Fund Counsel. At the Closing, the Acquired Fund shall furnish the Acquiring Fund with such written opinions (including opinions as to certain federal income tax matters) of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, and the factual representations supporting such opinions which shall be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund. The requirement to obtain this opinion may not be waived.
B. Opinion of Acquiring Fund Counsel. At the Closing, the Acquiring Fund shall furnish the Acquired Fund with a written opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, and the factual representations supporting such opinions which shall be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund.
8. Acquired Fund Representations, Warranties, and Covenants. The Acquired Fund hereby represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund, and covenants and agrees with the Acquiring Fund:
A. that the audited statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, and the related statement of operations and statement of changes in net assets of the Acquired Fund as of December 31, 2018, and for the year then ended heretofore delivered to the Acquiring Fund were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, reflect all liabilities of the
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Acquired Fund, whether accrued or contingent, which are required to be reflected or reserved against in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Acquired Fund as of said date and for the period covered thereby;
B. that the Acquired Fund will furnish to the Acquiring Fund an unaudited statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments (or a statement of net assets in lieu of a statement of assets and liabilities and a schedule of portfolio investments), and the related statement of operations and statement of changes in net assets of the Acquired Fund for the period commencing on the date following the date specified in paragraph 8.A. above and ending on June 30, 2019. These financial statements will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and will reflect all liabilities of the Acquired Fund, whether accrued or contingent, which are required to be reflected or reserved against in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, will present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Acquired Fund as of the dates of such statements and for the periods covered thereby;
C. that there are no legal, administrative, or other proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Acquired Fund, overtly threatened against the Acquired Fund which would individually or in the aggregate materially affect the financial condition of the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
D. that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been authorized by the Board of Directors by vote taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Acquiring Fund duly called and held on July 31, 2019, and that approval by the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein is not required under applicable Maryland and federal law;
E. that from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, there shall not have been:
(1) any material change in the business, results of operations, assets, or financial condition or the manner of conducting the business of the Acquired Fund (other than changes in the ordinary course of its business or relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, dividends and distributions in the ordinary course, changes in the net asset value per share, redemptions in the ordinary course of business, and changes in sales volume), which has had a material adverse effect on such business, results of operations, assets, or financial condition, except in all instances as set forth in the financial statements of the Acquired Fund referred to in paragraphs 8.A. and 8.B. above;
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(2) any loss (whether or not covered by insurance) suffered by the Acquired Fund materially and adversely affecting the assets of the Acquired Fund, other than depreciation of securities;
(3) issued any option to purchase or other right to acquire stock of the Acquired Fund of any class granted by the Acquired Fund to any person (excluding sales in the ordinary course and a dividend reinvestment program);
(4) any indebtedness incurred by the Acquired Fund for borrowed money or any commitment to borrow money entered into by the Acquired Fund, except as provided in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund or so long as it will not prevent the Acquired Fund from complying with paragraph 8.I.;
(5) any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Acquired Fund except to effectuate the transactions contemplated hereunder or otherwise as disclosed in writing to the Acquiring Fund; or
(6) any grant or imposition of any lien, claim, charge, or encumbrance upon any asset of the Acquired Fund except as provided in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund or so long as it will not prevent the Acquired Fund from complying with paragraph 8.I.;
F. that there are no material contracts outstanding to which the Acquired Fund is bound other than as disclosed to the Acquiring Fund;
G. that the Acquired Fund has filed all federal, state, and local tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed, that all federal, state and local income, franchise, property, sales, employment, or other taxes payable pursuant to such returns and reports have been paid so far as due, or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and that, to the knowledge of the Acquired Fund, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return other than with respect to all such matters which are not material individually or in the aggregate;
H. that, as promptly as practicable, but in any case within 60 days after the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund shall furnish the Acquiring Fund with a statement of the earnings and profits of the Acquired Fund for federal income tax purposes;
I. that on the Closing Date the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable title to the assets of the Acquired Fund to be conveyed hereunder, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, charges, claims, and equities whatsoever, and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver such assets and shall deliver such assets to the Acquiring Fund as set forth in paragraph 1.A. hereof. Upon delivery of such assets, the Acquiring Fund will receive good and
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marketable title to such assets, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, charges, claims, and equities, except as to adverse claims of which the Acquiring Fund has notice at or prior to the time of delivery. Except as set forth on the Securities List, none of the securities comprising the assets of the Acquired Fund will be “restricted securities” under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) thereunder;
J. that the Information Statement/Prospectus (hereinafter defined) at the time of delivery by the Acquired Fund to all shareholders of record on July 31, 2019, to notify shareholders of this transaction, on the Closing Date and at the time of the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above, as amended or as supplemented if it shall have been amended or supplemented, will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading, except that no representations or warranties in this section apply to statements or omissions which are based on written information furnished by the Acquiring Fund to the Acquired Fund;
K. that the Acquired Fund is not, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in a material violation of any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound and that this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable against the Acquired Fund in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy laws, laws affecting creditors generally, and general principles of equity;
L. that the Acquired Fund will take all actions within its control necessary to cause the exchange of Acquiring Fund Shares for assets of the Acquired Fund made under this Agreement to qualify, as of and after the Closing, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code; and
M. that the Acquired Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act, classified as a management investment company, and subclassified as an open-end company.
9. Acquiring Fund Representations, Warranties, and Covenants. The Acquiring Fund hereby represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund, and covenants and agrees with the Acquired Fund:
A. that the audited statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of portfolio investments, and the related statement of operations and statement of changes in net assets of the Acquiring Fund as of December 31, 2018, and for the year then ended heretofore delivered to the Acquired Fund were prepared in
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accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, reflect all liabilities of the Acquiring Fund, whether accrued or contingent, which are required to be reflected or reserved against in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the Acquiring Fund as of said date and for the period covered thereby;
B. that there are no legal, administrative, or other proceedings pending or, to its knowledge, overtly threatened against the Acquiring Fund which would individually or in the aggregate materially affect the financial condition of the Acquiring Fund’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
C. that the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Acquiring Fund and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been authorized by the Board of Directors of the Acquiring Fund by vote taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Acquiring Fund duly called and held on July 31, 2019, and that approval by the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein is not required under applicable Maryland and federal law;
D. that from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date, there shall not have been any material change in the business, results of operations, assets, or financial condition or the manner of conducting the business of the Acquiring Fund (other than changes in the ordinary course of its business, including, without limitation, dividends and distributions in the ordinary course, changes in the net asset value per share, redemptions in the ordinary course of business, and changes in sales volume), which has had an adverse material effect on such business, results of operations, assets, or financial condition, except in all instances as set forth in the financial statements of the Acquiring Fund referred to in paragraph 9.A. and 9.B. above;
E. that the Acquiring Fund is registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act, classified as a management investment company, and subclassified as an open-end diversified company;
F. that the shares of the Acquiring Fund to be issued pursuant to paragraph 1.A. will be duly registered under the 1933 Act by the Registration Statement (hereinafter defined) in effect on the Closing Date and at the time of the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above;
G. that the Acquiring Fund Shares are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable, and free of any preemptive rights and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Information Statement/Prospectus as in effect on the Closing Date and at the time of the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above;
H. that the Acquiring Fund is not, and the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in a material violation of any provision
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of the Acquiring Fund’s Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or of any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and that this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable against the Acquiring Fund in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy laws, laws affecting creditors generally, and general principles of equity;
I. that the Acquiring Fund will take all actions within its control necessary to cause the exchange of Acquiring Fund Shares for assets of the Acquired Fund made under this Agreement to qualify, as of and after the Closing, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code;
J. that the Acquiring Fund has filed all federal, state, and local tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed, that all federal, state, and local income, franchise, property, sales, employment, or other taxes payable pursuant to such returns and reports have been paid so far as due, or provision has been made for the payment thereof, and that, to the knowledge of the Acquiring Fund, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to any such return, other than with respect to all such matters those which are not material individually or in the aggregate;
K. that the Information Statement/Prospectus at the time of delivery by the Acquired Fund to its shareholders to inform shareholders of this transaction, on the Closing Date and at the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above, as amended or as supplemented if it shall have been amended or supplemented, and the Registration Statement on the effective date thereof, on the Closing Date and at the liquidation of the Acquired Fund set forth in paragraph 4. above, will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading, except that no representations or warranties in this section apply to statements or omissions which are based on written information furnished by the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund; and
L. the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund (copies of which are available) conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
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10. Certain Conditions.
Unless waived by the parties in writing in their sole discretion, all obligations of the parties hereunder are subject to the fulfillment, prior to or at the Closing, of each of the following conditions:
A. Registration Statement and Information Statement/Prospectus. The Acquiring Fund will file a registration statement on Form N-14 with the Commission under the 1933 Act in order to register the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued hereunder. Such registration statement in the form in which it shall become effective and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, such registration statement as amended, is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” The Acquired Fund will file a preliminary information statement with the Commission under the 1940 Act and the 1933 Act, relating to this Agreement and the transactions herein contemplated, in the form of a combined Information Statement and prospectus and related statement of additional information included in the Registration Statement. The combined Information Statement and prospectus and related statement of additional information that is first filed pursuant to Rule 497(b) under the 1933 Act is referred to herein as the “Information Statement/Prospectus.” The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each will exert reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective under the 1933 Act as soon as practical and agree to cooperate in such efforts. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and, to the knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened, or contemplated under the 1933 Act. Upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Acquired Fund will cause the Information Statement/Prospectus to be delivered to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund of record, in sufficient time to comply with requirements as to notice thereof, the Information Statement/Prospectus, which complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of Section 14(c) of the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
B. Pending or Threatened Proceedings. On the Closing Date, no action, suit, or other proceeding shall be threatened or pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein.
C. Appropriate Articles. The Acquired Fund shall execute and cause to be filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, such articles of transfer, articles supplementary or other documents, as necessary to eliminate designation of the Acquired Fund, as appropriate.
D. Declaration of Dividend. The Acquired Fund shall have declared a dividend or dividends which, together with all previous such dividends, shall have the
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effect of distributing to the Acquired Fund shareholders all of the investment company taxable income and realized capital gain for all taxable periods of the Acquired Fund which are required to be distributed to avoid federal income or excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies.
E. State Securities Laws. The parties shall have received all permits and other authorizations necessary under state securities laws to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
F. Performance of Covenants. Each party shall have performed and complied in all material respects with each of its agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Valuation Date and the Closing Date.
G. Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of each party set forth in this Agreement will be true and correct on the Closing Date, and each party shall deliver to the other a certificate of a duly authorized officer of such party to that effect.
11. Notices. All notices, requests, instructions, and demands in the course of the transactions herein contemplated shall be in writing addressed to the respective parties as follows and shall be deemed given: (i) on the next day if sent by prepaid overnight courier and (ii) on the same day if given by hand delivery or telecopy.
If to the Acquiring Fund or Acquired Fund:
David Oestreicher, Esquire
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Fax Number (410) 345-6575
with a copy to:
Margery K. Neale, Esquire
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Fax Number (212) 728-9138
or to such other address as the parties from time to time may designate by written notice to all other parties hereto.
12. Termination and Postponement.
A. This Agreement may be terminated or postponed by the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund at any time, before or after approval by the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, upon the giving of written notice to the other, if the conditions
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specified in paragraphs 8., 9., and 10. have not been performed or do not exist on or before December 31, 2019 or to the extent permitted by law.
B. In the event of termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph 12.A. of this Agreement, neither party (nor its officers, or directors) shall have any liability to the other.
13. Exhibits. All Exhibits shall be considered as part of this Agreement.
14. Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. It shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund represent and warrant to each other that there are no brokers or finders entitled to receive any payments in connection with the transactions provided for herein. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund agree that no party has made any representation, warranty, or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter hereof. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder for a period of three years thereafter. The paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm, or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement. Whenever used herein, the use of any gender shall include all genders.
15. Amendments. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund by mutual consent of their Boards of Directors or authorized committees or officers may amend this Agreement in such manner as may be agreed upon.
16. Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor in any way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
17. Liability.
A. The Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund acknowledge and agree that all obligations of the Acquired Fund under this Agreement are binding only with respect to the Acquired Fund; that any liability of the Acquired Fund under this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall be discharged only out of the assets of the Acquired Fund.
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B. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund acknowledge and agree that all obligations of the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement are binding only with respect to the Acquiring Fund; that any liability of the Acquiring Fund under this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein shall be discharged only out of the assets of the Acquiring Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and by their officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.
| |
WITNESS: | T. ROWE PRICE U.S. EQUITY RESEARCH FUND, INC., on behalf of the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund |
/s/Shannon Hofher Rauser ________________________ Shannon Hofher Rauser | By /s/Darrell N. Braman _____________________ (SEAL) Darrell N. Braman Title: Vice President and Secretary |
| |
WITNESS: | T. ROWE PRICE INSTITUTIONAL EQUITY FUNDS, INC., on behalf of the T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund |
/s/Shannon Hofher Rauser _________________________ Shannon Hofher Rauser | By /s/David Oestreicher _____________________ (SEAL) David Oestreicher Title: Director, Principal Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President |
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T. Rowe Price Global Stock Fund
T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund
T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
September 17, 2019
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) relates to the proposed transactions pursuant to which each of the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Focused Growth Equity Fund, T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund, and T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund (each, an “Institutional Fund” and together, the “Institutional Funds”) will be merged into a corresponding mutual fund advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”), the same investment adviser to each Institutional Fund, as set out in the table below under the heading “Acquiring Funds” (each, an “Acquiring Fund,” together, the “Acquiring Funds,” and collectively with the Institutional Funds, the “Funds”).
| | |
Institutional Funds | Acquiring Funds | Closing Date |
Institutional Global Focused Growth Equity Fund | Global Stock Fund | November 25, 2019 |
Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund | Global Growth Stock Fund | November 25, 2019 |
Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund | U.S. Equity Research Fund (prior to July 1, 2019, Capital Opportunity Fund) | November 18, 2019 |
This SAI sets forth information that may be of interest to shareholders relating to the Reorganization, but which is not included in the Combined Information Statement and Prospectus, dated September 17, 2019, of the Funds. As described in the Combined Information Statement and Prospectus, the Reorganization would involve the transfer of substantially all the assets and liabilities of each Institutional Fund in exchange for I Class shares of the corresponding Acquiring Fund. Each Institutional Fund would distribute the I Class shares of the applicable Acquiring Fund it receives to its shareholders, and each Institutional Fund’s outstanding shares would be redeemed, in complete liquidation of the Institutional Fund.
This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Combined Information Statement and Prospectus. This SAI and the Combined Information Statement and Prospectus have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Combined Information Statement and Prospectus are available upon request and without charge by writing to the Acquiring Funds at 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, or by calling 1-800-541-5910.
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The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Institutional Funds and Acquiring Funds, other material incorporated by reference and other information regarding the Institutional Funds and Acquiring Funds.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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I. | Additional Information About the Institutional Funds and the |
Acquiring Funds | 118 |
II. | Pro Forma Financial Information | 118 |
III. | Documents Incorporated by Reference | 123 |
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I. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS AND THE ACQUIRING FUNDS
The Statement of Additional Information for the Funds, dated September 17, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 17, 2019, is incorporated by reference.
The Statement of Additional Information for the Funds is available without charge through troweprice.com or by calling 1-800-541-5910.
II. PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The unaudited pro forma information set forth below as of the dates indicated is intended to present financial information as if the acquisitions of the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund by the T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund and the T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund by the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund (prior to July 1, 2019, named the T. Rowe Price Capital Opportunity Fund) had been consummated at November 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018, respectively. The T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund and the T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund are each referred to herein as Acquired Fund; the T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund and the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund are each referred to herein as Acquiring Fund; and each of the resulting funds is referred to herein as “Combined Fund.” The unaudited pro forma financial information set forth below is for informational purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the financial condition that actually would have resulted if the Reorganizations had been consummated. The unaudited pro forma financial information should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements of the Acquired Funds and the Acquiring Funds, which are available in each fund’s respective annual and semiannual shareholder reports.
As of August 15, 2019, the net asset value of T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Focused Growth Equity Fund was less than ten percent (10%) of T. Rowe Price Global Stock Fund; as such, pro forma financial statements are not included.
Note 1 — Reorganization
Each Reorganization would be accomplished by the transfer of substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund and the distribution of such shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund, in complete liquidation of the Acquired Fund followed by the termination of the Acquired Fund.
Each Reorganization will be accounted for as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes; therefore, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquired Fund, the Acquiring Fund, or their respective shareholders as a direct result of the Reorganization. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
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(“U.S. GAAP”), for financial reporting purposes, the historical cost basis of the investments received from the Acquired Fund will be carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the realized and unrealized gains and losses of the surviving fund (the Acquiring Fund) with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes. Each Acquiring Fund is deemed to be the “accounting survivor” in connection with the applicable Reorganization. As a result, each Combined Fund will continue the performance history of the applicable Acquiring Fund after the closing of the applicable Reorganization.
The investment programs of each Acquired Fund are identical to that of the corresponding Acquiring Fund; over the past year each fund’s portfolio holdings have been similar in security type and asset weighting, and as of June 30, 2019, each Acquired Fund’s portfolio has consisted of substantially the same holdings as its corresponding Acquiring Fund. For the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund, approximately 87% of the its holdings are anticipated to transfer to the corresponding Acquiring Fund, and the remaining 13% of the Acquired Fund’s portfolio will be sold and repurchased by the Acquiring Fund due to transfer of ownership restrictions in certain countries. For the Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund, substantially all of its portfolio holdings are anticipated to transfer to the corresponding Acquiring Fund.
The net assets of each Acquired Fund, Acquiring Fund, and the resulting Combined Fund as of the dates indicated are as follows:
| | | | |
As of date: | Acquired Fund | Acquiring Fund | Pro Forma Adjustments | Combined Fund |
April 30, 2019 | T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund | T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund | | |
$212,858,000 | $443,101,000 | $(134,000) | $655,825,000 |
| | | | |
June 30, 2019 | T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund | T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund | | |
$825,632,000 | $784,932,000 | $(21,000) | $1,610,543,000 |
Note 2 — Accounting Policies
No significant accounting policies will change as a result of the Reorganization, specifically policies regarding security valuation or compliance with Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Acquiring Fund will be the accounting and performance survivor after the Reorganization. No significant changes to any contracts of the Acquiring Fund are expected as a result of the Reorganization.
Each of the Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s financial instruments are valued and each class’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share is computed at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4 p.m. ET, each day the NYSE is open for
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business. However, the NAV per share may be calculated at a time other than the normal close of the NYSE if trading on the NYSE is restricted, if the NYSE closes earlier, or as may be permitted by the SEC. The Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s financial instruments are reported at fair value, which U.S. GAAP defines as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The T. Rowe Price Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”) is an internal committee that has been delegated certain responsibilities by each of the Acquired Fund’s and Acquiring Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to ensure that financial instruments are appropriately priced at fair value in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the Investment Company Act of 1940. Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee develops and oversees pricing-related policies and procedures and approves all fair value determinations. Specifically, the Valuation Committee establishes procedures to value securities; determines pricing techniques, sources, and persons eligible to effect fair value pricing actions; oversees the selection, services, and performance of pricing vendors; oversees valuation-related business continuity practices; and provides guidance on internal controls and valuation-related matters. The Valuation Committee reports to the Board and has representation from legal, portfolio management and trading, operations, risk management, and the Acquired Funds’ and Acquiring Funds’ treasurer. These policies will not change as a result of the Reorganization.
Note 3 — Pro Forma Expense Adjustments
The tables below reflect adjustments to expenses made to each of the Combined Funds’ financial information. The information for Reorganization of the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund into the Global Growth Stock Fund is for the six months ended April 30, 2019, and for the year ended October 31, 2018, as if the Reorganization had been in effect on November 1, 2017, using the fees and expenses information of the Acquiring Fund shown in the Information Statement/Prospectus and the actual fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund. The information for Reorganization of the Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund into the U.S. Equity Research Fund is for the six months ended June 30, 2019, and for the year ended December 31, 2018, as if the Reorganization had been in effect on January 1, 2018, using the fees and expenses information of the Acquiring Fund shown in the Information Statement/Prospectus and the actual fees and expenses of the Acquired Fund. The pro forma information has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect this information. Actual results could differ from those estimates. No other significant pro forma effects are expected to result from each of the Reorganizations.
The Acquired Funds and the Acquiring Funds are each managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”). For its services, Price Associates receives an annual investment management fee of 0.65% of average daily net assets from the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund and an annual investment management fee of 0.64% (comprising an individual fee of 0.35%, and a group fee, which was 0.29% as of April 30, 2019) of average daily net assets from the Global Growth Stock Fund. For its
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services, Price Associates receives an annual investment management fee of 0.33% of average daily net assets from the Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund and an annual investment management fee of 0.33% (comprising an individual fee of 0.04% and a group fee, which was 0.29% as of June 30, 2019) of average daily net assets from the U.S. Equity Research Fund. Prior to June 1, 2019, the Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund paid an annual investment management fee of 0.50% and the U.S. Equity Research Fund paid an annual investment management fee of 0.49% (comprised of an individual fee of 0.20% and a group fee, which was 0.29% as of June 30, 2019) to Price Associates for its services. Effective June 1, 2019, the Investor Class of the Acquiring Fund implemented a class level expense limitation of 0.50%. Prior to the Reorganization, the operating expense limit of 0.05% on the I Class in the U.S. Equity Research Fund will be reduced to 0.04% (through April 30, 2022) effective November 1, 2019.
In addition, the funds have entered into service agreements with Price Associates and two wholly owned subsidiaries of Price Associates. Price Associates provides certain accounting and administrative services; T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. provides shareholder and administrative services in its capacity as the funds’ transfer and dividend-disbursing agent; and T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for certain retirement accounts invested in the funds. There is no anticipated change to such fees as a result of the Reorganization and, therefore, these expenses are not reflected in the pro forma information presented below.
Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund/Global Growth Stock Fund
| | | | | |
Fee and Expense Increase/(Decrease) |
($000s) | Six Months Ended April 30, 2019 | Year Ended October 31, 2018 |
| | |
Investment management fees (1) | $ | (16) | $ | (47) |
Custody and Accounting (2) | | (92) | | (178) |
Registration (3) | | 9 | | 16 |
Other Expenses (2) | | (45) | | (94) |
Reimbursement (4) | | 29 | | 137 |
Total Pro Forma Net Expense Adjustment | $ | (115) | $ | (166) |
1 Reflects the impact of the 0.01% difference in the Acquired Fund’s investment management rate of 0.65% and the Acquiring Fund’s investment management fee rate of 0.64% to the Combined Fund’s average net assets.
2 Reflects the impact of expenses that are based on a per fund charge that were included in the expenses of the Acquired Fund which would not be assessed in the Combined Fund.
3 Reflects the impact of the Combined Fund’s estimated 24f-2 fee increase related to the acquired assets from the Acquired Fund.
4 Reflects additional amounts that would be repaid to Price Associates by the Combined Fund as a result of the additional assets from the Acquired Fund and the economies of scale achieved with those assets had they been assets of the Combined Fund as of November 1, 2017.
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Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund/U.S. Equity Research Fund
| | | | | |
Fee and Expense Increase/(Decrease) |
($000s) | Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 | Year Ended December 31, 2018 |
| | |
Investment management fees (1) | $ | (992) | $ | (2,214) |
Custody and Accounting (2) | | (91) | | (206) |
Registration (3) | | 61 | | 43 |
Other Expenses (2) | | (22) | | (50) |
Net Expense Waiver (4) | | (54) | | (76) |
Total Pro Forma Net Expense Adjustment | $ | (1,098) | $ | (2,503) |
1 Reflects the impact of a reduction of investment management fees in the Acquiring Fund from 0.49% to 0.33% and applying to the Combined Fund’s average net assets.
2 Reflects the impact of expenses that are based on a per fund charge that were included in the expenses of the Acquired Fund which would not be assessed in the Combined Fund.
3 Reflects the impact of the Combined Fund’s estimated 24f-2 fee increase related to the acquired assets from the Acquired Fund.
4 Reflects the net effect of a decrease in amounts waived by Price Associates on the I Class under its operating expense limit and additional expenses waived by Price Associates on the Investor Class of the Acquiring Fund based on an expense limitation of 0.50%, had these limitation changes been in effect as of January 1, 2018. These changes were approved by the Acquiring Fund’s Board of Directors in contemplation of the Reorganization and are expected to have a continuing impact on the Combined Fund. These expense limitation agreements will continue until at least April 30, 2021 and may be terminated only with approval of the fund’s Board of Directors. Fees waived and expenses paid under these agreements are subject to reimbursement to Price Associates by the fund whenever the Investor Class’ expense ratio is below 0.50% or the I Class’ operating expense ratio is 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 Price Associates, if such repayment does not cause the respective 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.
Note 4 — Reorganization Costs
Each Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund shall be allocated its own fees and expenses associated with the proposed reorganization, including professional fees and expenses associated with the printing and mailing of the Information Statement. Price Associates estimates that expenses for the Reorganizations will be approximately as follows: for the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund into the Global Growth Stock Fund, $13,000 and $11,000, respectively; and for the Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund into the U.S. Equity Research Fund, $14,000 and $7,000, respectively. These costs represent management’s estimate of professional services fees, and any printing costs and mailing charges related to each of the Reorganizations. In connection with the Reorganization, the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund and the Global Growth Stock Fund will incur stamp tax and transaction charges as a result of ownership transfer of securities. Based on the current composition of the portfolio holdings, the stamp and transaction costs are estimated to be approximately $33,000
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and $77,000 for the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund and the Global Growth Stock Fund, respectively. These fees will be added to the cost basis of the securities acquired and are not a part of the expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund; and, therefore, are not subject to expense limitation arrangements.
Note 5 — Capital Loss Carryforwards
As of October 31, 2018, the Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund and Global Growth Stock Fund has no capital loss carryforwards. As of December 31, 2018, the Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund and U.S. Equity Research Fund had $0 and $269,000, respectively, in unused capital loss carryforwards. The reorganization is not expected to impact the use of the U.S. Equity Research Fund’s capital loss carryforwards. The capital loss carryforwards may change significantly between now and the Closing Date and the ability to use such losses, if any, (even in the absence of the Reorganization) depends on certain factors such as the future realization of capital gains or losses. Additionally, the amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year may be limited if a fund experiences an “ownership change” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
III. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
| | |
Institutional Funds | Acquiring Funds | Closing Date |
Institutional Global Focused Growth Equity Fund | Global Stock Fund | November 25, 2019 |
Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund | Global Growth Stock Fund | November 25, 2019 |
Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund | U.S. Equity Research Fund (prior to July 1, 2019,Capital Opportunity Fund) | November 18, 2019 |
This SAI incorporates by reference:
(i) the financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Focused Growth Equity Fund as contained in its Annual Report for the year ended October 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2018, and the unaudited financial statements for the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Focused Growth Equity Fund as contained in its Semiannual Report for the period ended April 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2019;
(ii) the financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the T. Rowe Price Global Stock Fund as contained in its Annual Report for the year ended October 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2018, and the unaudited financial statements for the T. Rowe Price Global Stock Fund as contained in its Semiannual Report for the period ended April 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2019;
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(iii) the financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund as contained in its Annual Report for the year ended October 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2018, and the unaudited financial statements for the T. Rowe Price Institutional Global Growth Equity Fund as contained in its Semiannual Report for the period ended April 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2019;
(iv) the financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund as contained in its Annual Report for the year ended October 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2018, and the unaudited financial statements for the T. Rowe Price Global Growth Stock Fund as contained in its Semiannual Report for the period ended April 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2019;
(v) the financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund as contained in its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2019, and the unaudited financial statements for the T. Rowe Price Institutional U.S. Structured Research Fund as contained in its Semiannual Report for the period ended June 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2019; and
(vi) the financial statements and report of the independent registered public accounting firm for the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund as contained in its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2019, and the unaudited financial statements for the T. Rowe Price U.S. Equity Research Fund as contained in its Semiannual Report for the period ended June 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2019.
Each of these reports contains historical financial information regarding the funds and is available without charge at troweprice.com or by calling 1-800-541-5910.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 100 East Pratt Street, 26th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, is the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the Institutional Funds and the Acquiring Funds, providing audit and tax return review of various Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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