As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2024
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-14
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 /X/
Pre-Effective Amendment No. //
Post-Effective Amendment No. //
(Check appropriate box or boxes)
T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc.
Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Address of Principal Executive Offices
410-345-2000
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code
David Oestreicher
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Name and Address of Agent for Service
Title of Securities Being Registered: Shares of common stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the Registrant.
Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
No filing fee is required because of reliance on Section 24(f) and an indefinite amount of shares have previously been registered pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective
in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
T. ROWE PRICE INSTITUTIONAL EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND
August 9, 2024
Dear Shareholder:
We are writing to inform you about a reorganization (the “Reorganization”) that will affect your investment in the T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the “Institutional Fund”). As provided in an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”), the Institutional Fund will be reorganized into the T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the “Acquiring Fund,” and together with the Institutional Fund, the “Funds”).
The Reorganization will be consummated on or about September 27, 2024 (the “Closing Date”). The Plan was approved by the Funds’ Boards of Directors (the “Boards”) but does not require approval by shareholders.
Under the Plan, shareholders of the Institutional Fund will become shareholders of the I Class of the Acquiring Fund (the “I Class”). The value of an account in the I Class will be the same as it was in the Institutional Fund account on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date of the Reorganization. The accompanying combined information statement and prospectus contains detailed information on the transactions and comparisons of the Funds.
As discussed in more detail in the accompanying information statement, the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund have an identical investment objective, identical investment policies and investment restrictions, and follow the same overall investment strategy managed by the same portfolio manager. The primary difference between the two funds is that the Acquiring Fund is offered in multiple share classes that are available to a variety of investors and have different investment minimums, while the Institutional Fund is generally only available to institutional investors and requires a higher initial investment.
As discussed in more detail in the accompanying combined information statement and prospectus, the net expense ratio of the Acquiring Fund’s I Class is expected to be the same as that of the Institutional Fund at the time of the Reorganization (including the effects of any expense limitation agreements that are currently in place), although the expense ratio could become lower over time.
Accordingly, the Boards and Fund management believe that offering a single fund to a wider variety of investors will allow all shareholders to take advantage of potential
economies of scale and reduce inefficiencies that can result from offering two substantially similar funds.
The Reorganization will be structured as a tax-free exchange for shareholders. However, shareholders may redeem their shares at any time prior to the Reorganization. Although the Reorganization is not a taxable event, redeeming or exchanging your shares prior to the Closing Date may be a taxable event, depending on your individual tax situation. The cost basis and holding periods of the Institutional Fund shares will carry over to the I Class shares that you will receive in connection with the Reorganization.
NO SHAREHOLDER ACTION IS REQUIRED WITH RESPECT TO THE REORGANIZATION. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE NOT REQUESTED TO SEND US A PROXY.
If you have any questions regarding the enclosed combined information statement and prospectus, please call T. Rowe Price at 1-800-638-8790.
Sincerely,
Robert W. Sharps
Chief Executive Officer and President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
August 9, 2024
COMBINED INFORMATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS
Transfer of the Assets of:
T. ROWE PRICE INSTITUTIONAL EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND
(a series of T. Rowe Price Global Funds, Inc.)
By and in Exchange for I Class Shares of the
T. ROWE PRICE EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND
(a series of T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc.)
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
This Combined Information Statement and Prospectus (“Statement”) will be delivered to shareholders beginning on or about August 9, 2024.
This Statement is being furnished to shareholders of the T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund, a series of T. Rowe Price Global Funds, Inc. (the “Institutional Fund” or the “Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund”). As provided in an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”), the Institutional Fund will be reorganized (the “Reorganization”) into the T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund, a series of T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc. (the “Acquiring Fund” or the “Emerging Markets Bond Fund;” together with the Institutional Fund, the “Funds”). Both Funds are advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”).
The Reorganization will be consummated on or about September 27, 2024 (the “Closing Date”). The Plan provides for the transfer of substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Institutional Fund to the Acquiring Fund, in exchange for I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund (the “I Class”). Following the transfer, the I Class shares received in the exchange will be distributed to the Institutional Fund’s shareholders in complete liquidation of the Institutional Fund. Shareholders of the Institutional Fund will receive I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of their Institutional Fund shares on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date of the Reorganization. All issued and outstanding shares of the Institutional Fund will then be simultaneously canceled and redeemed.
The Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund have an identical investment objective and a substantially similar investment program.
In accordance with each Fund’s operative documents, and applicable Maryland state and U.S. federal law (including Rule 17a-8 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)), the Reorganization may be effected without the approval of shareholders of the Institutional Fund or Acquiring Fund.
NO SHAREHOLDER ACTION OR APPROVAL IS REQUIRED WITH RESPECT TO THE REORGANIZATION.
This Statement concisely sets forth the information you should know about the Acquiring Fund, its I Class, and the Plan. Please read this Statement and keep it for future reference. It is both an information statement for the Institutional Fund and a prospectus for the Acquiring Fund.
The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) dated August 9, 2024, relating to this Statement, is included after the Statement and Plan as Part B. The following documents have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and are incorporated into this Statement by reference:
The prospectuses include the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information that you should read and consider carefully. The Statement of Additional Information, which contains additional detailed information about the relevant Fund, is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses.
Each shareholder report contains information about Fund investments, including a review of market conditions and the portfolio manager’s recent investment strategies and their impact on performance. Copies of prospectuses, annual and semiannual shareholder reports, Statement of Additional Information for the Acquiring Fund and Institutional Fund, and the SAI relating to this Reorganization are all available at no cost by calling 1-800-225-5132; by writing to T. Rowe Price, Three Financial Center, 4515 Painters Mill Road, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117; or by visiting our website at troweprice.com. All of the above-referenced documents are also on file with the SEC and available through its website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of this information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at publicinfo@sec.gov.
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OF THIS COMBINED INFORMATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Comparison of Investment Objectives, Policies, Restrictions | |
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than what is in this Statement or in the materials expressly incorporated herein by reference. Any such other information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Institutional Fund or Acquiring Fund.
The information contained in this summary is qualified by reference to the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Statement, and in the Plan, which is included as Exhibit A to this Statement.
Why is the Reorganization taking place?
At a meeting held on May 8, 2024, the Boards of Directors of the Funds (the “Boards”), including all of the independent directors present in person at the meeting, unanimously approved the Plan under which the Institutional Fund is to be reorganized into the Acquiring Fund. In connection with this approval, the Board considered, among other things, that offering a single fund with the same investment program in a multi-class structure will allow shareholders to take advantage of potentially greater scale through a more diverse shareholder base, reduce potential marketplace confusion that can result from offering two substantially similar funds, and promote operational efficiencies. See “Reasons for the Reorganization” for further details on why the Reorganization is taking place.
What does the Plan provide for?
The Plan provides for the transfer of substantially all the assets and liabilities of the Institutional Fund to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund. Following the transfer, the I Class shares received in the exchange will be distributed to shareholders of the Institutional Fund in complete liquidation of the Institutional Fund. All issued and outstanding shares of the Institutional Fund will then be simultaneously canceled and redeemed. As a result of the transaction: (1) you will cease being a shareholder of the Institutional Fund; (2) instead you will become a shareholder of I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund; and (3) the value of your account in the Acquiring Fund will equal the value of your account in the Institutional Fund as of the close of the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date of the transaction.
Do I need to vote for the Reorganization?
No. Only Board approval is required for the Reorganization and no vote of shareholders will be taken with respect to the Reorganization. THE INSTITUTIONAL FUND IS NOT ASKING FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE NOT REQUESTED TO SEND A PROXY TO THE INSTITUTIONAL FUND WITH RESPECT TO THE REORGANIZATION.
Do I need to take any action in connection with the Reorganization?
No. Your shares of the Institutional Fund will automatically be canceled and redeemed for I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date of the Reorganization.
Will I have to pay any sales charge, commission, redemption or other similar fee in connection with the Reorganization?
No, you will not have to pay any sales charge, commission, redemption or other similar fee in connection with the Reorganization. The I Class of the Acquiring Fund 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
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and other charges when buying or selling I Class shares through a financial intermediary prior to the Reorganization.
Who will pay for the Reorganization?
The expenses incurred to execute the Reorganization, including all direct and indirect expenses, will be paid by the Funds and their shareholders since the Reorganization is expected to benefit both Funds and their shareholders. The total expenses associated with the Reorganization are estimated to be approximately $28,300, which includes professional expenses (including legal and auditing fees), expenses associated with printing and mailing the Statement and related regulatory documents to shareholders, any brokerage expenses and transaction costs, taxes, and nonrecurring extraordinary items.
Will there be any tax consequences to the Institutional Fund or its shareholders?
The Reorganization will be structured as a tax-free exchange designed to have no adverse tax consequences to the Institutional Fund or its shareholders, although the Institutional Fund is expected to declare dividends and/or capital gains immediately prior to the Reorganization. The Reorganization is conditioned upon the receipt of an opinion of tax counsel to the Funds that, for federal income tax purposes:
· no gain or loss will be recognized by the Institutional Fund, the Acquiring Fund, or their shareholders as a result of the Reorganization;
· the holding period and adjusted basis of the I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund received by a shareholder will have the same holding period and adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares of the Institutional Fund; and
· the Acquiring Fund will assume the holding period and adjusted basis of each asset (with certain exceptions) of the Institutional Fund that is transferred to the Acquiring Fund that the asset had immediately prior to the Reorganization.
The receipt of an opinion of tax counsel is a nonwaivable condition of the Reorganization. Prior to the Reorganization, the Institutional Fund is expected to sell certain holdings that cannot be transferred in-kind to the Acquiring Fund, which may result in a net capital gain or loss. As a result, the Acquiring Fund is expected to buy similar positions in some of the same securities prior to the Reorganization, which may incur transaction expenses.
T. Rowe Price estimates that any brokerage commissions and other transaction costs (including taxes and stamps) relating to the sale and purchase of these nontransferable securities and in replicating the positions of the Institutional Fund in the Acquiring Fund are expected to be minimal since Funds typically trade their securities in the over-the-counter market. See “Information About the Reorganization—Tax Considerations” for more information.
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What if I redeem my shares before the Reorganization takes place?
If you choose to redeem your shares before the Reorganization takes place, then the redemption will be treated as a normal sale of shares and, generally, will be a taxable transaction unless you hold shares through a retirement plan, IRA, or other tax-deferred account.
What are the investment objectives and investment policies of the Acquiring Fund and the Institutional Fund?
The Acquiring Fund and Institutional Fund share the same investment objective, which is to seek to provide high income and capital appreciation. Each Fund’s investment objective is considered fundamental and may not be changed without shareholder approval.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Acquiring Fund and Institutional Fund have identical principal investment strategies, which are summarized as follows:
Each Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in debt securities of emerging market governments or companies located in emerging market countries. Each Fund’s investments in debt securities typically consist of a mix of both sovereign bonds and corporate bonds. Each Fund considers frontier markets to be a subset of emerging markets and any investments in frontier markets are counted toward the Fund’s 80% investment policy, and each Fund relies on a classification by either JP Morgan or the International Monetary Fund to determine which countries are emerging markets.
Each Fund ordinarily invests in the securities of at least three countries; however, it may invest in the securities of one country, including the U.S., for temporary defensive purposes.
Each Fund’s holdings may be denominated in U.S. dollars or non-U.S. dollar currencies, including emerging market currencies and the extent to which the Fund attempts to cushion the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the U.S. dollar depends on market conditions. Each Fund’s holdings may include the lowest-rated bonds, including those in default, and there are no overall limits on the Fund’s investments that are rated below investment-grade.
Although each Fund expects to maintain an intermediate- to long-term weighted average maturity, there are no maturity restrictions on either Fund's overall portfolio or on individual securities.
Each Fund may use a variety of derivatives, such as futures, forwards, and swaps for a number of purposes such as for exposure or hedging.
The Funds also have identical fundamental investment policies and restrictions, which are described later in this Statement and in more detail in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information dated May 1, 2024.
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The post-Reorganization Fund (the “Combined Fund”) will continue to follow the same investment program that is shared between the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund.
See “Comparison of Investment Objectives, Policies, Restrictions and Risks.”
What are the Funds’ management arrangements?
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”) is each Fund’s investment adviser and oversees the selection of each Fund’s investments and management of each Fund’s portfolio pursuant to an investment management agreement between the investment adviser and each 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.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with T. Rowe Price International Ltd ("Price International") under which Price International is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of each Fund. Price International is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC, 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 Warwick Court, 5 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7DX, United Kingdom.
T. Rowe Price has entered into a subadvisory agreement with T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Limited ("Price Hong Kong") under which Price Hong Kong is authorized to trade securities and make discretionary investment decisions on behalf of each 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 Place, Central, Hong Kong.
Oversight of the portfolio and specific decisions regarding the purchase and sale of fund investments are made by the Funds’ portfolio manager. T. Rowe Price has established an Investment Advisory Committee with respect to each Fund, whose chair has day-to-day responsibility for managing each Fund’s portfolio and works with the Investment Advisory Committee in developing and executing each Fund’s investment program. The Funds share the same Investment Advisory Committee.
The members of each Fund’s Investment Advisory Committee are as follows: Samy B. Muaddi, chair, Roy H. Adkins, Peter Ivanov Botoucharov, Tala Boulos, Carolyn Hoi Che
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Chu, Bridget A. Ebner, Aaron Gifford, Richard L. Hall, Arif Husain, Andrew J. Keirle, Christopher J. Kushlis, and Kenneth Antony Orchard. Mr. Muaddi served as cochair of the Investment Advisory Committee beginning in 2020 and became sole chair in 2021. He joined T. Rowe Price in 2006, and his investment experience dates from that time. He has served as a portfolio manager with T. Rowe Price throughout the past five years.
The Combined Fund will continue to be managed by Mr. Muaddi, and the members of the Combined Fund’s Investment Advisory Committee are not expected to change as a result of the Reorganization.
The Statement of Additional Information for the Funds provides additional information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of the Funds’ shares.
Will the Reorganization result in higher fund expenses?
The Reorganization is not expected to result in higher net expenses. The net expense ratio takes into account the effect of any expense limitation agreement in place for a Fund.
Management Fee
The Institutional Fund pays T. Rowe Price an annual all-inclusive management fee of 0.70% based on the Institutional Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is calculated and accrued daily, and it includes investment management services and ordinary, recurring operating expenses but does not cover interest; expenses related to borrowings, taxes, brokerage, and other transaction costs; or nonrecurring, extraordinary expenses.
The Acquiring Fund pays T. Rowe Price a management fee that consists of two components—an “individual fund fee,” which reflects the Acquiring Fund’s particular characteristics, and a “group fee.” The group fee, which is designed to reflect the benefits of the shared resources of T. Rowe Price and its affiliates, is calculated daily based on the combined net assets of all T. Rowe Price Funds (except the funds-of-funds, T. Rowe Price Reserve Funds, Multi-Sector Account Portfolios, and any index or private-label mutual funds). The group fee schedule (shown in the Acquiring Fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information) 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. The Acquiring Fund pays its operating expenses, and the I Class of the Acquiring Fund pays its pro-rata portion of fund operating expenses and class-specific operating expenses. The Acquiring 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 December 31, 2023, the group fee rate was 0.29%. The Acquiring Fund’s individual fund fee rate, also applied to the Acquiring Fund’s average daily net assets, is 0.41% which, when combined with the group fee rate, results in a total management fee rate of 0.70%.
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In addition, T. Rowe Price had contractually agreed (through April 30, 2026) to pay the operating expenses of the Acquiring 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 0.01% of the class’ average daily net assets. Any expenses paid under this agreement (and any applicable prior limitations) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the class whenever the I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.01%. However, the class will not reimburse T. Rowe Price more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or paid. The class may only reimburse T. Rowe Price if the reimbursement does not cause the I Class Operating Expenses (after the reimbursement is taken into account) to exceed the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses (or the expense limitation in place at the time the amounts were waived or paid).
In order to ensure that shareholders of the Institutional Fund will not pay more in management fees than are payable under the current management fee structure for the Institutional Fund, T. Rowe Price has agreed to permanently limit the total management fee rate of the Acquiring Fund to the current management fee rate of the Institutional Fund (0.70%), effective September 1, 2024. Accordingly, even if the Acquiring Fund’s management fee fluctuates with the change in the group fee component, the management fee will not exceed 0.70%, although it could go lower due to reductions in the group fee rate. In addition, T. Rowe Price has also contractually agreed to permanently limit the I Class Operating Expenses to 0.00% to ensure that shareholders of the Institutional Fund will not pay more in net expenses than the current fee structure for the Institutional Fund. Both of these agreements may only be terminated with approval by the Acquiring Fund’s shareholders.
Fees and Expenses
The following table further describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Funds. The fees and expenses of the Funds set forth below are annualized based on the fees and expenses for the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, and the pro forma fees and expenses reflect the expected fees and expenses of the Combined Fund as of June 30, 2024, assuming the Reorganization takes place as proposed.
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Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund | Emerging Markets Bond Fund—I Class | Pro Forma Combined | ||||||||||||||||
Annual fund operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
Management fees | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | ||||||||||||
Other expenses | — | 0.04 | a | 0.03 | b | |||||||||||||
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Total annual fund operating expenses | 0.70 | 0.74 | 0.73 | |||||||||||||||
Fee waiver/expense reimbursement | — | (0.03) | a | (0.03) | b | |||||||||||||
Total annual fund operating expenses after fee waiver/expense reimbursement | 0.70 | 0.71 | a | 0.70 | b | |||||||||||||
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a | T. Rowe Price has contractually agreed (through April 30, 2026) 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 0.01% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated at any time after April 30, 2026, with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors. Any expenses paid under this agreement (and any applicable prior limitations) are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the class whenever the I Class Operating Expenses are below 0.01%. However, the class will not reimburse T. Rowe Price more than three years from the date such amounts were initially waived or paid. The class may only reimburse T. Rowe Price if the reimbursement does not cause the I Class Operating Expenses (after the reimbursement is taken into account) to exceed the current expense limitation on I Class Operating Expenses (or the expense limitation in place at the time the amounts were waived or paid). | |||||||||||||||||
b | T. Rowe Price has contractually agreed to permanently 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 0.00% of the class’ average daily net assets. The agreement may only be terminated with approval by the fund’s Board of Directors and shareholders. |
Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Funds with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in each Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods, that your investment has a 5% return each year, and that each Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example also assumes that any current expense limitation arrangement remains in place for the period noted in the previous table (as applicable); therefore, the figures have been adjusted to reflect fee waivers or expense reimbursements only in the periods for which the expense limitation arrangement is expected to continue. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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Fund | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years |
Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund | $72 | $224 | $390 | $871 |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund—I Class | 73 | 232 | 407 | 914 |
Pro Forma Combined | 72 | 224 | 390 | 871 |
A discussion about the factors considered by the Board and its conclusions in approving each Fund’s investment management agreement and subadvisory agreements appear in each Fund’s semiannual report to shareholders for the period ended June 30.
Do the Funds or T. Rowe Price make payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries?
If you purchase shares of the Funds through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Funds and their 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.
For more detailed information, please refer to Section 3 of each Fund’s prospectus, entitled “Information About Accounts in T. Rowe Price Funds.”
What are the Funds’ policies for purchasing, redeeming, exchanging, and pricing shares?
The Acquiring Fund—I Class and the Institutional Fund have similar procedures for purchasing, redeeming, exchanging, and pricing shares, although the I Class has a lower initial investment minimum and account balance minimum. The I Class generally requires a $500,000 minimum initial investment and there is generally no minimum for additional purchases, although the initial investment minimum for the I Class generally is waived or reduced for financial intermediaries, eligible retirement plans, certain client accounts for which T. Rowe Price or its affiliates have discretionary investment authority, qualifying directly held accounts, and certain other types of accounts. The Institutional Fund, on the other hand, generally requires a $1 million minimum initial investment and there is no minimum for additional purchases, although the initial investment minimum may be waived for certain types of accounts held through a retirement plan, financial advisor, or other financial intermediary.
Shares of the Funds may be redeemed at their respective net asset values and the Funds’ procedures for pricing their shares are identical. Fund share prices are based on a Fund’s net asset value and is calculated at the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4 p.m. ET) each day the exchange is open for business. The Funds also use the same calculation methodology. Large redemptions can adversely affect a portfolio manager’s ability to implement a Fund’s investment strategy by causing the premature sale of securities. Therefore, the Funds reserve the right (without prior notice) to pay all or part of redemption proceeds with securities from the Fund’s portfolio rather than in cash (redemption in-kind).
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For more detailed information, please refer to Section 3 of each Fund’s prospectus, entitled “Information About Accounts in T. Rowe Price Funds.”
What are the Funds’ policies on dividends and distributions?
The Funds’ policies on dividends and distributions are identical. Each Fund has a policy of distributing, to the extent possible, all of its net investment income and realized capital gains to its respective shareholders. Each 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).
What are the principal risks of the Funds?
The Funds are subject to identical risks. These risks are not expected to change as a result of the Reorganization. As with any fund, there is no guarantee that the Funds will achieve their objective(s). Each Fund’s share price fluctuates, which means you could lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Funds, which may be even greater in bad or uncertain market conditions, are summarized as follows:
Emerging markets: Investments in emerging market countries are subject to greater risk and overall volatility than investments in the U.S. and other developed markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, less developed legal and regulatory regimes, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. In addition to the risks associated with investing outside the U.S., emerging markets are more susceptible to governmental interference, political and economic uncertainty, local taxes and restrictions on the fund’s investments, less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity, and more volatile currency exchange rates.
International investing: Non-U.S. securities tend to be more volatile and have lower overall liquidity than investments in U.S. securities and may lose value because of adverse local, political, social, or economic developments overseas, or due to changes in the exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar. In addition, investments outside the U.S. are subject to settlement practices and regulatory and financial reporting standards that differ from those of the U.S. The risks of investing outside the U.S. are heightened for any investments in emerging markets, which are susceptible to greater volatility than investments in developed markets.
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 economic, political, or regulatory developments, recessions, inflation, rapid interest rate changes, war, military conflict, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses or other
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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.
Frontier markets: Frontier markets generally have smaller economies and less mature capital markets than emerging markets. As a result, the risks associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries. Frontier markets are more susceptible to abrupt changes in currency values, have less mature markets and settlement practices, and can have lower trading volumes that could lead to greater price volatility and illiquidity. Investor protections in frontier market countries may be limited and settlement procedures and custody services may prove inadequate in certain markets.
Investing in Latin America: Many Latin American countries have histories of inflation, government overspending, political and economic instability, social unrest, high interest and unemployment rates, and extreme currency fluctuations. Many of these countries tend to be highly reliant on the exportation of commodities so their economies may be significantly impacted by fluctuations in commodity prices and the global demand for certain commodities.
Investing in Africa and the Middle East: Many African and Middle Eastern countries have histories of dictatorships, political and military unrest, social instability, and financial troubles, and their markets should be considered extremely volatile even when compared with those of other emerging market countries. Many of these countries tend to be highly reliant on exporting oil and other commodities so their economies can be significantly impacted by fluctuations in commodity prices and the global demand for certain commodities.
Currency exposure: Because the fund invests in securities issued in foreign currencies, the fund is subject to the risk that it could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar.
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
10
sell the debt instruments in which it invests or to find and purchase suitable debt instruments.
Junk investing: Investments in bonds that are rated below investment grade, commonly referred to as junk bonds, expose the fund to greater volatility and credit risk than investments in bonds that are rated investment grade. As a result, bonds rated below investment grade carry a higher risk of default and should be considered speculative.
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.
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 are likely to affect the interest rates or yields of the securities in which the fund invests.
Derivatives: The use of derivatives exposes the fund to additional volatility and potential losses. A derivative involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the assets on which the derivative is based, including liquidity risk, valuation risk, correlation risk, market risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk, counterparty and credit risk, operational risk, management risk, legal risk, and regulatory risk. Derivatives can be highly volatile, illiquid, and difficult to value, and changes in the value of a derivative may not properly correlate with changes in the value of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The fund could be exposed to significant losses if it is unable to close a derivatives position due to the lack of a liquid secondary trading market. The prices of derivatives may move in unexpected ways, especially in abnormal market conditions. Certain derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the derivative counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. The use of derivatives includes the risk of potential operational issues, such as settlement issues. Derivatives are exposed to legal risks, such as the legality or enforceability of a contract. The adviser may not be able to accurately predict the direction of prices, economic factors, or other associated risks which could cause loss in value or impair the fund’s efforts to reduce overall volatility. New regulations may make derivatives more costly, limit availability, or otherwise affect their value or performance.
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
11
addition, the fund may not be able to sell a holding in a timely manner at a desired price. Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Markets with lower overall liquidity could lead to greater price volatility and limit the fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.
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, confidential 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.
REASONS FOR THE REORGANIZATION
The Board of each Fund, including its independent directors, have unanimously determined that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the shareholders of each Fund and that the interests of shareholders of the Funds will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization.
In considering whether to approve the Reorganization, the Boards reviewed the following matters and concluded that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the Funds for the reasons indicated below.
As explained in this Statement, the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund offer a substantially similar investment program with identical investment objectives, principal investment strategies, fundamental investment restrictions, and investment policies. There will be no increase in fees or expenses and the total expense ratio of the I Class could be further reduced after the Reorganization as a result of a reduction in the group fee rate.
In addition, the I Class is generally offered to investors with at least a $500,000 initial investment minimum while the Institutional Fund is offered to investors with at least $1 million initial investment minimum. Both offer waivers of the minimum for similar types of accounts. The Boards and T. Rowe Price management believe that offering a single fund within this strategy to a wider variety of investors will allow all shareholders to take advantage of potentially greater scale through a more diverse shareholder base, reduce inefficiencies and potential marketplace confusion that can result from offering two substantially similar funds, and possibly provide the combined fund with more flexibility in implementing its investment program.
A key difference between the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund is that the Acquiring Fund is offered in multiple share classes, each of which is available to a variety of investors at different investment minimums. Unlike the Institutional Fund, the multi-class
12
structure of the Acquiring Fund allows it to be offered to a broader array of investors, which can help them achieve greater scale through a more diversified shareholder base. Combining the assets of the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund will eliminate differences in cash flows between the two separate series, which should allow the portfolio manager greater flexibility and consistency in implementing the investment programs for the Funds.
The consolidation of the two Funds would reduce the complexity of managing two separate portfolios with a substantially similar investment program and promote operational efficiencies, including the elimination of nearly identical trading for the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund and mitigate performance dispersion and tracking error that can result from managing two separate portfolios with different cash flow patterns. These operational efficiencies would benefit the Funds’ shareholders through reduced compliance risks and administrative burdens. Finally, most competitors offer their institutional share class as part of a multi-class structure. The Reorganization would foster consistency in fund structure and client experience and reduce potential marketplace confusion that could serve as a challenge to attracting greater assets.
The Boards also considered the Funds’ performance. The average annual total returns of the Institutional Fund and the I Class of the Acquiring Fund for the periods ended December 31, 2023 are set forth in the following table. The Funds’ performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and is not necessarily an indication of future results. Returns for other share classes of the Acquiring Fund vary since they have different expenses and different inception dates. More information on the Funds’ performance can be found under the heading “How has each Fund performed?”
13
Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund into Emerging Markets Bond Fund—I Class
Average Annual Total Returns |
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| December 31, 2023 |
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| I Class |
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| 1 Year |
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| 5 Years |
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| 10 Years |
| Inception date | Inception date |
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| Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
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| 11/30/2006 |
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| Returns before taxes | 12.73 | % |
| 1.53 | % |
| 3.09 | % |
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| Returns after taxes on distributions | 10.16 |
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| -0.57 |
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| 0.74 |
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| Returns after taxes on distributions |
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| and sale of fund shares | 7.42 |
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| 0.30 |
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| 1.36 |
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| Emerging Markets Bond Fund—I Class |
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| 8/28/2015 |
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Returns before taxes | 13.57 |
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| 1.42 |
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| — |
| 2.72a | |||||||
Returns after taxes on distributions | 10.97 | -0.65 | — | 0.47 a | ||||||||||||
Returns after taxes on distributions | ||||||||||||||||
and sale of fund shares | 7.91 | 0.22 | — | 1.13 a | ||||||||||||
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a Return since 8/28/15.
Although the Funds hold a substantial number of the same portfolio holdings, the weightings of the overlapping holdings may vary slightly and each Fund has some holdings not held by the other Fund. Differences in Fund performance over the same period were primarily due to differences in fees, differences in timing and amounts of cash flows, and differences in cash balances in order to meet redemptions.
The Boards also considered that the exchange of shares pursuant to the Reorganization is not expected to create any tax liabilities for shareholders as the exchange of shares will not be a taxable event. The cost basis and holding periods of shares in the Institutional Fund will carry over to the I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund that a shareholder will receive as a result of the Reorganization. The Boards noted, however, that the Reorganization will still have tax implications for shareholders in taxable accounts to the extent the Institutional Fund realizes gains before the Reorganization, because the Institutional Fund will need to distribute any net realized gains and taxable income before the Reorganization and these distributions may be taxable to shareholders.
In approving the Reorganization, the Board of the Institutional Fund also considered that Institutional Fund shareholders have the ability to redeem their shares at any time up to the date of the Reorganization without redemption or other fees, although some shareholders could incur a taxable gain.
The Boards considered that each of the Acquiring Fund’s service provider agreements, including, among others, their investment management (except for the management fee
14
structure), subadvisory, distribution, fund accounting, and custody agreements, will remain in place and will not be modified as a result of the Reorganization. The Boards further considered that the service providers to each Fund are identical, and that each of the Acquiring Fund’s service provider agreements are substantially similar to those currently in place for the Institutional Fund (with the exception of the differences between each Fund’s management fee structure, which is discussed under the heading “SUMMARY—Will the Reorganization result in higher fund expenses?”). The Boards noted that in order to ensure that shareholders of the Institutional Fund will not pay more than payable under the current management fee structure for the Institutional Fund, T. Rowe Price has agreed to permanently limit the management fee rate of the Acquiring Fund to the current management fee rate of the Institutional Fund (0.70%), effective September 1, 2024. Accordingly, even if the Acquiring Fund’s management fee fluctuates with the change in the group fee component, the total management fee rate will not exceed 0.70%.
The Boards considered that the Combined Fund will continue to be managed by Samy B. Muaddi, the current portfolio manager of the Acquiring Fund. No changes to the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio manager, Investment Advisory Committee, or resources available to the Funds are expected as a result of the Reorganization.
The Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund use identical pricing methodologies to value their respective assets. The assets of the Institutional Fund will be transferred to the Acquiring Fund at their fair market value, determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date. Shares of the Acquiring Fund equal in value to the assets will be received by the Institutional Fund in exchange. The expenses incurred to execute the Reorganization will be paid by the Funds and their shareholders since the Reorganization is expected to benefit both Funds and their shareholders. For these reasons, the Boards believe that each Fund and its shareholders will not be diluted as a result of the Reorganization.
Therefore, in consideration of these factors, the Boards concluded that the Reorganization is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund. T. Rowe Price and the Boards believe that shareholders’ interests will be better served over time by completing the Reorganization.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION
The following summary of the terms and conditions of the Plan is qualified by reference to the Plan, which is included as Exhibit A to this Statement.
Plan of Reorganization
The Reorganization will be consummated on or about September 27, 2024, or such other date as is agreed to by the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund (“Closing Date”).
The parties to the Plan may postpone the Closing Date until a later date on which all of the conditions to the obligations of each party under the Plan are satisfied, provided that
15
the Plan may be terminated by either party if the Closing Date does not occur on or before November 26, 2024. See “Conditions to Closing.”
On the Closing Date, the Institutional Fund will transfer substantially all of its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund having an aggregate net asset value equal to the value of the assets of the Institutional Fund so transferred as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date (“Valuation Date”). The Acquiring Fund will assume or otherwise be responsible for any liabilities of the Institutional Fund existing on the Valuation Date. The number of I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund issued in the exchange will be determined by dividing the value of the assets of the Institutional Fund transferred (computed by the Acquiring Fund in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in the current prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Acquiring Fund, subject to review and approval by the Institutional Fund) by the net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund as of the close of regular trading on the Valuation Date. While it is not possible to determine the exact exchange ratio until the Valuation Date, due to, among other matters, market fluctuations and differences in the relative performance of the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund, if the Valuation Date had been June 30, 2024, shareholders of the Institutional Fund would have received 0.7337 shares of the I Class of the Acquiring Fund for each of their Institutional Fund shares held.
The Institutional Fund will distribute, in liquidation of the Institutional Fund, pro rata to its shareholders of record as of the close of business on the Valuation Date, the full and fractional shares of the Acquiring Fund received in the exchange. The Institutional Fund will accomplish this distribution by transferring the Acquiring Fund shares then credited to the account of the Institutional Fund on the books of the Acquiring Fund to open accounts on the share records of I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Institutional Fund’s shareholders, and representing the respective pro-rata number of the I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund due to such shareholders. All issued and outstanding shares of the Institutional Fund will then be simultaneously canceled and redeemed.
The stock transfer books of the Institutional Fund will be permanently closed as of the close of business on the Valuation Date. The Institutional Fund will only accept redemption requests received by it in proper form prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Valuation Date. Redemption requests received thereafter will be deemed to be redemption requests for the Acquiring Fund shares to be distributed to Institutional Fund shareholders pursuant to the Plan.
Conditions to Closing
The obligation of the Institutional Fund to transfer its assets to the Acquiring Fund pursuant to the Plan is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including performance by the Acquiring Fund in all material respects of its agreements and undertakings under the Plan, receipt of certain documents from the Acquiring Fund and receipt of a tax opinion of counsel to the Acquiring Fund. The obligation of the
16
Acquiring Fund to consummate the Reorganization is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including performance by the Institutional Fund of its agreements and undertakings under the Plan, receipt of certain documents and financial statements from the Institutional Fund, and receipt of a tax opinion of counsel to the Institutional Fund.
The consummation of the Reorganization is subject to a number of conditions set forth in the Plan, some of which may be waived by the Boards of the Funds. The Plan may be terminated and the Reorganization abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date. See “Other Matters” below.
Expenses of Reorganization
The estimated expenses related to the Reorganization are set forth under the heading, “Who will pay for the Reorganization?” These costs represent T. Rowe Price’s estimate of professional services and fees, including expenses related to printing and mailing the Statement and related regulatory documents to shareholders, brokerage expenses and transaction costs, taxes, extraordinary items, and fees of Fund counsel and independent auditor. The costs related to the Reorganization will be borne by the Funds since the Reorganization is expected to benefit both Funds and their shareholders. It is anticipated that substantially all of the Institutional Fund’s assets will transfer to the Acquiring Fund as part of the Reorganization. Prior to the Reorganization, any derivatives positions (if applicable) will generally be closed out, and any holdings that are deemed not acceptable to the Acquiring Fund or inconsistent with the Acquiring Fund’s investment program, or unable to be transferred in-kind to the Acquiring Fund, will be disposed of.
Tax Considerations
The Reorganization is intended to qualify for federal income tax purposes as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”, or “Code”), with no gain or loss recognized as a consequence of the Reorganization by the Acquiring Fund and Institutional Fund or their shareholders.
The consummation of the transaction contemplated under the Plan is conditioned upon receipt of an opinion from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel to both Funds, to the effect that, on the basis of certain representations of fact by officers of the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund, the existing provisions of the IRC, current administrative rules and court decisions, for federal income tax purposes:
· No gain or loss will be recognized by the Acquiring Fund or the Institutional Fund or their shareholders as a result of the Reorganization.
· Shareholders of the Institutional Fund will carry over the cost basis and holding periods of their Institutional Fund shares to their new I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund.
· The Acquiring Fund will assume the basis and holding periods of the Institutional Fund’s assets (other than certain assets, if any, subject to mark to market treatment under special tax rules).
17
To ensure that the transaction qualifies as a tax-free reorganization, it must meet certain requirements—the most important of which are that substantially all of the assets of the Institutional Fund are transferred and that the Acquiring Fund will maintain the historical business (as defined by the Internal Revenue Services (the “IRS”)) of the Institutional Fund. In the opinion of counsel and to the best knowledge of the Funds’ officers, the proposed transaction contemplated under the Plan will comply with these and all other relevant requirements.
Other tax consequences to shareholders of the Institutional Fund are:
· Certain securities held by the Institutional Fund are expected to be sold prior to the transaction and not acquired by the Acquiring Fund. It is possible that any such sales will increase or decrease the expected distributions to shareholders of the Institutional Fund prior to the Reorganization. The exact amount of such sales and whether and to what extent they will result in taxable distributions to shareholders of the Institutional Fund will be influenced by a variety of factors and cannot be determined with certainty at this time.
· Since the cost basis of the Institutional Fund’s assets that are transferred will remain the same (other than certain assets, if any, subject to mark to market treatment under special tax rules), gains or losses on their subsequent sale by the Acquiring Fund will be shared with the shareholders of the Acquiring Fund. The potential shifting of tax consequences related to this is not expected to be significant.
· The Institutional Fund declares dividends daily and pays them on the first business day of each month. Any capital gains are declared and paid annually, usually in December. Any dividends or capital gains of the Institutional Fund available for distribution prior to the Reorganization will be distributed immediately prior to the Closing Date.
Based on the information available at the time of this Statement, it is anticipated that at the Closing Date, the Institutional Fund will have tax basis net realized capital losses. Any tax basis net realized capital losses of the Institutional Fund could be carried forward indefinitely to the Acquiring Fund, although there may be certain limitations under the Code as to the amount that could be used each year by the Combined Fund to offset future tax basis net realized capital gains. In addition, based on the information available at the time of this Statement, it is anticipated that any tax basis net capital losses of the Acquiring Fund at the Closing Date can be carried forward indefinitely without annual limitation as to the amount that can be used to offset future tax basis net realized capital gains of the Combined Fund. As of March 31, 2024, the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund had tax basis capital loss carry forwards of approximately $92.4 million and $1 billion, respectively. The Reorganization is not expected to impact the use of the Institutional Fund’s capital loss carryforwards.
The Institutional Fund is expected to sell certain nontransferable securities prior to the Reorganization, some of which are expected to result in capital losses. The Acquiring
18
Fund may, in turn, buy similar positions in the same securities prior to the Reorganization. T. Rowe Price estimates that the brokerage commission and other transaction costs (including taxes and stamps) relating to the sale and purchase of these nontransferable securities and for replicating the positions of the Institutional Fund in the Acquiring Fund will be minimal. In addition, the Institutional Fund will close out any derivatives positions (if applicable) and sell any assets prior to the Reorganization that are deemed not acceptable to the Acquiring Fund or inconsistent with the Acquiring Fund’s investment program, which could affect the amount of income and capital gains that are required to be distributed.
While the Institutional Fund is expected to realize capital losses from the sales of certain securities, the Institutional Fund may have realized gains from sales of other securities at the time of the Reorganization. However, it is anticipated that the Institutional Fund will not need to distribute taxable income (including the realized gains) as a taxable dividend and taxable capital gains to shareholders immediately prior to the Reorganization. The actual amount of capital gains (or losses) resulting from the purchase and sale of any securities will differ from the amounts stated above due to changes in market conditions, portfolio composition, and market values at the time of sale. In addition, because the Acquiring Fund may have realized gains that are required to be distributed by the end of the year, Institutional Fund shareholders may, as shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, receive another taxable capital gain distribution in December (made by the Acquiring Fund) that they otherwise would not incur. In reporting tax information to their shareholders and the IRS, the Funds follow the IRS requirements.
Shareholders should recognize that an opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS or on any court. The Funds do not expect to obtain a ruling from the IRS regarding the consequences of the Reorganization. Accordingly, if the IRS sought to challenge the tax treatment of the Reorganization and was successful, neither of which is anticipated, the Reorganization would be treated as a taxable sale of assets of the Institutional Fund, followed by the taxable liquidation of the Institutional Fund.
Other Matters
To the extent permitted by law, the Boards of the Funds may amend the Plan without shareholder approval or may waive any breach by the Institutional Fund or the Acquiring Fund or the failure to satisfy any of the conditions of their obligations, provided that no such amendment or waiver may be made if it would adversely affect shareholders of the Institutional Fund or the Acquiring Fund. The Plan may be terminated and the Reorganization abandoned at any time by action of the Boards. The Boards may, at their election, terminate the Plan in the event that the Reorganization has not closed on or before November 26, 2024.
Description of I Class Shares
Full and fractional I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund will be issued to shareholders of the Institutional Fund in accordance with the procedures under the Plan as previously described. The Acquiring Fund shares will be fully paid and nonassessable when issued, will have no preemptive or conversion rights, and will be transferrable on its books.
19
Ownership of I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund by former shareholders of the Institutional Fund will be recorded electronically and the Acquiring Fund will issue a confirmation to such shareholders relating to those shares acquired as a result of the Reorganization.
The voting rights of shareholders of the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund are the same. As shareholders of the Acquiring Fund, former shareholders of the Institutional Fund will have the same voting rights with respect to the Acquiring Fund as they currently have with respect to the Institutional Fund. Neither the Institutional Fund nor the Acquiring Fund routinely hold meetings of shareholders. Both the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund are organized as series of a Maryland corporation. To hold a shareholders’ meeting for a Maryland corporation, one-third of the corporation’s shares entitled to be voted must have been received by proxy or be present in person at the meeting.
Accounting Survivor and Performance Reporting
The Acquiring Fund will be the surviving fund for accounting, tax, and performance reporting purposes. The Acquiring Fund’s historical financial statements will be utilized for all financial reporting after the Reorganization and the performance of the Institutional Fund will no longer be used.
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Capitalization
The following table shows the unaudited capitalization of the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund (as of the period indicated in the table), and on a pro forma basis as of that date assuming the Reorganization takes place as proposed. The actual net assets of the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund on the Valuation Date will differ due to fluctuations in net asset values, subsequent purchases, and redemptions of shares.
| Fund | Net Assets | Net Asset | Shares | |||
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| Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund | $346,623 | $6.65 | 52,140 | |||
Emerging Markets Bond Fund | |||||||
Investor Class | 360,970 | 9.07 | 39,809 | ||||
I Class | 738,927 | 9.06 | 81,592 | ||||
Advisor Class | 73 | 9.07 | 8 | ||||
Z Class | 2,958,758 | 9.07 | 326,092 | ||||
Pro Forma Adjustments** | |||||||
I Class | (28) | (13,883) | |||||
Pro Forma Combined | |||||||
Investor Class | 360,970 | 9.07 | 39,809 | ||||
I Class | 1,085,522 | 9.06 | 119,849 | ||||
Advisor Class | 73 | 9.07 | 8 | ||||
Z Class | 2,958,758 | 9.07 | 326,092 |
* Information is as of June 30, 2024.
** Pro forma adjustments to Shares Outstanding reflect the change in shares of the Institutional Fund upon conversion into the I Class of the Acquiring Fund and include the estimated fees, expenses, and other costs associated with consummation of the Reorganization, as described under “Expenses and Reorganization”.
The Financial Highlights tables, which provide information about the financial history for the Institutional Fund and each class of the Acquiring Fund, are based on a single share outstanding throughout the periods shown.
The tables are part of each Fund’s financial statements, which are included in the annual report for the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund and are incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information (available upon request). The financial statements were audited by the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund | ||||||||||
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Year | ||||||||||
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/22 | 12/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 12/31/19 | |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
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Beginning of period | $6.28 |
| $8.01 |
| $8.56 |
| $8.58 |
| $8.04 |
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Investment activities |
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Net investment income(1)(2) | 0.36 |
| 0.33 |
| 0.37 |
| 0.40 |
| 0.46 |
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Net realized and unrealized gain/loss | 0.41 |
| (1.72 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.01 | ) | 0.54 |
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Total from investment activities | 0.77 |
| (1.39 | ) | (0.17 | ) | 0.39 |
| 1.00 |
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Distributions | ||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.36 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.45 | ) |
Tax return of capital | – |
| – |
| — | (3) | (0.02 | ) | (0.01 | ) |
Total distributions | (0.36 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (0.46 | ) |
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NET ASSET VALUE |
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End of period | $6.69 |
| $6.28 |
| $8.01 |
| $8.56 |
| $8.58 |
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Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||
Total return(2)(4) | 12.73 | % | (17.39 | )% | (2.06 | )% | 4.99 | % | 12.68 | % |
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Ratios to average net assets:(2) | ||||||||||
Gross expenses before waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % |
Net expenses after waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % | 0.70 | % |
Net investment income | 5.70 | % | 5.04 | % | 4.51 | % | 5.02 | % | 5.45 | % |
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Portfolio turnover rate | 24.9 | % | 43.1 | % | 37.7 | % | 58.0 | % | 44.7 | % |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | $352,019 |
| $358,016 |
| $490,849 |
| $441,677 |
| $485,686 |
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(1) | Per share amounts calculated using average shares outstanding method. |
(2) | Includes the impact of expense-related arrangements with Price Associates. |
(3) | Amounts round to less than $0.01 per share. |
(4) | 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. |
22
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Emerging Market Bond Fund | ||||||||||
Investor Class |
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Year | ||||||||||
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/22 | 12/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 12/31/19 | |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
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Beginning of period | $8.50 |
| $10.81 |
| $11.59 |
| $11.63 |
| $11.01 |
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Investment activities |
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|
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Net investment income(1)(2) | 0.47 |
| 0.44 |
| 0.50 |
| 0.54 |
| 0.61 |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss | 0.62 |
| (2.31 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.05 | ) | 0.62 |
|
Total from investment activities | 1.09 |
| (1.87 | ) | (0.28 | ) | 0.49 |
| 1.23 |
|
| ||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.47 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.51 | ) | (0.59 | ) |
Tax return of capital | — |
| — |
| (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) |
Total distributions | (0.47 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.61 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of period | $9.12 |
| $8.50 |
| $10.81 |
| $11.59 |
| $11.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) | 13.26 | % | (17.31 | )% | (2.45 | )% | 4.62 | % | 11.30 | % |
| ||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) | ||||||||||
Gross expenses before waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.98 | % | 0.99 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.90 | % |
Net expenses after waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.98 | % | 0.99 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.90 | % |
Net investment income | 5.44 | % | 4.89 | % | 4.48 | % | 4.87 | % | 5.24 | % |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 23.0 | % | 36.6 | % | 38.1 | % | 58.2 | % | 42.9 | % |
Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $379 |
| $540 |
| $1,016 |
| $1,715 |
| $4,602 |
|
(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. |
23
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund | ||||||||||
I Class |
| |||||||||
Year | ||||||||||
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/22 | 12/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 12/31/19 | |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period | $8.49 |
| $10.80 |
| $11.58 |
| $11.62 |
| $11.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Investment activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income(1)(2) | 0.49 |
| 0.46 |
| 0.52 |
| 0.55 |
| 0.62 |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss | 0.62 |
| (2.30 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.05 | ) | 0.61 |
|
Total from investment activities | 1.11 |
| (1.84 | ) | (0.26 | ) | 0.50 |
| 1.23 |
|
| ||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.49 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.50 | ) | (0.52 | ) | (0.60 | ) |
Tax return of capital | — |
| — |
| (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) |
Total distributions | (0.49 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.52 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.62 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of period | $9.11 |
| $8.49 |
| $10.80 |
| $11.58 |
| $11.62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) | 13.57 | % | (17.09 | )% | (2.30 | )% | 4.77 | % | 11.34 | % |
| ||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) | ||||||||||
Gross expenses before waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.76 | % | 0.75 | % | 0.75 | % | 0.76 | % | 0.77 | % |
Net expenses after waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.71 | % | 0.71 | % | 0.75 | % | 0.76 | % | 0.77 | % |
Net investment income | 5.74 | % | 5.22 | % | 4.61 | % | 5.03 | % | 5.38 | % |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 23.0 | % | 36.6 | % | 38.1 | % | 58.2 | % | 42.9 | % |
Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $632 |
| $439 |
| $474 |
| $462 |
| $1,224 |
|
(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. |
24
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund | ||||||||||
Advisor Class |
| |||||||||
Year | ||||||||||
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/22 | 12/31/21 | 12/31/20 | 12/31/19 | |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period | $8.50 |
| $10.81 |
| $11.59 |
| $11.63 |
| $11.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Investment activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income(1)(2) | 0.45 |
| 0.42 |
| 0.52 |
| 0.54 |
| 0.59 |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss | 0.62 |
| (2.30 | ) | (0.83 | ) | (0.09 | ) | 0.60 |
|
Total from investment activities | 1.07 |
| (1.88 | ) | (0.31 | ) | 0.45 |
| 1.19 |
|
| ||||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.45 | ) | (0.43 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.55 | ) |
Tax return of capital | — |
| — |
| (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) | (0.02 | ) |
Total distributions | (0.45 | ) | (0.43 | ) | (0.47 | ) | (0.49 | ) | (0.57 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of period | $9.12 |
| $8.50 |
| $10.81 |
| $11.59 |
| $11.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||||
Total return(2)(3) | 13.06 | % | (17.43 | )% | (2.72 | )% | 4.30 | % | 10.96 | % |
| ||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(2) | ||||||||||
Gross expenses before waivers/payments by Price Associates | 1.40 | % | 1.40 | % | 1.51 | % | 1.33 | % | 1.33 | % |
Net expenses after waivers/payments by Price Associates | 1.15 | % | 1.15 | % | 1.19 | % | 1.20 | % | 1.20 | % |
Net investment income | 5.27 | % | 4.74 | % | 4.62 | % | 4.86 | % | 5.09 | % |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 23.0 | % | 36.6 | % | 38.1 | % | 58.2 | % | 42.9 | % |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | $87 |
| $107 |
| $209 |
| $213 |
| $528 |
|
(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. |
25
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS | For a share outstanding throughout each period |
Emerging Markets Bond Fund | ||||||||
Z Class |
| |||||||
Year | 3/16/20(1) | |||||||
| 12/31/23 | 12/31/22 | 12/31/21 | 12/31/20 | ||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period | $8.51 |
| $10.82 |
| $11.60 |
| $10.11 |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Investment activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income(2)(3) | 0.55 |
| 0.53 |
| 0.60 |
| 0.48 |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain/loss | 0.61 |
| (2.31 | ) | (0.78 | ) | 1.50 | (4) |
Total from investment activities | 1.16 |
| (1.78 | ) | (0.18 | ) | 1.98 |
|
| ||||||||
Distributions | ||||||||
Net investment income | (0.55 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.57 | ) | (0.47 | ) |
Tax return of capital | — |
| — |
| (0.03 | ) | (0.02 | ) |
Total distributions | (0.55 | ) | (0.53 | ) | (0.60 | ) | (0.49 | ) |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
NET ASSET VALUE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of period | $9.12 |
| $8.51 |
| $10.82 |
| $11.60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data | ||||||||
Total return(3)(5) | 14.22 | % | (16.45 | )% | (1.56 | )% | 20.07 | % |
| ||||||||
Ratios to average net assets:(3) | ||||||||
Gross expenses before waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.72 | % | 0.72 | % | 0.75 | % | 0.75 | %(6) |
Net expenses after waivers/payments by Price Associates | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | % | 0.00 | %(6) |
Net investment income | 6.43 | % | 5.93 | % | 5.34 | % | 5.55 | %(6) |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 23.0 | % | 36.6 | % | 38.1 | % | 58.2 | % |
Net assets, end of period (in millions) | $3,103 |
| $2,964 |
| $3,384 |
| $3,105 |
|
(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) | The amount presented is inconsistent with the fund’s aggregate gains and losses because of the timing of sales and redemptions of fund shares in relation to fluctuating market values for the investment portfolio. |
(5) | Total return reflects the rate that an investor would have earned on an investment in the fund during each period, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, and payment of no redemption or account fees, if applicable. Total return is not annualized for periods less than one year. |
(6) | Annualized |
26
The financial statements of the Funds included in the annual report filed for the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund are incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information and have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Copies of the reports are available by request as described above.
COMPARISON OF INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES,
POLICIES, RESTRICTIONS AND RISKS
The investment objectives, policies, and restrictions of the Funds are identical and are described in greater detail in their respective prospectuses. Each Fund’s investment objective is a fundamental policy and may not be changed without shareholder approval.
What are the Funds’ principal investment strategies?
The following table shows a comparison of the Funds' investment objectives and principal investment strategies.
Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund | Emerging Markets Bond Fund | |
Investment Objective | The fund seeks to provide high income and capital appreciation. | Same |
Summary of Principal Investment Strategies | The fund normally invests at least 80% (and potentially all) of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities of emerging market governments or companies located in emerging market countries. The fund’s investments in debt securities typically consist of a mix of both sovereign bonds and corporate bonds. The fund considers frontier markets to be a subset of emerging markets and any investments in frontier markets are counted toward the fund’s 80% investment policy. The fund relies on a classification by either JP Morgan or the International Monetary Fund to determine which countries are emerging markets. The fund ordinarily invests in the securities of at least three countries; however, it may invest in the securities of one country, including the U.S., for temporary defensive purposes. The fund’s holdings may be denominated in U.S. dollars or | Same |
27
non-U.S. dollar currencies, including emerging market currencies. The extent, if any, to which the fund attempts to cushion the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the U.S. dollar depends on market conditions. The fund’s holdings may include the lowest-rated bonds, including those in default, and there are no overall limits on the fund’s investments that are rated below investment-grade (BB or lower, or an equivalent rating), also known as “junk” bonds. Although the fund expects to maintain an intermediate- to long-term weighted average maturity, there are no maturity restrictions on the overall portfolio or on individual securities. Security selection relies heavily on research, which analyzes political and economic trends as well as creditworthiness of particular issuers. The adviser seeks to favor bonds it expects will be upgraded. The fund may use a variety of derivatives, such as futures, forwards, and swaps for a number of purposes such as for exposure or hedging. Specifically, the fund uses interest rate futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Interest rate futures are primarily used as an efficient means of managing the fund’s exposure to interest rate changes and to adjust the fund’s duration. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are primarily used to help protect the fund’s non-U.S. dollar denominated holdings from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, although other currency hedging techniques may be used from time to time. |
28
What are the Funds’ fundamental investment policies and restrictions?
The Funds have identical fundamental investment restrictions and policies, each of which is explained in the Statement of Additional Information. As fundamental policies, the Funds may not:
· Borrowing Borrow money, except that the Funds may (i) borrow for non-leveraging, temporary, or emergency purposes; and (ii) engage in reverse repurchase agreements and make other investments or engage in other transactions, which may involve a borrowing, in a manner consistent with the Funds’ investment objectives and programs, provided that the combination of (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33⅓% of the value of the Funds’ total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) or such other percentage permitted by law. Any borrowings that come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law. The Funds may borrow from banks, other mutual funds sponsored and managed by T. Rowe Price (“Price Funds”), or other persons to the extent permitted by applicable law;
· Commodities Purchase or sell commodities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law;
· Industry Concentration Purchase the securities of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of the value of the Funds’ net assets would be invested in the securities of issuers having their principal business activities in the same industry;
· Loans Make loans, although the Funds may (i) lend portfolio securities and participate in an interfund lending program with other Price Funds provided that no such loan may be made if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 33⅓% of the value of the Funds’ total assets; (ii) purchase money market securities and enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) acquire publicly distributed or privately placed debt securities and purchase debt;
· Percent Limit on Assets Invested in Any One Issuer Purchase a security if, as a result, with respect to 75% of the value of the Funds’ total assets, more than 5% of the value of the Funds’ total assets would be invested in the securities of a single issuer, except for cash; securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or instrumentalities; and securities of other investment companies;
· Percent Limit on Share Ownership of Any One Issuer Purchase a security if, as a result, with respect to 75% of the value of the Funds’ total assets, more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any issuer would be held by the Funds (other than cash; securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies, or instrumentalities; and securities of other investment companies);
29
· Real Estate Purchase or sell real estate, including limited partnership interests therein, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Funds from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business);
· Senior Securities Issue senior securities except in compliance with the 1940 Act; and
· Underwriting Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent that the Funds may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with the purchase and sale of Fund portfolio securities in the ordinary course of pursuing their investment programs.
Notes
The following notes should be read in connection with the above-described fundamental policies. The notes are not fundamental policies.
With respect to the investment restriction relating to commodities, the Funds may not directly purchase or sell commodities that require physical storage unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, but the Funds may invest in any derivatives and other financial instruments that involve commodities or represent interests in commodities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act or other applicable law.
For purposes of the investment restriction relating to industry concentration:
· U.S., state, or local governments, or related agencies or instrumentalities, are not considered an industry.
· With respect to the industry classifications, each Fund will define industries according to any one or more widely recognized third-party providers and/or as defined by the investment adviser. The policy also will be interpreted to give broad authority to each Fund as to how to classify issuers within or among industries.
For purposes of the investment restriction relating to loans, the Funds will consider the acquisition of a debt security to include the execution of a note or other evidence of an extension of credit with a term of more than nine months.
For purposes of the investment restrictions relating to percent limit on assets invested in any one issuer and percent limit on share ownership of any one issuer, the Funds will treat bonds that are refunded with escrowed U.S. government securities as U.S. government securities.
What are the Funds’ non-fundamental investment policies and restrictions?
As a matter of operating policy, the Funds may not:
30
· Borrowing Purchase additional securities when money borrowed exceeds 5% of its total assets;
· Borrowing Transfer portfolio securities as collateral except as necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or investments, and then such transfers may not exceed 33⅓% of its total assets;
· Control of Portfolio Companies Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising management or control;
· Illiquid Investments Acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in such investments;
· Investment Companies Purchase securities of open-end or closed-end investment companies except (i) securities of the T. Rowe Price Reserve Funds; (ii) securities of other Price Funds; or (iii) otherwise consistent with the 1940 Act;
· Margin Purchase securities on margin, except (i) for use of short-term credit necessary for clearance of purchases of portfolio securities and (ii) they may make margin deposits in connection with futures contracts or other permissible investments;
· Mortgaging Mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or, in any manner, transfer any security owned by the funds as security for indebtedness, except as may be necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or investments, and then such mortgaging, pledging, or hypothecating may not exceed 33⅓% of the Funds’ total assets at the time of borrowing or investment;
· Oil and Gas Programs Purchase participations or other direct interests in or enter into leases with respect to oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or development programs if, as a result thereof, more than 5% of the value of the total assets of the Funds would be invested in such programs;
· Short Sales Effect short sales of securities;
· Warrants Invest in warrants if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Fund’s net assets would be invested in warrants;
· Loan Participations and Assignments Invest in bank loans (including loan participations and assignments) if, as a result, more than 20% of each Fund's total assets would be invested in such instruments;
· Debt Instruments Invest more than 5% of its assets in any individual corporate issuer, provided that (1) the Fund places assets in bank deposits or other short-term bank instruments with a maturity of up to 30 days, provided that: (a) the bank has a short-term credit rating of A1+ (or, if unrated, an equivalent rating as determined by the adviser) and (b) the Fund will not maintain more than 10% of its total assets with any single bank; and (2) the Fund maintains more than 5%
31
of its total assets, including cash and currencies, in custodial accounts or deposits of the fund’s custodian or sub-custodians;
· Equity Securities Invest in various types of equity securities and securities that are convertible into, or which carry warrants for, common stocks or other equity securities if, as a result, more than 10% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in such securities. However, the Fund will not directly purchase common stock if it already holds more than 5% of its total assets in common stocks. Any shares of common stock that are received through a reorganization, restructuring, exercise, exchange, conversion, or similar action that cause the Fund to hold more than 5% of its total assets in common stocks will be sold within a reasonable timeframe taking into consideration market conditions and any legal restrictions;
· Concentration of Investments From time to time, each Fund may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of foreign governmental and corporate entities located in the same country. However, the Fund will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of any single foreign governmental issuer or in two or more such issuers subject to a common, explicit guarantee;
· Loans Make loans to T. Rowe Price and its affiliates.
Notes
The following notes should be read in connection with the above-described operating policies. The notes are not operating policies.
For purposes of the operating policy relating to illiquid investments, an illiquid investment is an investment that a Fund reasonably expects cannot 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 security.
For purposes of the operating policy relating to margin, margin purchases are not considered borrowings and effecting a short sale will be deemed to not constitute a margin purchase.
With respect to each Fund’s 80% name test as set forth in its prospectus, the 80% investment policy will be based on the Fund’s net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes. For purposes of determining whether each Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in debt securities of emerging market governments or companies located in emerging market countries, the Funds use the country assigned to a fixed income security by Bloomberg or another unaffiliated third-party data provider. The Funds generally follow this same process with respect to the remaining 20% of net assets but may occasionally make an exception after assessing various factors relating to a company. For example, T. Rowe Price may assign a different country to a holding than the classification made by a third-party data provider in situations where, among other things, the data provider’s classification does not accurately reflect the company’s country of risk, location of management or primary operations, or country with the most
32
sales or revenues or the country classification is deemed to no longer be appropriate (such as significant changes to the company’s business or operations that were not yet taken into consideration by the data provider). If a particular holding is assigned a country by T. Rowe Price and no third-party data provider has assigned that same country, that holding will not be included toward a Fund’s 80% investment policy. The data providers use various criteria to determine the country to which a security is economically tied. Examples include the following: (1) the country under which the issuer is organized, (2) the location of the issuer’s principal place of business or principal office, (3) where the issuer’s securities are listed or traded principally on an exchange or over-the-counter market, and (4) where the issuer conducts the predominant part of its business activities or derives a significant portion (e.g., at least 50%) of its revenues or profits. In addition, for purposes of determining whether a particular country is considered a developed market or an emerging market, the Funds consider a country to be an emerging market if it is either included in a JPMorgan emerging market bond index, or not included in the International Monetary Fund’s list of advanced economies.
In addition to the fundamental restrictions and operating policies previously described, some foreign countries limit or prohibit all direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. However, participation notes may sometimes be used to gain access to these markets. In addition, the governments of some countries have authorized the organization of investment funds to permit indirect foreign investment in such securities. For tax purposes, these funds may be known as Passive Foreign Investment Companies.
What are the principal risks of investing in the Funds?
The Funds are subject to identical risks. Below are the risk factors to which both Funds are exposed. These risks are not expected change as a result of the Reorganization.
Emerging markets: Investments in emerging markets are subject to the risk of abrupt and severe price declines. The economic and political structures of emerging market countries, in most cases, do not compare favorably with the U.S. or other developed countries in terms of wealth and stability, and their financial markets often lack liquidity. These economies are less developed, can be overly reliant on particular industries, and are more vulnerable to the ebb and flow of international trade, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. Governments in many emerging market countries participate to a significant degree in their economies and securities markets. As a result, foreign investments may be restricted and subject to greater government control, including repatriation of sales proceeds. Emerging market securities exchanges are more likely to experience problems with the clearing and settling of trades, as well as the custody of holdings by local banks, agents, and depositories. In addition, the accounting standards in emerging market countries may be unreliable and could present an inaccurate picture of a company’s finances. Some countries have histories of instability and upheaval that could cause their governments to act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. Investments in countries or regions that have recently begun moving
33
away from central planning and state-owned industries toward free markets should be regarded as speculative.
While some countries have made progress in economic growth, liberalization, fiscal discipline, and political and social stability, there is no assurance these trends will continue. Significant risks, such as war and terrorism, currently affect some emerging market countries. The fund’s performance will likely be hurt by exposure to countries in the midst of hyperinflation, currency devaluation, trade disagreements, sudden political upheaval, or interventionist government policies. The volatility of emerging markets may be heightened by the actions (such as significant buying or selling) of a few major investors. For example, substantial increases or decreases in cash flows of funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local securities prices and, therefore, could cause fund share prices to decline.
International investing: Investments outside the U.S. may lose value because of declining foreign currencies or adverse local, political, social, or economic events overseas, among other things. Securities of non-U.S. issuers (including depositary receipts and other instruments that represent interests in a non-U.S. issuer) tend to be more volatile than U.S. securities and are subject to trading markets with lower overall liquidity, governmental interference, and regulatory and accounting standards and settlement practices that differ from the U.S. The fund could experience losses based solely on the weakness of foreign currencies in which the fund’s holdings are denominated versus the U.S. dollar, and changes in the exchange rates between such currencies and the U.S. dollar. Risks can result from differing regulatory environments, less stringent investor protections, less availability of public information about issuers, uncertain tax laws, and higher transaction costs compared with U.S. markets. Investments outside the U.S. could be subject to governmental actions such as capital or currency controls, nationalization of a company or industry, expropriation of assets, or imposition of high taxes.
A trading market may close for national holidays or without warning for extended time periods, preventing the fund from buying or selling securities in that market. Trading securities in which the fund invests may take place in various foreign markets on certain days when the fund is not open for business and does not calculate its net asset value. For example, the fund may invest in securities that trade in various foreign markets that are open on weekends. As the securities trade, their value may substantially change. As a result, the fund’s net asset value may be significantly affected on days when shareholders cannot make transactions. In addition, market volatility may significantly limit the liquidity of securities of certain issuers in a particular country or geographic region, or of all companies in the country or region. The fund may be unable to liquidate its positions in such securities at any time, or at a favorable price, in order to meet the fund’s obligations.
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
34
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 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.
Frontier markets: Frontier market countries tend to have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of emerging market or developed market countries. In addition to the risks of investing in emerging markets, frontier markets tend to have less efficient trading markets with lower overall liquidity and are more susceptible to governmental interference, local taxes being imposed on international investments, and restrictions on gaining access to sales proceeds. The possibility of a securities exchange closing unexpectedly for a long period of time is much greater in a frontier market. Frontier markets generally have smaller economies or less mature capital markets than emerging markets and, as a result, the risks typically associated with investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier countries. Certain frontier market countries may impose restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of investment income and capital.
Adverse changes in currency values of frontier market countries may be severe and settlement procedures and custody services may prove inadequate in certain markets. The markets of frontier countries typically have low trading volumes and the potential for extreme price volatility and illiquidity. This volatility may be further increased by the actions of a few major investors. For example, a substantial increase or decrease in cash flows of funds investing in these markets could significantly affect local stock prices and, therefore, the net asset value of the fund. In addition, frontier market securities may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Custody services in many frontier market
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countries remain undeveloped and, although the fund’s custodian will seek to establish control mechanisms, including the selection of appropriate sub-custodians to hold securities on behalf of the fund, there is greater transaction and custody risk in dealing in securities of frontier market countries. Overall, the laws and market practices of frontier market countries carry fewer safeguards than more mature markets, including, for example, the protection against claims from general creditors in the event of the insolvency of an agent selected to hold securities on behalf of the fund.
Investing in Latin America: Many Latin American economies are considered emerging markets and are prone to high interest rates, inflation, and unemployment rates, economic volatility, currency devaluations and revaluations, and government debt defaults. Because commodities such as oil and gas, minerals, and metals represent a significant percentage of the region’s exports, the economies of some Latin American countries are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in commodity prices. The economies of Latin American countries are heavily dependent on trading relationships with key trading partners, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other Latin American countries. Adverse economic events in one country may have a significant adverse effect on other countries of this region. In addition, in the past, certain Latin American economies have been influenced by changing supply and demand for a particular currency and monetary policies of governments (including exchange control programs, restrictions on local exchanges or markets, and limitations on foreign investment in a country or on investment by residents of a country in other countries). A relatively small number of Latin American companies represents a large portion of Latin America’s total market and thus may be more sensitive to adverse political or economic circumstances and market movements. Certain Latin American countries have experienced periods of instability and social unrest. Disparities of wealth, the pace and success of democratization and capital market development, and ethnic, religious, and racial disaffection may exacerbate social unrest, violence, and labor unrest in a number of Latin American countries.
Investing in Africa and the Middle East: The economies of certain African and Middle Eastern countries are in the earliest stages of economic development, which may result in a high concentration of trading volume and market capitalization in a small number of issuers or a limited number of industries. There are typically fewer brokers in African and Middle Eastern countries, and they are typically less well capitalized than brokers in the U.S. or other developed markets. Many African nations have a history of military intervention, dictatorship, civil war, and corruption, which all limit the effectiveness of markets in those countries. Many Middle Eastern countries are facing political and economic uncertainty, with little or no democratic tradition or free market history, which could result in significant economic downturn. Many Middle Eastern countries periodically have experienced calls and protests for widespread reforms resulting in a governmental regime change, internal conflict, or civil war. Investing in African and Middle Eastern countries is susceptible to additional risks, including expropriation and/or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation, political
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instability, territorial disputes, labor issues, and social instability as a result of religious, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic unrest or widespread outbreaks of disease. Certain Middle Eastern countries have strained relations with other Middle Eastern countries due to territorial disputes, historical animosities, international alliances, religious tensions or defense concerns, which may adversely affect the economies of these countries. Certain Middle Eastern countries experience significant unemployment, as well as widespread underemployment.
During periods of instability or upheaval, a country’s government may act in a detrimental or hostile manner toward private enterprise or foreign investment. In addition, at certain times, the fund may have to “fair value”—or assign a value on the basis of factors other than market quotations—certain securities. Portfolio holdings that are valued using techniques other than market quotations, including “fair valued” securities, may be subject to greater fluctuation than if market quotations had been used, and there is no assurance that the fund could sell or close out a portfolio position for the value established for it at any time. Further, the economies of many Middle Eastern and African countries are largely dependent on, and linked together by, certain commodities (such as gold, silver, copper, diamonds, and oil). As a result, African and Middle Eastern economies are vulnerable to changes in commodity prices, and fluctuations in demand for these commodities could significantly impact economies in these regions. A downturn in one country’s economy could have a disproportionally large effect on others in the region.
Currency exposure: A decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar could reduce the dollar value of securities denominated in that foreign currency. The overall impact on the fund’s holdings can be significant, unpredictable, and long-lasting, depending on the currencies represented in the fund’s portfolio, how each foreign currency appreciates or depreciates in relation to the U.S. dollar, and whether currency positions are hedged. Further, any attempts to hedge currency risk could be unsuccessful and it can be difficult to effectively hedge the currency risks of many emerging market countries.
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 or sector, 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.
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Junk investing: Junk investing subjects the fund to heightened credit risk. Issuers of junk bonds are not as strong financially as those with higher credit ratings, so the issuers are more vulnerable to financial setbacks and recession than more creditworthy issuers, which may impair their ability to make interest and principal payments. As a result, below investment-grade investments carry greater risks of default and erratic price swings due to real or perceived changes in the credit quality of the issuer.
Because the credit quality of the issuer is lower, such bonds are more sensitive to developments affecting the issuer’s underlying fundamentals, such as changes in financial condition or a particular country’s general economy. In addition, the entire below investment-grade bond market can experience sudden and sharp price swings due to a variety of factors, including changes in economic forecasts, stock market activity, large sustained sales by institutional investors, a high-profile default, or a change in the market’s psychology. This type of volatility is usually associated more with stocks than bonds, but investors in lower-quality bonds should also anticipate it. Since funds can be a major source of demand in certain junk bond markets, substantial cash flows into and out of these funds can affect junk bond prices. If, for example, a significant number of funds were to sell bonds to meet shareholder redemptions, both bond prices and funds’ share prices could fall more than underlying fundamentals might justify.
Any investments in distressed or defaulted securities subject the fund to even greater credit risk than investments in other below investment-grade investments. Investments in obligations of restructured, distressed, and bankrupt issuers, including debt obligations that are already in default, generally trade significantly below par and may lack liquidity. Defaulted securities might be repaid only after lengthy bankruptcy proceedings, during which the issuer might not make any interest or other payments, and such proceedings may result in only partial recovery of principal or no recovery at all. Recovery could involve an exchange of the defaulted obligation for other debt instruments or equity securities of the issuer or its affiliates, each of which may in turn lack liquidity or be speculative and be valued by the fund at significantly less than its original purchase price. In addition, investments in distressed issuers may subject the fund to liability as a lender. Emerging market bonds generally have lower overall creditworthiness and liquidity than bonds issued by companies and governments in developed countries. Consequently, large purchases or sales of certain emerging market debt issues may cause significant changes in their prices. Because many of these bonds do not trade frequently, when they do trade, their prices may be substantially higher or lower than had been expected. Certain emerging market governments and corporations have in the past defaulted on payments of interest and principal on debt they have issued. As a result, the fund’s adviser relies heavily on proprietary research when selecting these investments.
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
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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 should have a relatively low risk of encountering financial problems and a relatively high probability of future payments. However, holdings rated below investment grade 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”).
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). Such decreases in prices are due to the bonds and notes in the fund’s portfolio becoming less attractive to other investors when securities with higher yields become available. 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 (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 interest rates or yields of the securities in which the fund invests. An elevated inflation environment may heighten risks associated with rising rates. As a result, rapid changes in interest rates may increase the fund’s overall exposure to interest rate risk. In addition, changes in the local interest rates of emerging market countries tend to be more erratic than changes in interest rates of the U.S. and developed market countries.
Derivatives: The use of derivatives, including, without limitation, futures, forwards (such as foreign currency exchange contracts), options, structured securities, or swaps, exposes the fund to additional volatility and potential losses. A derivative involves risks different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the assets on which the derivative is based, including liquidity risk, valuation risk, correlation risk, market risk, interest rate risk, leverage risk, counterparty and credit risk, operational risk, management risk, legal risk, and regulatory risk. Derivatives can be illiquid and the fund could be exposed to significant losses if it is unable to close a derivatives position due to the lack of liquidity in the secondary trading market. Valuation for derivatives may not be readily available and more difficult in times of market turmoil. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with, and may be more sensitive to market events than, the underlying asset, rate, or index, and the fund could lose more than the initial amount invested. Changes in the general level of interest rates may cause fluctuations in the
39
value of an asset. Derivatives may be sensitive to changes in economic and market conditions, which could result in losses that significantly exceed the original investment. Changes in the value of a derivative or other similar instrument may also create margin delivery or settlement payment obligations. Certain derivatives are also subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the derivative counterparty will not fulfill its contractual obligations. Some derivatives are “leveraged” or may create economic leverage for the fund and therefore may magnify or otherwise increase investment losses to the fund. Relatively small market movements may result in large changes in the value of derivatives positions and can result in losses that greatly exceed the amount originally invested. The use of derivatives includes the risk of potential operational issues, including documentation issues, settlement issues, system failures, inadequate controls, and human error. Derivatives are exposed to legal risks, such as the legality or enforceability of a contract or insufficient documentation, capacity, or authority. The adviser may not be able to accurately predict the direction of prices, economic factors, or other associated risks which could cause loss in value or impair the fund’s efforts to reduce overall volatility. The federal income tax treatment of a derivative may not be as favorable as a direct investment in an underlying asset. New regulations may make derivatives more costly, limit availability, or otherwise affect their value or performance.
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.
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).
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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 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 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 INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS
How has each Fund performed?
The following performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Funds. The Funds’ performance information represents only past performance (before and after taxes) and is not necessarily an indication of future results.
The following bar charts illustrate 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 Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund’s I Class. Returns for other share classes of the Acquiring Fund vary since they have different expenses and inception dates.
INSTITUTIONAL EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND |
Calendar Year Returns
Quarter Ended | Total Return | Quarter Ended | Total Return | |||||
Best Quarter | 6/30/20 | 12.68% | Worst Quarter | 3/31/20 | -16.25% |
The fund’s return for the six months ended 6/30/24 was 2.27%.
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EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND—I CLASS |
Calendar Year Returns
Quarter Ended | Total Return | Quarter Ended | Total Return | |||||
Best Quarter | 6/30/20 | 11.93% | Worst Quarter | 3/31/20 | -15.94% |
The fund’s return for the six months ended 6/30/24 was 2.20%.
The following table shows the average annual total returns for the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund’s I Class for the periods ended December 31, 2023. Each table 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 Funds.
In addition, the table shows hypothetical after-tax returns for the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund’s I Class to demonstrate how taxes paid by a shareholder may influence returns. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as a 401(k) account or an IRA. After-tax returns will differ for other share classes of the Acquiring Fund.
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Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund and Emerging Markets Bond Fund—I Class
Average Annual Total Returns |
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| Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
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| 11/30/2006 |
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| Returns before taxes | 12.73 | % |
| 1.53 | % |
| 3.09 | % |
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| Returns after taxes on distributions | 10.16 |
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| -0.57 |
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| 0.74 |
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| and sale of fund shares | 7.42 |
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| 0.30 |
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| 1.36 |
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J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | ||||||||||||||||
11.09 |
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| 1.67 |
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| 3.22 | ||||||||||
| Emerging Markets Bond Fund—I Class |
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Returns before taxes | 13.57 |
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| 1.42 |
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| 2.72a | |||||||
Returns after taxes on distributions | 10.97 | -0.65 | — | 0.47 a | ||||||||||||
Returns after taxes on distributions | ||||||||||||||||
and sale of fund shares | 7.91 | 0.22 | — | 1.13 a | ||||||||||||
J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) | ||||||||||||||||
11.09 | 1.67 | 3.22 | 2.84a | |||||||||||||
Lipper Emerging Market Hard Currency Debt Funds Average | ||||||||||||||||
11.03 | 1.93 | 2.24 | 2.74b | |||||||||||||
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a Return since 8/28/15.
b Return since 8/31/15.
Updated performance information is available through troweprice.com.
The Institutional Fund has a longer performance track record than the Acquiring Fund’s I Class. However, the Acquiring Fund has a longer performance track record than the Institutional Fund since the Acquiring Fund’s original share class, the Investor Class, incepted on December 30, 1994. After-tax returns for the Acquiring Fund’s Investor Class are shown in the Acquiring Fund’s prospectus. For the periods shown, the Institutional Fund outperformed the Acquiring Fund’s I Class during certain periods and the Acquiring Fund’s I Class outperformed the Institutional Fund during certain periods, although the Acquiring Fund’s I Class had higher overall net expenses during all of the periods shown. The Funds have relatively similar historical performance due to having substantially similar investment programs and a significant number of the same portfolio holdings. However, differences in Fund performance were primarily due to variations in
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the weightings of the same portfolio holdings and one Fund holding securities not held by the other Fund, differences in overall fees, differences in the fluctuations and amounts of daily cash flows, and differences in the amounts of cash reserves maintained in order to meet shareholder redemptions.
Who are the principal holders of each Fund’s shares?
The following table provides the shareholders of record that owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Institutional Fund and each class of the Acquiring Fund as of June 30, 2024.
FUND | SHAREHOLDER | # OF SHARES | % | |
EMERGING MARKETS | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC | 3,271,200.02 | 8.21 | |
BOND FUND | REINVEST ACCOUNT |
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| ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT |
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| 211 MAIN ST |
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SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1905 | ||||
| LPL FINANCIAL | 2,732,259.71 | 6.86 | |
| OMNIBUS CUSTOMER ACCOUNT |
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| ATTN MUTUAL FUND TRADING |
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| 4707 EXECUTIVE DR |
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SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091 | ||||
| MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC | 3,246,693.53 | 8.15 | |
| FOR THE EXCL BENEFIT OF ITS CUST |
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1 NEW YORK PLZ FL 12 | ||||
NEW YORK NY 10004-1965 |
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| NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC | 2,353,257.57 | 5.91 | |
| FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUST |
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| 499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5 |
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JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010 | ||||
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC | 1,918,871.73 | 5.04 | ||
SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE |
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EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS |
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2801 MARKET ST | ||||
SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523 | ||||
EMERGING MARKETS | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC | 2,225.06 | 27.48(a) | |
BOND FUND— | SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS |
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ADVISOR CLASS | ATTN MUTUAL FUND DEPT |
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| MATRIX TRUST COMPANY CUST FBO | 4,560.65 | 56.33(a) | |
| MODERN FOUNDATIONS, INC 401(K) PSP |
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| 717 17TH ST STE 1300 |
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DENVER CO 80202-3304 | ||||
| MID ATLANTIC TRUST COMPANY FBO | 820.31 | 10.13 | |
| CFD LEASING, INC 401(K) PLAN |
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| 1251 WATERFRONT PL STE 525 |
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| PITTSBURGH PA 15222-4228 |
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| PERSHING LLC | 490.84 | 6.06 | |
1 PERSHING PLZ | ||||
JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0002 |
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FUND | SHAREHOLDER | # OF SHARES | % | |
EMERGING MARKETS | EDWARD D JONES & CO | 3,003,832.95 | 17.89 | |
BOND FUND— | FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS |
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I CLASS | 12555 MANCHESTER RD | |||
| SAINT LOUIS MO 63131-3729 | |||
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC | 3,934,698.04 | 25.79(a) | ||
FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR CUST |
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ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT |
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SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY | 14,569,740.84 | 6.38 | ||
C/O EDWARD JONES TRUST COMPANY |
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EMERGING MARKETS | RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO 2015 | 12,943,873.32 | 5.94 | |
BOND FUND— | T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES |
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Z CLASS | ATTN FUND ACCOUNTING DEPT |
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| 100 EAST PRATT STREET |
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BALTIMORE MD 21202-1009 | ||||
| RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO 2020 | 19,381,761.16 | 15.27 | |
| T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES |
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| ATTN FUND ACCOUNTING DEPT |
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| RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO 2025 | 49,797,282.63 | 17.91 | |
| T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES |
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| ATTN FUND ACCOUNTING DEPT |
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| RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO 2030 | 58,396,702.10 | 20.66 | |
| T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES |
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| ATTN FUND ACCOUNTING DEPT |
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| RETIREMENT PORTFOLIO 2035 | 67,367,709.55 | 9.55 | |
| T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES |
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| ATTN FUND ACCOUNTING DEPT |
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| SPECTRUM INCOME FUND | 31,149,407.98 | 14.92 | |
| T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES |
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| ATTN FUND ACCOUNTING DEPT |
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FUND | SHAREHOLDER | # OF SHARES | % | |
INSTITUTIONAL EMERGING | CAPINCO C/O US BANK NA | 6,749,222.11 | 12.94 | |
MARKETS BOND FUND | 1555 N RIVERCENTER DR STE 302 |
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MILWAUKEE WI 53212-3958 | ||||
| EMPOWER TRUST FBO | 7,033,585.84 | 13.49 | |
| RECORDKEEPING FOR VARIOUS BENEFIT P |
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| C/O MUTUAL FUND TRADING |
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| 8525 E ORCHARD RD |
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GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002 | ||||
| HORIZONDECK & CO | 4,784,737.58 | 9.18 | |
| C/O T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES INC |
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| ATTN GLOBAL ALLOCATION FUND |
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| LADYBIRD & CO | 14,985,399.85 | 28.74(b) | |
| C/O T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES INC |
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| ATTN TRP SPECTRUM CONSERV ALLOC |
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| LADYBUG & CO | 9,475,113.08 | 18.17 | |
| C/O T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES INC |
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| ATTN TRP SPECTRUM MODERATE ALLOC |
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| LAKESIDE & CO | 6,162,421.04 | 11.82 | |
| C/O T ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES INC |
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| ATTN TRP SPECTRUM MOD GROWTH ALLOC |
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(a) | At the level of ownership indicated, the shareholder may be able to determine the outcome of any matters affecting a fund or one of its classes that are submitted to shareholders for vote. |
(b) | The indicated percentage of the outstanding shares of this fund are owned by another T. Rowe Price fund and held in the nominee name indicated. Shares of the fund are “echo-voted” by the T. Rowe Price fund that owns the shares in the same proportion that the shares of the underlying fund are voted by other shareholders. |
As of June 30, 2024, the executive officers and directors of each Fund, as a group, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, less than 1% of its outstanding shares of each Fund.
Who are each Fund’s transfer agent and custodians?
T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds. State Street Bank and Trust Company, One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, or, in the case of securities maintained outside of the United States, JPMorgan Chase Bank, London, Woolgate House, Coleman Street, London, EC2P 2HD, England, are the custodians for the Funds.
Are the Funds required to hold annual meetings?
Under Maryland law, the Funds are not required to hold annual meetings. The Boards of the Funds have determined that the Funds will take advantage of this Maryland law provision to avoid the significant expense associated with holding annual meetings, including legal, accounting, printing, and mailing fees incurred in preparing proxy materials. Accordingly, no annual meetings of shareholders shall be held in any year in
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which a meeting is not otherwise required to be held under the 1940 Act or Maryland law, unless the Boards determine otherwise. However, special meetings of shareholders will be held in accordance with applicable law or when otherwise determined by a Fund’s Board.
Who pays for the costs involved with the Reorganization?
The expenses incurred to execute the Reorganization, including all direct and indirect expenses, will be paid by the Funds and their shareholders since the Reorganization is expected to benefit both Funds and their shareholders. The total expenses associated with the Reorganization (including legal expenses, audit expenses, expenses related to printing and mailing the Statement and related regulatory documents to shareholders, brokerage expenses and transaction costs, taxes, and any nonrecurring extraordinary items) are estimated to be approximately $28,300, with $14,800 borne by the Institutional Fund and $13,500 borne by the Acquiring Fund. Although the sale of any assets that are not acceptable or not transferrable to the Acquiring Fund could result in additional brokerage expenses, all estimated brokerage expenses and other transaction costs in connection with the Reorganization are estimated to be minimal since the Funds typically trade their securities in the over-the-counter market.
Certain legal matters concerning the federal income tax consequences of the Reorganization will be passed upon by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel to the Funds, and certain legal matters concerning the issuance of shares of the Acquiring Fund will be passed upon by counsel to T. Rowe Price, which serves as sponsor and investment adviser of the Funds.
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (“Agreement”) is made this 8th day of May, 2024, by and between (i) T. Rowe Price Global Funds, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland on behalf of its series, T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund (“Acquired Fund”), and (ii) T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland on behalf of its series, T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund (“Acquiring Fund”) and each of the Acquiring Fund’s classes, T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund, T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund – Advisor Class, T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund – I Class, and T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund – Z Class. All references in this Agreement to the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund are, as applicable, to the T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund (including each of its classes) and the T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond 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 I Class shares (par value $0.01 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) 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
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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 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
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Acquiring Fund identifies a Liability that the Acquiring Fund and the 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, on September 27, 2024, 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.
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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 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 Emerging Markets Bond 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 cancelled 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 objective, 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 objective, policies, and restrictions. In the event that the Acquired Fund holds any investments that
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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 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. The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each be responsible for its own expenses (including legal, audit, printing and mailing, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, taxes, and nonrecurring extraordinary items) incurred 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.
B. Opinion of Acquiring Fund Counsel. At the Closing, the Acquiring Fund shall furnish the Acquired 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 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:
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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, 2023, 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 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, 2024. 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 May 8, 2024, 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),
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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;
(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
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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 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) shall be delivered by the Acquired Fund to all shareholders of record of the Acquired Fund beginning on or about August 9, 2024, to notify shareholders of this transaction, and 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) 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
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and statement of changes in net assets of the Acquiring Fund as of December 31, 2023, and for the year then ended heretofore delivered to the Acquired Fund were prepared in 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 the Acquiring Fund will furnish to the Acquired 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 Acquiring Fund for the period commencing on the date following the date specified in paragraph 9.A. above and ending on June 30, 2024. 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 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;
D. 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 May 8, 2024, 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 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;
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F. 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;
G. 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;
H. 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;
I. 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 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;
J. 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) of the Code;
K. 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;
L. 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
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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
M. 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.
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.
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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 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.
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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
Elliot J. Gluck, 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 upon the giving of written notice to the other, if the conditions specified in paragraphs 8., 9., and 10. have not been performed or do not exist on or before November 26, 2024 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
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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.
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.
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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 Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
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WITNESS: | T. ROWE PRICE GLOBAL FUNDS, INC., on behalf of the T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund |
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T. ROWE PRICE EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND (a series of T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc.)
T. ROWE PRICE INSTITUTIONAL EMERGING MARKETS BOND FUND (a series of T. Rowe Price Global Funds, Inc.)
PART B
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
August 9, 2024
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) relates to the proposed transaction (the “Reorganization”) pursuant to which the T. Rowe Price Institutional Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the “Institutional Fund”) will be reorganized into the T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond Fund (the “Acquiring Fund” and together with the Institutional Fund, the “Funds”). Both Funds are managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“T. Rowe Price”).
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 (“Statement”), dated August 9, 2024, of the Funds. As described in the Statement, the Reorganization would involve the transfer of substantially all the assets and liabilities of the Institutional Fund in exchange for I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund. The Institutional Fund would distribute the I Class shares of the Acquiring Fund it receives to its shareholders, and the Institutional Fund’s issued and outstanding shares would be canceled and redeemed, in complete liquidation of the Institutional Fund.
This SAI is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the Statement. This SAI and the Statement have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Copies of the Statement are available upon request and without charge by writing to the Acquiring Fund at 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, or by calling 1-800-541-5910.
The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the prospectuses and Statement of Additional Information of the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund, other material incorporated by reference and other information regarding the Institutional Fund and Acquiring Fund.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Additional Information About the Institutional Fund and the | |
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I. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE
INSTITUTIONAL FUND AND THE ACQUIRING FUND
The Statement of Additional Information for the Funds, dated May 1, 2024, as filed with the SEC on April 25, 2024 (SEC File Nos. 033-29697 and 002-65539, respectively), 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.
The annual shareholder report of the Institutional Fund, dated December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 22, 2024 (SEC File No. 811-05833), is incorporated by reference.
The annual shareholder report of the Acquiring Fund, dated December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on February 22, 2024 (SEC File No. 811-02958), is incorporated by reference.
Each of these reports contains historical financial information regarding the Funds, including each Fund’s financial statements and report of the Funds’ Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and is available without charge at troweprice.com or by calling 1-800-541-5910.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, located at 100 East Pratt Street, Suite 2600, Baltimore, MD 21202, is the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm to the Institutional Fund and the Acquiring Fund, providing audit and tax return review of various SEC filings.
III. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A table showing the fees of the Acquiring Fund and the Institutional Fund, as well as the pro forma fees of the Combined Fund, are included in the section entitled “Fees and Expenses” of the Statement. The fees and expenses of the Combined Fund assume the Reorganization takes place as proposed.
The Reorganization will not result in a material change to the Institutional Fund’s investment portfolio due to the investment restrictions of the Acquiring Fund. Accordingly, a schedule of investments of the Institutional Fund modified to show the effects of the change is not required and is not included.
There are no material differences in accounting policies of the Institutional Fund as compared to those of the Acquiring Fund.
C00-063 8/9/24
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PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 15. Indemnification
The Registrant maintains comprehensive Errors and Omissions and Officers and Directors insurance policies written by ICI Mutual. These policies provide coverage for T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Manager”), and its subsidiaries and affiliates and all other investment companies in the T. Rowe Price family of mutual funds as listed in Item 31 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement filed as Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024. In addition to the corporate insureds, the policies also cover the officers, directors, and employees of the Manager, its subsidiaries, and affiliates. The premium is allocated among the named corporate insureds in accordance with the provisions of Rule 17d-1(d)(7) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
General. The Charter of the Corporation provides that to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland or federal law, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or the holders of Shares for money damages and each director and officer shall be indemnified by the Corporation; provided, however, that nothing therein shall be deemed to protect any director or officer of the Corporation against any liability to the Corporation of the holders of Shares to which such director or officer would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Article X, Section 10.01 of the Registrant’s By-Laws provides as follows:
Section 10.01. Indemnification and Payment of Expenses in Advance: The Corporation shall indemnify any individual (“Indemnitee”) who is a present or former director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or who is or has been serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, who, by reason of his position was, is, or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter collectively referred to as a “Proceeding”) against any judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, to the fullest extent that such indemnification may be lawful under Maryland law. The Corporation shall pay any reasonable expenses so incurred by such Indemnitee in defending a Proceeding in advance of the final disposition thereof to the fullest extent that such advance payment may be lawful under Maryland law. Subject to any applicable limitations and requirements set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and in these By-Laws, any payment of indemnification or advance of expenses shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Maryland law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall protect or purport to protect any Indemnitee against any liability to which he would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office (“Disabling Conduct”).
Anything in this Article X to the contrary notwithstanding, no indemnification shall be made by the Corporation to any Indemnitee unless:
(a) there is a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the Proceeding was brought that the Indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct; or
(b) in the absence of such a decision, there is a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the Indemnitee was not liable by reason of Disabling Conduct, which determination shall be made by:
(i) the vote of a majority of a quorum of directors who are neither “interested persons” of the Corporation as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act, nor parties to the Proceeding; or
(ii) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Anything in this Article X to the contrary notwithstanding, any advance of expenses by the Corporation to any Indemnitee shall be made only upon the undertaking by such Indemnitee to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined that such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification as above provided, and only if one of the following conditions is met:
(a) the Indemnitee provides a security for his undertaking; or
(b) the Corporation shall be insured against losses arising by reason of any lawful advances; or
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(c) there is a determination, based on a review of readily available facts, that there is reason to believe that the Indemnitee will ultimately be found entitled to indemnification, which determination shall be made by:
(i) a majority of a quorum of directors who are neither “interested persons” of the Corporation as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act, nor parties to the Proceeding; or
(ii) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
Section 10.02. Insurance of Officers, Directors, Employees, and Agents. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Maryland law and by Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as from time to time amended, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in or arising out of his position, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 16. Exhibits
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(3) See Article FIFTH, Capital Stock, paragraphs (B)-(E) of the Articles of Restatement, and Article II, Shareholders, in its entirety, and Article VIII, Capital Stock, in its entirety, of the Bylaws
(4) Form of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated _______ is attached as Exhibit A to the Combined Information Statement and Prospectus and is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (4) of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14 dated August 8, 2024 (to be filed by amendment)
(5) Inapplicable
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(6)(g) Investment Management Agreement between Registrant and Rowe Price-Fleming International, Inc., on behalf of T. Rowe Price Latin America Fund, dated November 3, 1993 (filed with Amendment No. 41 dated December 16, 1993)
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(6)(bbbb) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and T. Rowe Price International Ltd with respect to each Fund set forth on Schedule 1, dated May 1, 2022, as amended September 1, 2022, November 1, 2022, December 1, 2022, December 5, 2022, May 1, 2023, and February 5, 2024 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
(6)(cccc) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Limited with respect to each Fund set forth on Schedule 1, dated May 1, 2022, as amended August 1, 2022 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
(6)(dddd) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Japan, Inc. with respect to each Fund set forth on Schedule 1, dated May 1, 2022 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
(6)(eeee) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Singapore Private Ltd. with respect to each Fund set forth on Schedule 1, dated May 1, 2022 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
(8) Inapplicable
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(11) Opinion of Counsel as to the legality of securities - is filed herewith as Exhibit 11
(12) Opinion and Consent of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP with respect to tax consequences (to be filed by amendment)
(13)(a) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Funds, dated January 1, 2024, as amended March 1, 2024 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
(13)(b) Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Funds for Fund Accounting Services, dated January 1, 2014, as amended February 4, 2014, April 29, 2014, November 1, 2014, December 29, 2014, January 20, 2015, July 1, 2015, and July 27, 2015 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 142 dated April 27, 2016)
(13)(c) Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds for Fund Accounting and Related Administrative Services, dated August 1, 2015, as amended November 3, 2015, April 27, 2016, July 19, 2016, August 1, 2016, October 25, 2016, April 18, 2017, July 17, 2017, October 30, 2017, August 9, 2018, August 1, 2019, June 5, 2020, and October 5, 2020 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 189 dated April 28, 2022)
(13)(d) Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds for Fund Accounting and Related Administrative Services, dated January 4, 2021 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 189 dated April 28, 2022)
(13)(e) Amended and Restated Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds for Fund Accounting and Related Administrative Services, dated February 1, 2024, as amended March 1, 2024 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
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(13)(g) Fund Accounting Agreement Side Letter between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds in connection with the Fund Accounting Agreement between the T. Rowe Price Funds, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon dated February 28, 2017, as amended April 18, 2017, July 17, 2017, October 30, 2017, August 9, 2018, August 30, 2019, June 5, 2020, October 5, 2020, January 4, 2021, and September 1, 2021 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 196 dated August 21, 2023)
(13)(f) Agreement between T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds, dated January 1, 2024, as amended March 1, 2024 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 201 dated April 25, 2024)
(14) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(15) Inapplicable
(16) Power of Attorney
Item 17. Undertakings
(1) The undersigned registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is part of this registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act, the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for the reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.
(2) The undersigned registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them.
(3) The undersigned registrant agrees that, in response to Exhibit 12 required by Item 16, the Opinion and Consent of Counsel - Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, regarding certain tax matters, will be filed as part of an amendment to the registration statement
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As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registrant Statement has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, in the City of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, on the 8th day of August, 2024.
T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc.
/s/David Oestreicher
By: David Oestreicher
Director and President
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature | Title | Date |
/s/David Oestreicher | Director and President | August 8, 2024 |
David Oestreicher | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/Alan S. Dupski | Treasurer and Vice President | August 8, 2024 |
Alan S. Dupski | (Principal Financial Officer | |
and Principal Accounting Officer) | ||
* | ||
Teresa Bryce Bazemore | Director | August 8, 2024 |
* | ||
Melody Bianchetto | Director | August 8, 2024 |
* | ||
Bruce W. Duncan | Director | August 8, 2024 |
* | ||
Robert J. Gerrard, Jr. | Chairman of the Board | August 8, 2024 |
and Director | ||
* | ||
Paul F. McBride | Director | August 8, 2024 |
* | ||
Mark J. Parrell | Director | August 8, 2024 |
/s/Eric L. Veiel | Director and Vice President | August 8, 2024 |
Eric L. Veiel | ||
* | ||
Kellye L. Walker | Director | August 8, 2024 |
*/s/David Oestreicher | Attorney-In-Fact | August 8, 2024 |
David Oestreicher |