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.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Item 16. Exhibits
(3) VOTING TRUST AGREEMENT
Not applicable
(4) AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
(a) Form of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization is filed herewith as Exhibit A to Part A of this Registration Statement on Form N-14
(5) INSTRUMENTS DEFINING RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS
(a) Article SEVENTH, Section I—Issue of the Corporation’s Shares and Section II—Redemption and Repurchase of the Corporation’s Shares, in their entirety, from the Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation, is hereby incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 15, electronically filed and dated April 25, 1994 and Article II, Shareholders, in its entirety, and Article VIII, Capital Stock, from the Registrant’s By-Laws, are also incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 15 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A electronically filed and dated April 25, 1994
(6) INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS
(a) Investment Management Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund, and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., dated July 1, 1987 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 15 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated April 25, 1994)
(b) Amended Investment Management Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund, and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., dated August 1, 2004 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated September 29, 2004)
(c) Form of Investment Management Agreement between Registrant, on behalf of T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund, T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, and T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—I Class, and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., dated ________________, 2017 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated February 17, 2017)
(7) UNDERWRITING AND DISTRIBUTION CONTRACTS
(a) Underwriting Agreement between Registrant and T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., dated May 1, 2003 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 30 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form
N-1A, dated September 26, 2003)
(b) Form of Selling Agreement to be used by T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. (electronically filed with Amendment No. 23 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated March 27, 2000)
(8) BONUS OR PROFIT SHARING PLAN
Not applicable
(9) CUSTODIAN AGREEMENTS
(a) Custodian Agreement between T. Rowe Price Funds and State Street Bank and Trust Company, dated January 28, 1998, as amended November 4, 1998, April 21, 1999, February 9, 2000, April 19, 2000, July 18, 2000, October 25, 2000, February 7, 2001, June 7, 2001, July 24, 2001, April 24, 2002, July 24, 2002, September 4, 2002, July 23, 2003, October 22, 2003, February 4, 2004, September 20, 2004, March 2, 2005, April 19, 2006, July 19, 2006, October 18, 2006, April 24, 2007, June 12, 2007, July 24, 2007, October 23, 2007, February 6, 2008, July 22, 2008, October 21, 2008, April 22, 2009, August 28, 2009, October 20, 2009, February 10, 2010, April 29, 2010, July 6, 2010, July 21, 2010, October 21, 2010, April 15, 2011, April 20, 2011, October 17, 2011, February 9, 2012, April 24, 2012, September 9, 2012, November 7, 2012, March 14, 2013, April 4, 2013, April 22, 2013, July 1, 2013, July 24, 2013, February 4, 2014, March 19, 2014, May 14, 2014, June 5, 2014, August 5, 2014, November 21, 2014, June 8, 2015, July 16, 2015, July 30, 2015, July 31, 2015, August 3, 2015,
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September 16, 2015, September 18, 2015, October 27, 2015, February 23, 2016, April 8, 2016, May 2, 2016, July 12, 2016, August 1, 2016, and October 3, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
(b) Global Custody Agreement between JPMorgan Chase Bank and T. Rowe Price Funds, dated January 3, 1994, as amended April 18, 1994, August 15, 1994, November 28, 1994, May 31, 1995, November 1, 1995, July 31, 1996, July 23, 1997, September 3, 1997, October 29, 1997, December 15, 1998, October 6, 1999, February 9, 2000, April 19, 2000, July 18, 2000, October 25, 2000, July 24, 2001, April 24, 2002, July 24, 2002, July 23, 2003, October 22, 2003, September 20, 2004, December 14, 2005, April 19, 2006, October 18, 2006, April 24, 2007, July 24, 2007, October 23, 2007, February 6, 2008, July 22, 2008, October 21, 2008, April 22, 2009, October 1, 2009, October 20, 2009, December 16, 2009, February 10, 2010, April 29, 2010, July 21, 2010, February 3, 2011, April 21, 2011, July 29, 2011, October 17, 2011, February 8, 2012, April 24, 2012, February 5, 2013, March 5, 2013, July 24, 2013, December 10, 2013, February 4, 2014, July 17, 2014, December 22, 2014, July 31, 2015, February 26, 2016, April 21, 2016, and July 15, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
(10) RULE 12B-1 PLAN AND RULE 18F-3 PLAN
(a) Rule 12b-1 Plan for T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, dated May 1, 2003 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 30 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated September 26, 2003)
(b) Rule 12b-1 Rule for T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, dated May 22, 2017 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated February 17, 2017)
(c) Rule 18f-3 Plan for T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund, T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, and T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund—I Class, dated February 9, 2000 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 23 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated March 27, 2000)
(d) Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan for T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund, T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, and T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund—I Class, dated August 28, 2015 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated August 12, 2015)
(e) Rule 18f-3 Plan for T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund, T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, and T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—I Class, dated May 22, 2017 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated February 17, 2017)
(11) AN OPINION AND CONSENT OF COUNSEL (AS TO LEGALITY OF THE SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED)
(a) Opinion and Consent of Counsel (to be filed by amendment)
(12) AN OPINION AND CONSENT OF COUNSEL (AS TO CERTAIN TAX CONSEQUENCES)
(a) Form or Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP supporting the tax matters and consequences to shareholders discussed in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement (to be filed by amendment)
(13) OTHER MATERIAL CONTRACTS OF THE REGISTRANT
(a) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. and T. Rowe Price Funds, dated January 1, 2016, as amended April 11, 2016, July 14, 2016, August 1, 2016, October 3, 2016, and October 11, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
(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. 47, dated September 23, 2015)
(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, and October 25, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
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(d) Fund Accounting Agreement between T. Rowe Price Funds, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, dated August 1, 2015, as amended December 9, 2015, February 23, 2016, April 27, 2016, April 30, 2016, July 19, 2016, August 1, 2016, September 28, 2016, and October 25, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
(e) 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 August 1, 2015, as amended November 3, 2015, April 18, 2016, July 19, 2016, August 1, 2016, and October 25, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
(f) Agreement between T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds, dated January 1, 2016, as amended April 11, 2016, July 14, 2016, October 3, 2016, and October 11, 2016 (to be filed by amendment)
(g) I Class Expense Limitation Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and the T. Rowe Price Funds listed on Exhibit A of the Agreement, dated July 27, 2015 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated August 12, 2015)
(h) Form of Expense Limitation Agreement between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and Registrant, on behalf of the T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund, T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—Advisor Class, and T. Rowe Price U.S. High Yield Fund—I Class, dated ______________, 2017 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 51 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated February 17, 2017)
(14) OTHER OPINIONS AND CONSENTS
(a) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (to be filed by amendment)
(15) OMITTED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable
(16) POWERS OF ATTORNEY
(a) Power of Attorney, dated July 27, 2015 (electronically filed with Amendment No. 45 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A, dated August 12, 2015)
(17) ADDITIONAL EXHIBITS
(a) [Form of Proxy Card (filed herewith)]
(b) Acquired Fund’s Summary Prospectus, dated November 30, 2016 (as supplemented) (File Nos. 333-62270 and 811-10399) as filed with the SEC on November 29, 2016 (Accession No. 0000891804-16-001933)
(c) Acquired Fund’s Semi-Annual Report for the fiscal period ended January 31, 2017 (File Nos. 333-62270 and 811-10399) (to be filed by amendment)
(d) Acquired Fund’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2016 (File Nos. 333-62270 and 811-10399) as filed with the SEC on September 29, 2016 (Accession No. 0000891804-16-001782) is incorporated herein by reference.
(e) Acquired Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, each dated November 30, 2016 (as supplemented) (File Nos. 333-62270 and 811-10399) as filed with the SEC on November 28, 2016 (Accession No. 0000891804-16-001920) is incorporated herein by reference.
(f) Acquiring Fund’s Statement of Additional Information, dated [April 14, 2017] (File Nos. 002-93707 and 811-04119) (to be filed by amendment)
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned Registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by any person or party who is
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deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act [17 CFR 230.145c], 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.
(b) 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.
(c) The Registrant hereby undertakes to file, by post-effective amendment, the final opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP supporting the tax consequences of the proposed reorganization as soon as practicable after the closing of the reorganization.
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Signatures
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form N-14 has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, in the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland on the 7th day of March, 2017.
T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund, Inc.
/s/Edward C. Bernard
By: Edward C. Bernard
Chairman of the Board
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form N-14 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| | |
Signature | Title | Date |
| | |
| | |
/s/Edward C. Bernard | Chairman of the Board | March 7, 2017 |
Edward C. Bernard | (Chief Executive Officer) | |
| | |
| | |
/s/Catherine D. Mathews | Treasurer | March 7, 2017 |
Catherine D. Mathews | (Chief Financial Officer) | |
| and Vice President | |
| | |
* | | |
Anthony W. Deering | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
* | | |
Bruce W. Duncan | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
* | | |
Robert J. Gerrard, Jr. | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
* | | |
Paul F. McBride | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
* | | |
Cecilia E. Rouse | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
* | | |
John G. Schreiber | Director | March 7, 2017 |
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| | |
| | |
| | |
* | | |
Mark. R. Tercek | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
/s/Edward A. Wiese | | |
Edward A. Wiese | Director | March 7, 2017 |
| | |
| | |
*/s/David Oestreicher | | |
David Oestreicher | Vice President and | March 7, 2017 |
| Attorney-In-Fact | |
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