UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act File Number: 811-04441
| T. Rowe Price GNMA Fund |
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| (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
| |
| 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
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| (Address of principal executive offices) |
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| David Oestreicher |
| 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
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| (Name and address of agent for service) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (410) 345-2000
Date of fiscal year end: May 31
Date of reporting period: November 30, 2012
Item 1. Report to Shareholders
| GNMA Fund | November 30, 2012 |
The views and opinions in this report were current as of November 30, 2012. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Investment decisions reflect a variety of factors, and the managers reserve the right to change their views about individual stocks, sectors, and the markets at any time. As a result, the views expressed should not be relied upon as a forecast of the fund’s future investment intent. The report is certified under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires mutual funds and other public companies to affirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the information in their financial reports is fairly and accurately stated in all material respects.
REPORTS ON THE WEB
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Manager’s Letter
Fellow Shareholders
The past six months witnessed another round of positive, if more modest, returns for investors in long-term bonds, including GNMAs. The period witnessed the start of massive purchases of GNMAs and other agency mortgage-backed securities by the Federal Reserve. While these purchases helped drive down GNMA yields and boosted bond prices, their effect was offset somewhat by lower demand from private investors and rising prepayments, which weighed on GNMA prices. The GNMA Fund recorded a modest gain in this environment that compared favorably with its benchmark and peer group.
The GNMA Fund returned 1.13% over the six months ended November 30, 2012. As shown in the Performance Comparison table, the portfolio outperformed the Barclays U.S. GNMA Index and the Lipper GNMA Funds Average. The fund’s performance builds on a record that compares favorably with the majority of its peers over longer time periods. Based on cumulative total return, the fund was ranked 20 of 67, 25 of 65, 33 of 59, and 21 of 51 GNMA funds among its Lipper peer group for the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods ended November 30, 2012, respectively. (Past performance cannot guarantee future results.)
ECONOMY AND INTEREST RATES
Investors faced another challenging and uncertain market environment over the last six months, characterized by lingering concerns over the resilience and strength of the global economy. A primary factor driving volatility was the European sovereign debt crisis. Fears of a Greece exit from the European Union and increased concerns about the fiscal outlook for Spain and other peripheral countries led to worries over the summer that the eurozone might collapse. The deepening crisis led European Central Bank President Mario Draghi to state on July 26 that the ECB would do “whatever it takes” to save the euro, a promise that was echoed the next day by the leaders of France and Germany. In early September, the ECB announced a conditional plan to buy the short-term sovereign debt of troubled European nations to keep borrowing costs at manageable levels.
Europe’s problems threatened the momentum of the U.S. economic recovery, which helped prompt further accommodative monetary policy from the Federal Reserve. With the labor market failing to gain traction, the Federal Reserve announced a third round of quantitative easing (more commonly called QE3). In what was widely interpreted as a victory for the “doves”—or those Fed officials willing to accept the risk of higher inflation in order to bring down the unemployment rate—the central bank announced that it would begin buying $40 billion worth of agency MBS every month. Significantly, the Fed set no expiration date on its buying program, but rather indicated that it would continue making asset purchases as long as “the outlook for the labor market does not improve substantially.” (Shortly after the end of our reporting period, the Fed announced further Treasury bond purchases and set a specific target for the unemployment rate, 6.5%, for the end of its MBS purchase program.) The Fed also extended its policy rate guidance by half a year, anticipating that “exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate are likely to be warranted at least through mid-2015.”
Against this backdrop, fixed income markets saw broadly based positive returns, with credit-sensitive sectors of the bond market outpacing returns in the U.S. Treasury and government-guaranteed mortgage-backed sectors. Concerns over Europe helped to pressure interest rates to the lowest levels on record: The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note moved to 1.39% in mid-July before spiking higher and then settling near the middle of the six-month range toward the end of our reporting period. Conversely, yields on agency-related fixed-rate MBS declined over the past six months, helping the sector outperform risk-free Treasuries with similar maturities.
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
While gridlock in Washington generally kept regulatory changes to a minimum, housing policy proved an exception and represented a larger challenge for investors to navigate. With interest rates at the lowest levels on record and the housing market continuing to recover, the administration had a renewed focus on raising the level of mortgage refinance activity to provide consumers greater access to low mortgage rates and provide further stimulus to the economy. Ultimately, modifications to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP 2.0) and streamlining of Federal Housing Administration loan refinancing led to a quickened pace of refinance activity.
Although a positive for homeowners, the change in policy weakened the fundamentals supporting government-sponsored and guaranteed MBS, weighing on valuations. Similarly, in September, the Federal Reserve once again expanded its efforts to support the market through additional asset purchases. As described earlier, the Fed began purchasing $40 billion in agency MBS every month, putting additional downward pressure on interest rates and supporting the improving housing sector with lower mortgage rates.
Our emphasis on fundamental credit and quantitative research—which continues to guide our investment process and our search for risk-appropriate ways to deliver income to investors—led to greater diversification in the portfolio in recent months. Specifically, we lowered our allocation to traditional GNMA fixed-rate mortgage-backed pass-through securities and increased our weighting in GNMA-collateralized mortgage obligations, which provide greater income stability in the current environment and protection against refinancing activity. Additionally, in order to protect against refinancing, we maintained our modest positions in higher-rated and shorter-term maturity commercial mortgage-backed securities to provide greater diversification to sectors with improving fundamentals. We have found another attractive alternative in liquid floating rate notes supported by high-quality MBS in the UK.
While additional support from the Federal Reserve has improved liquidity and rectified potential imbalances in the mortgage market, we remain cautious of broader economic and underlying fundamental factors that can affect valuations within the sector. Fiscal challenges in the U.S. and Europe, as well as uncertainty over employment trends and Federal Reserve policy, lead us to favor fundamentally attractive, income-producing securities within the government-guaranteed mortgage-backed sector as well as issues with a lower sensitivity to moves in longer-term interest rates.
OUTLOOK
With valuations stretched in many fixed income sectors, we believe careful research into individual securities is more important than ever. In addition, the Federal Reserve’s current accommodative policy is expected to keep interest rates low for the foreseeable future, which may lead to a lower-return environment for fixed income investors persisting for some time. Nevertheless, we are confident that we will be able to work with our extensive staff of analysts to seize opportunities as they become available.
As always, thank you for investing with T. Rowe Price.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew McCormick
Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee
December 15, 2012
The committee chairman has day-to-day responsibility for managing the portfolio and works with committee members in developing and executing the fund’s investment program.
RISKS OF GNMA FUND INVESTING
Even though principal and interest payments on GNMAs are guaranteed, an increase in interest rates can cause share price to decline, resulting in a loss of principal. Investors in bond funds are also subject to several other types of risk—interest rate risk, credit risk, prepayment risk, extension risk, and derivatives risk. Since the fund invests primarily in GNMAs, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, its exposure to credit risk is low. A mortgage-backed bond, unlike most other bonds, can be hurt when interest rates fall because homeowners tend to refinance and prepay principal. Prepayments can cause the average maturity of the portfolio to shorten, require the fund to reinvest proceeds at lower interest rates, or even cause certain bonds’ prices to fall below what the fund paid for them, resulting in a capital loss. Increased interest rates can cause the fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. Shareholders are also exposed to derivatives risk, the potential that our investments in these complex and volatile instruments could affect the fund’s share price.
GLOSSARY
Asset-backed securities: Bonds whose payments are backed by a pool of receivables or other financial assets.
Barclays U.S. GNMA Index: Tracks the performance of mortgage-backed pass-through securities of the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA).
Collateralized mortgage obligation (CMO): Bonds backed by mortgage pass-throughs whose cash flows are directed in different ways to different classes. Some classes may have less risk associated with prepayments, and, by default, the other classes will have more prepayment risk.
Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS): Bonds backed by loans on commercial rather than residential properties.
Duration: A measure of a bond fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, a fund with a duration of five years would fall about 5% in price in response to a one-percentage-point rise in interest rates, and vice versa.
Lipper averages: The averages of available mutual fund performance returns for specified time periods in categories defined by Lipper Inc.
SEC yield (30-day): A method of calculating a fund’s yield that assumes all portfolio securities are held until maturity. Yield will vary and is not guaranteed.
Total return: The annual rate of return on a bond, taking into account interest income, plus appreciation or depreciation. If a bond is held to maturity, its total return equals its yield to maturity.
Weighted average maturity: A measure of a fund’s interest rate sensitivity. In general, the longer the average maturity, the greater the fund’s sensitivity to interest rate changes. The weighted average maturity may take into account the interest rate readjustment dates for certain securities. Money funds must maintain a weighted average maturity of less than 60 days.
Yield curve: A graph depicting the relationship between yields and maturity dates for a set of similar securities. These curves are in constant flux. One of the key activities in managing any fixed income portfolio is to study the trends reflected by yield curves.
Performance and Expenses
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records). The result is compared with benchmarks, which may include a broad-based market index and a peer group average or index. Market indexes do not include expenses, which are deducted from fund returns as well as mutual fund averages and indexes.
As a mutual fund shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other fund expenses. The following example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the most recent six-month period and held for the entire period.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the following table (Actual) provides information about actual account values and expenses based on the fund’s actual returns. You may use the information on this line, together with your account balance, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number on the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The information on the second line of the table (Hypothetical) is based on hypothetical account values and expenses derived from the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% per year rate of return before expenses (not the fund’s actual return). You may compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund with other funds by contrasting this 5% hypothetical example and the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
Note: T. Rowe Price charges an annual account service fee of $20, generally for accounts with less than $10,000. The fee is waived for any investor whose T. Rowe Price mutual fund accounts total $50,000 or more; accounts electing to receive electronic delivery of account statements, transaction confirmations, prospectuses, and shareholder reports; or accounts of an investor who is a T. Rowe Price Preferred Services, Personal Services, or Enhanced Personal Services client (enrollment in these programs generally requires T. Rowe Price assets of at least $100,000). This fee is not included in the accompanying table. If you are subject to the fee, keep it in mind when you are estimating the ongoing expenses of investing in the fund and when comparing the expenses of this fund with other funds.
You should also be aware that the expenses shown in the table highlight only your ongoing costs and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. To the extent a fund charges transaction costs, however, the total cost of owning that fund is higher.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
| Notes to Financial Statements |
T. Rowe Price GNMA Fund (the fund), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The fund commenced operations on November 26, 1985. The fund seeks high current income consistent with high overall credit quality and moderate price fluctuation by investing at least 80% of its total assets in Government National Mortgage Association securities backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), which require the use of estimates made by management. Management believes that estimates and valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the valuations reflected in the accompanying financial statements may differ from the value ultimately realized upon sale or maturity.
Investment Transactions, Investment Income, and Distributions Income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized for financial reporting purposes. Paydown gains and losses are recorded as an adjustment to interest income. Dividends received from mutual fund investments are reflected as dividend income; capital gain distributions are reflected as realized gain/loss. Earnings on investments recognized as partnerships for federal income tax purposes reflect the tax character of such earnings. Dividend income and capital gain distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income tax-related interest and penalties, if incurred, would be recorded as income tax expense. Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses are reported on the identified cost basis. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income distributions are declared daily and paid monthly. Capital gain distributions, if any, are generally declared and paid by the fund annually.
Credits The fund earns credits on temporarily uninvested cash balances held at the custodian, which reduce the fund’s custody charges. Custody expense in the accompanying financial statements is presented before reduction for credits.
New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued amended guidance to align fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP with International Financial Reporting Standards. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Adoption had no effect on net assets or results of operations.
In December 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance to enhance disclosure for offsetting assets and liabilities. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Adoption will have no effect on the fund’s net assets or results of operations.
NOTE 2 - VALUATION
The fund’s financial instruments are reported at fair value as defined by GAAP. The fund determines the values of its assets and liabilities and computes its net asset value per share at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. ET, each day that the NYSE is open for business.
Valuation Methods Debt securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Securities with remaining maturities of one year or more at the time of acquisition are valued at prices furnished by dealers who make markets in such securities or by an independent pricing service, which considers the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Securities with remaining maturities of less than one year at the time of acquisition generally use amortized cost in local currency to approximate fair value. However, if amortized cost is deemed not to reflect fair value or the fund holds a significant amount of such securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the securities are valued at prices furnished by dealers who make markets in such securities or by an independent pricing service.
Investments in mutual funds are valued at the mutual fund’s closing net asset value per share on the day of valuation. Financial futures contracts are valued at closing settlement prices. Swaps are valued at prices furnished by independent swap dealers or by an independent pricing service.
Other investments, including restricted securities and private placements, and those financial instruments for which the above valuation procedures are inappropriate or are deemed not to reflect fair value, are stated at fair value as determined in good faith by the T. Rowe Price Valuation Committee, established by the fund’s Board of Trustees (the Board). Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee develops pricing-related policies and procedures and approves all fair-value determinations. The Valuation Committee regularly makes good faith judgments, using a wide variety of sources and information, to establish and adjust valuations of certain securities as events occur and circumstances warrant. For instance, in determining the fair value of private-equity instruments, the Valuation Committee considers a variety of factors, including the company’s business prospects, its financial performance, strategic events impacting the company, relevant valuations of similar companies, new rounds of financing, and any negotiated transactions of significant size between other investors in the company. Because any fair-value determination involves a significant amount of judgment, there is a degree of subjectivity inherent in such pricing decisions.
Valuation Inputs Various inputs are used to determine the value of the fund’s financial instruments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical financial instruments
Level 2 – observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar financial instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk)
Level 3 – unobservable inputs
Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the fund, and unobservable inputs reflect the fund’s own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level. The following table summarizes the fund’s financial instruments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on November 30, 2012:
Following is a reconciliation of the fund’s Level 3 holdings for the six months ended November 30, 2012. Gain (loss) reflects both realized and change in unrealized gain (loss) on Level 3 holdings during the period, if any, and is included on the accompanying Statement of Operations. The change in unrealized gain (loss) on Level 3 instruments held at November 30, 2012, totaled $0 for the six months ended November 30, 2012.
NOTE 3 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
During the six months ended November 30, 2012, the fund invested in derivative instruments. As defined by GAAP, a derivative is a financial instrument whose value is derived from an underlying security price, foreign exchange rate, interest rate, index of prices or rates, or other variable; it requires little or no initial investment and permits or requires net settlement. The fund invests in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards are consistent with its investment objectives, policies, and overall risk profile, as described in its prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. The fund may use derivatives for a variety of purposes, such as seeking to hedge against declines in principal value, increase yield, invest in an asset with greater efficiency and at a lower cost than is possible through direct investment, or to adjust portfolio duration and credit exposure. The risks associated with the use of derivatives are different from, and potentially much greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the instruments on which the derivatives are based. Investments in derivatives can magnify returns positively or negatively; however, the fund at all times maintains sufficient cash reserves, liquid assets, or other SEC-permitted asset types to cover the settlement obligations under its open derivative contracts.
The fund values its derivatives at fair value, as described below and in Note 2, and recognizes changes in fair value currently in its results of operations. Accordingly, the fund does not follow hedge accounting, even for derivatives employed as economic hedges. The fund does not offset the fair value of derivative instruments against the right to reclaim or obligation to return collateral. The following table summarizes the fair value of the fund’s derivative instruments held as of November 30, 2012, and the related location on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities, presented by primary underlying risk exposure:
Additionally, the amount of gains and losses on derivative instruments recognized in fund earnings during the six months ended November 30, 2012, and the related location on the accompanying Statement of Operations is summarized in the following table by primary underlying risk exposure:
Futures Contracts The fund is subject to interest rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and uses futures contracts to help manage such risk. The fund may enter into futures contracts to manage exposure to interest rate and yield curve movements, security prices, foreign currencies, credit quality, and mortgage prepayments; as an efficient means of adjusting exposure to all or part of a target market; to enhance income; as a cash management tool; and/or to adjust portfolio duration and credit exposure. A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another of a specified amount of a particular underlying financial instrument at an agreed-upon price, date, time, and place. The fund currently invests only in exchange-traded futures, which generally are standardized as to maturity date, underlying financial instrument, and other contract terms. Upon entering into a futures contract, the fund is required to deposit collateral with the broker in the form of cash or securities in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract value (margin requirement); the margin requirement must then be maintained at the established level over the life of the contract. Subsequent payments are made or received by the fund each day to settle daily fluctuations in the value of the contract (variation margin), which reflect changes in the value of the underlying financial instrument. Variation margin is recorded as unrealized gain or loss until the contract is closed. The value of a futures contract included in net assets is the amount of unsettled variation margin; net variation margin receivable is reflected as an asset, and net variation margin payable is reflected as a liability on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks related to the use of futures contracts include possible illiquidity of the futures markets, contract prices that can be highly volatile and imperfectly correlated to movements in hedged security values and/or interest rates, and potential losses in excess of the fund’s initial investment. During the six months ended November 30, 2012, the fund’s exposure to futures, based on underlying notional amounts, was generally between 1% and 4% of net assets.
Interest Rate Swaps The fund is subject to interest rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and uses swap contracts to help manage such risk. The fund may use swaps in an effort to manage exposure to changes in interest rates, inflation rates, and credit quality; to adjust overall exposure to certain markets; to enhance total return or protect the value of portfolio securities; to serve as a cash management tool; and/or to adjust portfolio duration and credit exposure. Interest rate swaps are agreements to exchange cash flows based on the difference between specified interest rates applied to a notional principal amount for a specified period of time. The value of a swap included in net assets is the unrealized gain or loss on the contract plus or minus any unamortized premiums paid or received, respectively. Appreciated swaps and premiums paid are reflected as assets, and depreciated swaps and premiums received are reflected as liabilities on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Net periodic receipts or payments required by swaps are accrued daily and are recorded as realized gain or loss for financial reporting purposes when settled; fluctuations in the fair value of swaps are reflected in the change in net unrealized gain or loss and are reclassified to realized gain or loss upon termination prior to maturity or cash settlement. Risks related to the use of interest rate swaps include the potential for unanticipated movements in interest and/or currency rates, the possible failure of a counterparty to perform in accordance with the terms of the swap agreements, potential government regulation that could adversely affect the fund’s swap investments, and potential losses in excess of the fund’s initial investment. During the six months ended November 30, 2012, the fund’s exposure to swaps, based on underlying notional amounts, was generally between 0% and 2% of net assets.
NOTE 4 - OTHER INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Consistent with its investment objective, the fund engages in the following practices to manage exposure to certain risks and/or to enhance performance. The investment objective, policies, program, and risk factors of the fund are described more fully in the fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Restricted Securities The fund may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Prompt sale of such securities at an acceptable price may be difficult and may involve substantial delays and additional costs.
TBA Purchase and Sale Commitments During the six months ended November 30, 2012, the fund entered into to be announced (TBA) purchase and/or sale commitments, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase or sell, respectively, mortgage-backed securities for a fixed unit price, with payment and delivery at a scheduled future date beyond the customary settlement period for such mortgage-backed securities. With TBA transactions, the particular securities to be delivered are not identified at the trade date; however, delivered securities must meet specified terms, including issuer, rate, and mortgage term, and be within industry-accepted “good delivery” standards. The fund generally enters into TBA purchase transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying mortgage securities; however, for either purchase or sale transactions, the fund also may extend the settlement by “rolling” the transaction. Until settlement, the fund maintains cash reserves and liquid assets sufficient to settle its TBA commitments.
Dollar Rolls During the six months ended November 30, 2012, the fund entered into dollar roll transactions, pursuant to which it sells a mortgage-backed TBA or security and simultaneously purchases a similar, but not identical, TBA with the same issuer, rate, and terms. The fund may execute a “roll” to obtain better underlying mortgage securities or to enhance returns. The fund generally enters into dollar roll transactions with the intention of taking possession of the underlying mortgage securities, but may close a contract prior to settlement or “roll” settlement to a later date if deemed to be in the best interest of shareholders. Actual mortgages received by the fund may be less favorable than those anticipated. The fund accounts for dollar roll transactions as purchases and sales, which has the effect of increasing its portfolio turnover rate.
Counterparty Risk and Collateral The fund has entered into collateral agreements with certain counterparties to mitigate counterparty risk associated with certain over-the-counter (OTC) financial instruments, including swaps, forward currency exchange contracts, TBA purchase commitments, and OTC options (collectively, covered OTC instruments). Subject to certain minimum exposure requirements (which typically range from $100,000 to $500,000), collateral requirements generally are determined and transfers made based on the net aggregate unrealized gain or loss on all OTC instruments covered by a particular collateral agreement with a specified counterparty. At any point in time, the fund’s risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on covered OTC instruments is the aggregate unrealized gain on appreciated covered OTC instruments in excess of collateral, if any, pledged by the counterparty to the fund. Further, in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreements, counterparties to certain OTC instruments may be able to terminate the contracts prior to maturity upon the occurrence of certain stated events, such as a decline in net assets above a certain percentage or a failure by the fund to perform its obligations under the contract. Upon termination, all transactions would typically be liquidated and a net amount would be owed by or payable to the fund.
Counterparty risk related to exchange-traded futures and options contracts is minimal because the exchange’s clearinghouse provides protection against counterparty defaults. Generally, for exchange-traded derivatives such as futures and options, each broker, in its sole discretion, may change margin requirements applicable to the fund.
Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. government or related agencies. For OTC instruments, collateral both pledged by the fund to a counterparty and pledged by a counterparty to the fund, is held in a segregated account by a third-party agent. For exchange-traded instruments, margin posted by the fund is held by the broker. Cash posted by the fund as collateral or to meet margin requirements is reflected as restricted cash in the accompanying financial statements and securities posted by the fund are so noted in the accompanying Portfolio of Investments; both remain in the fund’s assets. Collateral pledged by counterparties is not included in the fund’s assets because the fund does not obtain effective control over those assets. As of November 30, 2012, securities valued at $12,000 had been posted by the fund to counterparties for covered OTC instruments. As of November 30, 2012, collateral pledged by counterparties to the fund for covered OTC instruments consisted of $121,000 cash. As of November 30, 2012, securities valued at $282,000 had been posted by the fund to the broker for exchange-traded derivatives.
Other Purchases and sales of portfolio securities other than short-term and U.S. government securities aggregated $28,405,000 and $105,291,000, respectively, for the six months ended November 30, 2012. Purchases and sales of U.S. government securities aggregated $2,062,514,000 and $1,932,306,000, respectively, for the six months ended November 30, 2012.
NOTE 5 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
No provision for federal income taxes is required since the fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and distribute to shareholders all of its taxable income and gains. Distributions determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations may differ in amount or character from net investment income and realized gains for financial reporting purposes. Financial reporting records are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character but are not adjusted for temporary differences. The amount and character of tax-basis distributions and composition of net assets are finalized at fiscal year-end; accordingly, tax-basis balances have not been determined as of the date of this report.
The fund intends to retain realized gains to the extent of available capital loss carryforwards. Net realized capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future realized capital gains.
At November 30, 2012, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,979,666,000. Net unrealized gain aggregated $34,106,000 at period-end, of which $52,903,000 related to appreciated investments and $18,797,000 related to depreciated investments.
NOTE 6 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Price Associates), a wholly owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (Price Group). The investment management agreement between the fund and Price Associates provides for an annual investment management fee, which is computed daily and paid monthly. The fee consists of an individual fund fee, equal to 0.15% of the fund’s average daily net assets, and a group fee. The group fee rate is calculated based on the combined net assets of certain mutual funds sponsored by Price Associates (the group) applied to a graduated fee schedule, with rates ranging from 0.48% for the first $1 billion of assets to 0.28% for assets in excess of $300 billion. The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. At November 30, 2012, the effective annual group fee rate was 0.30%.
In addition, the fund has entered into service agreements with Price Associates and two wholly owned subsidiaries of Price Associates (collectively, Price). Price Associates computes the daily share price and provides certain other administrative services to the fund. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., provides shareholder and administrative services in its capacity as the fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for certain retirement accounts invested in the fund. For the six months ended November 30, 2012, expenses incurred pursuant to these service agreements were $63,000 for Price Associates; $302,000 for T. Rowe Price Services, Inc.; and $112,000 for T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. The total amount payable at period-end pursuant to these service agreements is reflected as Due to Affiliates in the accompanying financial statements.
The fund is also one of several mutual funds sponsored by Price Associates (underlying Price funds) in which the T. Rowe Price Spectrum Funds (Spectrum Funds) may invest. The Spectrum Funds do not invest in the underlying Price funds for the purpose of exercising management or control. Pursuant to a special servicing agreement, expenses associated with the operation of the Spectrum Funds are borne by each underlying Price fund to the extent of estimated savings to it and in proportion to the average daily value of its shares owned by the Spectrum Funds. Expenses allocated under this agreement are reflected as shareholder servicing expense in the accompanying financial statements. For the six months ended November 30, 2012, the fund was allocated $418,000 of Spectrum Funds’ expenses, of which $296,000 related to services provided by Price. The amount payable at period-end pursuant to this agreement is reflected as Due to Affiliates in the accompanying financial statements. At November 30, 2012, approximately 33% of the outstanding shares of the fund were held by the Spectrum Funds.
The fund may invest in the T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Fund and the T. Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund (collectively, the T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Funds), open-end management investment companies managed by Price Associates and considered affiliates of the fund. The T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Funds are offered as cash management options to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by Price Associates and/or its affiliates and are not available for direct purchase by members of the public. The T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Funds pay no investment management fees.
| Information on Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures, and Records |
A description of the policies and procedures used by T. Rowe Price funds and portfolios to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available in each fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which you may request by calling 1-800-225-5132 or by accessing the SEC’s website, sec.gov. The description of our proxy voting policies and procedures is also available on our website, troweprice.com. To access it, click on the words “Our Company” at the top of our corporate homepage. Then, when the next page appears, click on the words “Proxy Voting Policies” on the left side of the page.
Each fund’s most recent annual proxy voting record is available on our website and through the SEC’s website. To access it through our website, follow the directions above, then click on the words “Proxy Voting Records” on the right side of the Proxy Voting Policies page.
| How to Obtain Quarterly Portfolio Holdings |
The fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The fund’s Form N-Q is available electronically on the SEC’s website (sec.gov); hard copies may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F St. N.E., Washington, DC 20549. For more information on the Public Reference Room, call 1-800-SEC-0330.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
A code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions is filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to this code of ethics during the registrant’s most recent fiscal half-year.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Not applicable. The complete schedule of investments is included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported timely.
(b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) The registrant’s code of ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed with the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
(2) Separate certifications by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.
(3) Written solicitation to repurchase securities issued by closed-end companies: not applicable.
(b) A certification by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, is attached.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
T. Rowe Price GNMA Fund
| By | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
| | Edward C. Bernard |
| | Principal Executive Officer |
| | |
| Date January 23, 2013 | | |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
| | Edward C. Bernard |
| | Principal Executive Officer |
| | |
| Date January 23, 2013 | | |
| | |
| | |
| By | /s/ Gregory K. Hinkle |
| | Gregory K. Hinkle |
| | Principal Financial Officer |
| | |
| Date January 23, 2013 | | |
