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: 811-05833
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Funds, Inc. |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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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: October 31
Date of reporting period: October 31, 2014
Item 1. Report to Shareholders
Institutional International Core Equity Fund | October 31, 2014 |
- Stocks in non-U.S. developed markets posted a slight overall loss in the 12 months ended October 31, 2014, amid signs of a stalled economic recovery in Europe and Japan and slower growth in key emerging markets.
- The Institutional International Core Equity Fund returned -2.91% and 0.67% for the 6- and 12-month periods ended October 31, 2014, respectively, and outpaced the MSCI EAFE Index and its Lipper peer group average over both periods.
- Information technology and utilities stocks generated the portfolio’s largest absolute gains for the year, followed by health care and telecommunication services. Industrials and business services and financials were roughly flat, while energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, and materials declined.
- Overall, valuations in Europe, Japan, and key emerging markets appear reasonable relative to historical averages. Although many of the easy gains are gone, we continue to leverage our global research platform to uncover opportunities in companies that are successful at controlling costs and growing profits amid sluggish economic growth.
The views and opinions in this report were current as of October 31, 2014. 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.
Manager’s Letter
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
Dear Investor
Stocks in non-U.S. developed markets posted a slight overall loss in the 12 months ended October 31, 2014, amid signs of a stalled economic recovery in Europe and Japan and slower growth in key emerging markets. Geopolitical strife in Ukraine and the Middle East also contributed to investor anxiety, particularly over the second half of our reporting period. The U.S. dollar strengthened considerably against most other currencies, significantly eroding returns for U.S. dollar-based investors. The Institutional International Core Equity Fund performed reasonably well in this challenging environment and posted a modest gain for its fiscal year.
As shown in the Performance Comparison table, your fund returned -2.91% and 0.67% for the 6- and 12-month periods ended October 31, 2014, respectively. The fund outpaced its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Index, and its Lipper peer group average over both periods. The portfolio’s sector performance was mixed over the fiscal year. Information technology and utilities stocks generated double-digit gains, followed by positive results in health care and telecommunication services. Industrials and business services and financials were roughly flat, while energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, and materials declined. Stock selection and sector weightings helped the portfolio’s performance versus the MSCI EAFE Index.
Market Environment
Stocks in developed European markets fell slightly for the 12-month period and underperformed U.S. shares. The European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates toward the end of 2013, contributing to a market rally that extended into the early months of 2014. However, investors increasingly became concerned about stagnant economic growth as 2014 progressed, which led to a sharp downturn in European equities in the latter half of our reporting period. In an effort to stimulate the region’s economy, the ECB reduced its benchmark lending rates again in June and September and announced that it would start to buy asset-backed securities and certain types of secured debt. The ECB stopped short of announcing full-scale quantitative easing but may be compelled to do so if economic growth continues to stagnate and inflation remains low.
Stocks in Japan also fell modestly for the annual reporting period. Economic growth was strong in the first half of the year as a series of fiscal and monetary stimulus measures enacted by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe helped to spur economic growth. Consumers contributed to the rally as they increased their spending prior to an April 1 sales tax increase. Growth faltered after the tax increase, however, as consumers and businesses cut back on spending, and manufacturing activity slowed due to declining sales and a buildup of inventories. While the tax hike has curbed import demand somewhat, export growth continues to be lackluster despite a significant drop in the yen’s value versus the U.S. dollar over the past year.
Emerging markets stocks managed a slight overall gain, but returns varied across countries and regions. Shares in India surged higher, propelled by the election of Narendra Modi’s pro-business government, which introduced a number of measures designed to strengthen and stimulate the economy and fight widespread corruption. Stocks in China fared reasonably well after the economy appeared to stabilize in the wake of targeted stimulus measures early this year to stem a sharper-than-expected economic slowdown. Latin American markets generated mixed results with Mexico gaining and Brazil and Chile falling. Shares in the emerging Europe, Middle East, and Africa region tumbled due to heighted geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and key parts of the Middle East.
Portfolio Highlights and Positioning
The portfolio’s information technology shares generated double-digit gains over the 12-month period. Our software and services stocks were particularly strong, led by Baidu and Alibaba Group and, to a lesser extent, Tencent Holdings. Investors welcomed signs that Baidu, China’s leading search engine provider, has been able to grow and monetize its mobile business. We participated in the initial public offering of Alibaba, which is the dominant player in China’s e-commerce space. We believe the company has the potential for double-digit earnings growth over the next several years. Tencent enjoyed good growth in its online gaming platform for desktops and mobile devices, as well as its social networking operations. Semiconductor maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, a manufacturer of fast, energy-efficient logic chips for electronic devices such as mobile handsets, and ASML (Netherlands), which builds equipment used by chip makers such as Taiwan Semiconductor, benefited from growing end-market demand for mobile devices and other electronics. Stylus maker Wacom (Japan) weighed on results due to concerns about dwindling demand, while competitive concerns hurt shares of online review site Kakaku.com (Japan). (Please refer to the fund’s portfolio of investments for a complete list of holdings and the amount each represents in the portfolio.)
Our telecommunication services shares also fared well in absolute terms. Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT), Japan’s dominant player in fixed-line and wireless telecommunication, was a good performer. In keeping with a larger trend in Japan’s corporate culture, the company has adopted a more shareholder-friendly management approach by raising dividends and repurchasing stock. Mexico’s America Movil, the largest wireless provider in Latin America, gained as regulatory concerns receded and investors refocused on steady growth in Brazil, the U.S., and other markets. Vodafone (UK) weighed on results as speculation of a merger with AT&T died down. We eliminated our position in Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings (Hong Kong) after a nice run due to expectations for slower growth and heightened competition in the Hong Kong market.
The portfolio’s health care holdings posted solid gains as investors sought the relative safety and yields of traditionally defensive sectors. Pharmaceutical firms Bayer (Germany) and Astellas Pharma (Japan) were among our top overall contributors. Bayer extended its long streak of good performance due to its attractive drug portfolio, as well as an announcement that the company plans to sell off its less profitable material sciences business. Astellas has been able to grow revenues and earnings, and as with NTT mentioned above, the company benefited from shareholder-friendly management practices by increasing dividends and buying back stock. Fresenius (Germany) was another strong performer after it enjoyed good results from its U.S. dialysis centers, medical nutrition products, and privatization of municipal hospitals in Germany. Shares of Elekta (Sweden), which provides medical equipment for the treatment of cancer and neurological diseases, hurt results for the period. The company’s stock price fell in early March after cutting its full-year guidance less than a week before it reported earnings. Investor sentiment soured further more recently after a disappointing earnings announcement and a further reduction in earnings guidance. Despite these troubles, Elekta continues to be the technology leader in a duopolistic, high-tech business with strong demand growth expected over the next five to 10 years. GlaxoSmithKline (UK) fell after the company missed its earnings expectations in late July. Management also reduced earnings expectations for the remainder of the year due to slower-than-expected launches of two new respiratory drugs, Breo and Anoro.
The portfolio’s consumer discretionary stocks declined for the period, although UK homebuilder Persimmon was a strong performer. The company is growing and executing efficiently and has an excellent management team that continues to make good on its pledge to return capital to shareholders. Our automobile stocks were generally weak for the period. Suzuki Motor (Japan) was an exception as shares bounced back from oversold valuations as the company experienced good sales in India. Volkswagen (Germany) was among our weakest performers as the company struggled with concerns about sales in Europe and pricing pressures in China. However, we believe these concerns are somewhat exaggerated and added to our position at relatively attractive prices. High-end jewelry and watchmaker Richemont (Switzerland), whose brands include Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, and Baume & Mercier, and casino operator Wynn Macau (Hong Kong) also lost ground during the period. The sector’s weakness presented us with a number of buying opportunities, and we added a new position, Samsonite International (Hong Kong). We believe Samsonite is well positioned in emerging markets, particularly in Asia, and should benefit from fast growth in leisure travel and category expansion. We also established a position in Sumitomo Rubber Industries (Japan) on attractive valuations.
From a geographic perspective, the portfolio remains heavily focused in Europe. We are particularly optimistic about the UK, where we traditionally find a number of high-quality companies with shareholder-friendly management teams operating in a stable political and regulatory environment. The UK government has done a relatively good job getting its fiscal house in order since the global financial crisis of 2008–2009, and the economy has responded with surprisingly strong growth. Japan represents our second-largest country allocation. We are optimistic about the impact of recent incentives for companies to focus on corporate profitability and shareholder returns. However, we remain modestly underweight versus the benchmark due to concerns about stalled economic growth and the government’s willingness and ability to follow through on key structural reforms. The Pacific Rim accounts for a significant portion of the portfolio, with a sizable presence in Australia.
Investment Outlook
The U.S. economy has proven resilient in light of slowing growth overseas and should expand modestly, supported by moderate job growth and improved private sector demand. Inflation remains below the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, with some evidence that wage inflation has begun to trend modestly higher from a very low base. Fed policy remains broadly accommodative even as it contemplates the timing and pace of interest rate normalization, now expected to begin in mid- to late 2015.
In Europe, persistently low inflation coupled with leading economic indicators that suggest softer growth in the coming months could prompt the ECB to take more aggressive stimulus measures, perhaps including full-scale quantitative easing. Corporate earnings have generally disappointed in 2014, but negative earnings revisions have slowed of late and the recent earnings season was positive versus expectations. Equity valuations in Europe are appealing if the region’s economy starts growing and earnings normalize, although we are mindful that looser monetary policy from the ECB could further weaken the euro and eat into returns for U.S. dollar-based investors.
A consumption tax increase in early 2014 derailed the growth trajectory Japan achieved through 2013’s fiscal and monetary stimulus measures. In fact, the country has entered a technical recession as of this writing. There is encouraging evidence of a shift in Japan’s corporate culture as more companies transform business practices and improve governance standards. However, we believe the long-term sustainability of Japan’s recovery depends on the passage of key structural reforms, and any recovery likely will take many years and feature bouts of volatility. Current equity valuations remain well below pre-crisis levels and should continue to provide medium-term support, and profit margins have significant room to expand if the global economy recovers.
Emerging markets economies and fiscal positions continue to diverge. Slowing growth in China and Brazil has hurt global trade and punished commodities, while some other developing countries, such as India, are showing signs of improvement. While there is significant divergence across developing countries in terms of economic growth, inflation, and fiscal health, many export-oriented companies should benefit from stronger U.S. growth. Near-term risks include a worse-than-expected slowdown in China or a crisis in its financial system, a sharper-than-expected rise in U.S. interest rates as the Fed normalizes its monetary policy, and geopolitical turmoil. Overall, emerging markets equity valuations are below historical averages, but there is a wide variation between inexpensive but challenged cyclical shares and expensive, high-quality growth shares.
We are also mindful of the risks posed by the massive expansion of government and central bank balance sheets resulting from fiscal and monetary stimulus measures in the years since the global financial crisis, particularly in developed markets. Unless policymakers take effective measures to address the extraordinary debt accrued over the past few years, they will have less room to maneuver during the next economic downturn. In addition, uncertainty over the direction and impact of tax and regulatory policies in many countries is weighing on business investment and growth. On the other hand, we note that this uncertainty also serves to increase the barriers to entry in many businesses, which is a positive for the profit margins of existing companies.
Good investments have become harder to find in the global market environment. Nevertheless, we will continue to rely on our independent global research platform to uncover compelling opportunities, focusing on companies that are able to grow earnings and cash flow through sound business models and capital allocation regardless of short-term economic uncertainty.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymond A. Mills
Chairman of the fund’s Investment Advisory Committee
November 19, 2014
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 International Investing |
Funds that invest overseas generally carry more risk than funds that invest strictly in U.S. assets. Funds investing in a single country or in a limited geographic region tend to be riskier than more diversified funds. Risks can result from varying stages of economic and political development; differing regulatory environments, trading days, and accounting standards; and higher transaction costs of non-U.S. markets. Non-U.S. investments are also subject to currency risk, or a decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar, which reduces the dollar value of securities denominated in that currency.
Lipper averages: The averages of available mutual fund performance returns for specified time periods in categories defined by Lipper Inc.
MSCI EAFE Index: An index that measures equity market performance of developed countries in the Europe, Australasia, and Far East regions.
Note: MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indices or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, reviewed, or produced by MSCI.
Portfolio Highlights
Performance and Expenses
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $1 million 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.
Fund Expense Example
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 actual expenses. 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.
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.
Financial Highlights
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Portfolio of Investments‡
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
October 31, 2014
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
October 31, 2014
($000s, except shares and per share amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of Operations
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
($000s)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
($000s)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Notes to Financial Statements
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
October 31, 2014
T. Rowe Price Institutional International Funds, Inc. (the corporation), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act). The Institutional International Core Equity Fund (the fund) is a diversified, open-end management investment company established by the corporation. The fund commenced operations on October 27, 2010. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital through investments in the common stocks of non-U.S. companies.
NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation The fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 (ASC 946). The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP), including but not limited to ASC 946. GAAP requires 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. Dividends received from mutual fund investments are reflected as dividend income; capital gain distributions are reflected as realized gain/loss. 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 and paid annually. Capital gain distributions, if any, are generally declared and paid by the fund annually.
Currency Translation Assets, including investments, and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar values each day at the prevailing exchange rate, using the mean of the bid and asked prices of such currencies against U.S. dollars as quoted by a major bank. Purchases and sales of securities, income, and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate on the date of the transaction. The effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on realized and unrealized security gains and losses is reflected as a component of security gains and losses.
Redemption Fees A 2% fee is assessed on redemptions of fund shares held for 90 days or less to deter short-term trading and to protect the interests of long-term shareholders. Redemption fees are withheld from proceeds that shareholders receive from the sale or exchange of fund shares. The fees are paid to the fund and are recorded as an increase to paid-in capital. The fees may cause the redemption price per share to differ from the net asset value per share.
New Accounting Guidance In June 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-11, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860), Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The ASU changes the accounting for certain repurchase agreements and expands disclosure requirements related to repurchase agreements, securities lending, repurchase-to-maturity and similar transactions. The ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Adoption will have no effect on the fund’s net assets or results of operations.
NOTE 2 - VALUATION
The fund’s financial instruments are valued and its net asset value (NAV) per share is computed at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. ET, each day the NYSE is open for business.
Fair Value The fund’s financial instruments are reported at fair value, which GAAP defines as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The T. Rowe Price Valuation Committee (the Valuation Committee) has been established by the fund’s Board of Directors (the Board) to ensure that financial instruments are appropriately priced at fair value in accordance with GAAP and the 1940 Act. Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee develops and oversees pricing-related policies and procedures and approves all fair value determinations. Specifically, the Valuation Committee establishes procedures to value securities; determines pricing techniques, sources, and persons eligible to effect fair value pricing actions; oversees the selection, services, and performance of pricing vendors; oversees valuation-related business continuity practices; and provides guidance on internal controls and valuation-related matters. The Valuation Committee reports to the Board; is chaired by the fund’s treasurer; and has representation from legal, portfolio management and trading, operations, and risk management.
Various valuation techniques and inputs are used to determine the fair value of financial instruments. GAAP establishes the following fair value hierarchy that categorizes the inputs used to measure fair value:
Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical financial instruments that the fund can access at the reporting date
Level 2 – inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar financial instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar financial instruments in inactive markets, interest rates and yield curves, implied volatilities, and credit spreads)
Level 3 – unobservable inputs
Observable inputs are developed using market data, such as publicly available information about actual events or transactions, and reflect the assumptions that market participants would use to price the financial instrument. Unobservable inputs are those for which market data are not available and are developed using the best information available about the assumptions that market participants would use to price the financial instrument. GAAP requires valuation techniques to maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. When multiple inputs are used to derive fair value, the financial instrument is assigned to the level within the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value of the financial instrument. Input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with financial instruments at that level but rather the degree of judgment used in determining those values.
Valuation Techniques Equity securities listed or regularly traded on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter (OTC) market are valued at the last quoted sale price or, for certain markets, the official closing price at the time the valuations are made. OTC Bulletin Board securities are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. A security that is listed or traded on more than one exchange is valued at the quotation on the exchange determined to be the primary market for such security. Listed securities not traded on a particular day are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for domestic securities and the last quoted sale or closing price for international securities.
For valuation purposes, the last quoted prices of non-U.S. equity securities may be adjusted to reflect the fair value of such securities at the close of the NYSE. If the fund determines that developments between the close of a foreign market and the close of the NYSE will, in its judgment, materially affect the value of some or all of its portfolio securities, the fund will adjust the previous quoted prices to reflect what it believes to be the fair value of the securities as of the close of the NYSE. In deciding whether it is necessary to adjust quoted prices to reflect fair value, the fund reviews a variety of factors, including developments in foreign markets, the performance of U.S. securities markets, and the performance of instruments trading in U.S. markets that represent foreign securities and baskets of foreign securities. The fund may also fair value securities in other situations, such as when a particular foreign market is closed but the fund is open. The fund uses outside pricing services to provide it with quoted prices and information to evaluate or adjust those prices. The fund cannot predict how often it will use quoted prices and how often it will determine it necessary to adjust those prices to reflect fair value. As a means of evaluating its security valuation process, the fund routinely compares quoted prices, the next day’s opening prices in the same markets, and adjusted prices.
Actively traded domestic equity securities generally are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Non-U.S. equity securities generally are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy despite the availability of quoted prices because, as described above, the fund evaluates and determines whether those quoted prices reflect fair value at the close of the NYSE or require adjustment. OTC Bulletin Board securities, certain preferred securities, and equity securities traded in inactive markets generally are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in mutual funds are valued at the mutual fund’s closing NAV per share on the day of valuation and are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Assets and liabilities other than financial instruments, including short-term receivables and payables, are carried at cost, or estimated realizable value, if less, which approximates fair value.
Thinly traded financial instruments and those 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 Valuation Committee. The objective of any fair value pricing determination is to arrive at a price that could reasonably be expected from a current sale. Financial instruments fair valued by the Valuation Committee are primarily private placements, restricted securities, warrants, rights, and other securities that are not publicly traded.
Subject to oversight by the Board, the Valuation Committee regularly makes good faith judgments to establish and adjust the fair valuations of certain securities as events occur and circumstances warrant. For instance, in determining the fair value of an equity investment with limited market activity, such as a private placement or a thinly traded public company stock, the Valuation Committee considers a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to, the issuer’s business prospects, its financial standing and performance, recent investment transactions in the issuer, new rounds of financing, negotiated transactions of significant size between other investors in the company, relevant market valuations of peer companies, strategic events affecting the company, market liquidity for the issuer, and general economic conditions and events. In consultation with the investment and pricing teams, the Valuation Committee will determine an appropriate valuation technique based on available information, which may include both observable and unobservable inputs. The Valuation Committee typically will afford greatest weight to actual prices in arm’s length transactions, to the extent they represent orderly transactions between market participants; transaction information can be reliably obtained; and prices are deemed representative of fair value. However, the Valuation Committee may also consider other valuation methods such as market-based valuation multiples; a discount or premium from market value of a similar, freely traded security of the same issuer; or some combination. Fair value determinations are reviewed on a regular basis and updated as information becomes available, including actual purchase and sale transactions of the issue. Because any fair value determination involves a significant amount of judgment, there is a degree of subjectivity inherent in such pricing decisions, and fair value prices determined by the Valuation Committee could differ from those of other market participants. Depending on the relative significance of unobservable inputs, including the valuation technique(s) used, fair valued securities may be categorized in Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
Valuation Inputs The following table summarizes the fund’s financial instruments, based on the inputs used to determine their fair values on October 31, 2014:
There were no material transfers between Levels 1 and 2 during the year ended October 31, 2014.
NOTE 3 - 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.
When-Issued Securities The fund may enter into when-issued purchase or sale commitments, pursuant to which it agrees to purchase or sell, respectively, an authorized but not yet issued security for a fixed unit price, with payment and delivery not due until issuance of the security on a scheduled future date. When-issued securities may be new securities or securities issued through a corporate action, such as a reorganization or restructuring. Until settlement, the fund maintains liquid assets sufficient to settle its commitment to purchase a when-issued security or, in the case of a sale commitment, the fund maintains an entitlement to the security to be sold. Amounts realized on when-issued transactions are included in realized gain/loss on securities in the accompanying financial statements.
Other Purchases and sales of portfolio securities other than short-term securities aggregated $27,786,000 and $16,939,000, respectively, for the year ended October 31, 2014.
NOTE 4 - 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 fund files U.S. federal, state, and local tax returns as required. The fund’s tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return but which can be extended to six years in certain circumstances. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision for income taxes.
Distributions during the years ended October 31, 2014 and October 31, 2013, totaled $1,729,000 and $1,674,000, respectively, and were characterized as ordinary income for tax purposes. At October 31, 2014, the tax-basis cost of investments and components of net assets were as follows:
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable to the deferral of losses from wash sales and the realization of gains/losses on passive foreign investment companies for tax purposes. The fund intends to retain realized gains to the extent of available capital loss carryforwards. Because the fund is required to use capital loss carryforwards that do not expire before those with expiration dates, all or a portion of its capital loss carryforwards subject to expiration could ultimately go unused. The fund’s available capital loss carryforwards as of October 31, 2014, expire as follows: $134,000 in fiscal 2019; $3,585,000 have no expiration.
NOTE 5 - FOREIGN TAXES
The fund is subject to foreign income taxes imposed by certain countries in which it invests. Additionally, certain foreign currency transactions are subject to tax and capital gains realized upon disposition of securities issued in or by certain foreign countries and are subject to capital gains tax imposed by those countries. All taxes are computed in accordance with the applicable foreign tax law and, to the extent permitted, capital losses are used to offset capital gains. Taxes attributable to income are accrued by the fund as a reduction of income. Taxes incurred on the purchase of foreign currencies are recorded as realized loss on foreign currency transactions. Current and deferred tax expense attributable to capital gains is reflected as a component of realized or change in unrealized gain/loss on securities in the accompanying financial statements. At October 31, 2014, the fund had no deferred tax liability attributable to foreign securities and no foreign capital loss carryforwards.
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 equal to 0.65% of the fund’s average daily net assets. The fee is computed daily and paid monthly.
The fund is also subject to a contractual expense limitation through February 28, 2015. During the limitation period, Price Associates is required to waive its management fee and reimburse the fund for any expenses, excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and extraordinary expenses, that would otherwise cause the fund’s ratio of annualized total expenses to average net assets (expense ratio) to exceed its expense limitation of 0.75%. The fund is required to repay Price Associates for expenses previously reimbursed and management fees waived to the extent its net assets grow or expenses decline sufficiently to allow repayment without causing the fund’s expense ratio to exceed its expense limitation. However, no repayment will be made more than three years after the date of a reimbursement or waiver. Pursuant to this agreement, management fees in the amount of $165,000 were waived during the year ended October 31, 2014. Including these amounts, management fees waived in the amount of $538,000 remain subject to repayment by the fund at October 31, 2014.
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. For the year ended October 31, 2014, expenses incurred pursuant to these service agreements were $119,000 for Price Associates less than $1,000 for T. Rowe Price 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 may invest in the T. Rowe Price Reserve Investment Fund, the T. Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund, or the T. Rowe Price Short-Term Reserve Fund (collectively, the Price Reserve Investment Funds), open-end management investment companies managed by Price Associates and considered affiliates of the fund. The Price Reserve Investment Funds are offered as short-term investment options to mutual funds, trusts, and other accounts managed by Price Associates or its affiliates and are not available for direct purchase by members of the public. The Price Reserve Investment Funds pay no investment management fees.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of T. Rowe Price Institutional International Funds, Inc. and
Shareholders of T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of T. Rowe Price Institutional International Core Equity Fund (one of the portfolios comprising T. Rowe Price Institutional International Funds, Inc., hereafter referred to as the “Fund”) at October 31, 2014, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at October 31, 2014 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, and confirmation of the underlying fund by correspondence with the transfer agent, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
December 16, 2014
Tax Information (Unaudited) for the Tax Year Ended 10/31/14 |
We are providing this information as required by the Internal Revenue Code. The amounts shown may differ from those elsewhere in this report because of differences between tax and financial reporting requirements.
For taxable non-corporate shareholders, $3,286,000 of the fund’s income represents qualified dividend income subject to a long-term capital gains tax rate of not greater than 20%.
For corporate shareholders, $10,000 of the fund’s income qualifies for the dividends-received deduction.
The fund will pass through foreign source income of $3,286,000 and foreign taxes paid of $219,000.
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. You may request this document 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 “Social Responsibility” at the top of our corporate homepage. Next, click on the words “Conducting Business Responsibly” on the left side of the page that appears. Finally, click on the words “Proxy Voting Policies” on the left side of the page that appears.
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 to reach the “Conducting Business Responsibly” page. Click on the words “Proxy Voting Records” on the left side of that page, and then click on the “View Proxy Voting Records” link at the bottom of the page that appears.
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.
About the Fund’s Directors and Officers |
Your fund is overseen by a Board of Directors (Board) that meets regularly to review a wide variety of matters affecting or potentially affecting the fund, including performance, investment programs, compliance matters, advisory fees and expenses, service providers, and business and regulatory affairs. The Board elects the fund’s officers, who are listed in the final table. At least 75% of the Board’s members are independent of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (T. Rowe Price), and its affiliates; “inside” or “interested” directors are employees or officers of T. Rowe Price. The business address of each director and officer is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the fund directors and is available without charge by calling a T. Rowe Price representative at 1-800-638-5660.
Independent Directors | | |
|
Name (Year of Birth) | | |
Year Elected* [Number of | | |
T. Rowe Price Portfolios Overseen] | | Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships of Public Companies and Other Investment Companies During the Past Five Years |
| | |
William R. Brody (1944) 2009 [163] | | President and Trustee, Salk Institute for Biological Studies (2009 to present); Director, BioMed Realty Trust (2013 to present); Director, Novartis, Inc. (2009 to present); Director, IBM (2007 to present) |
| | |
Anthony W. Deering (1945) 1991 [163] | | Chairman, Exeter Capital, LLC, a private investment firm (2004 to present); Director, Brixmor Real Estate Investment Trust (2012 to present); Director and Advisory Board Member, Deutsche Bank North America (2004 to present); Director, Under Armour (2008 to present); Director, Vornado Real Estate Investment Trust (2004 to 2012) |
| | |
Donald W. Dick, Jr. (1943) 1989 [163] | | Principal, EuroCapital Partners, LLC, an acquisition and management advisory firm (1995 to present) |
| | |
Bruce W. Duncan (1951) 2013 [163] | | President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, First Industrial Realty Trust, owner and operator of industrial properties (2009 to present); Chairman of the Board (2005 to present), Interim Chief Executive Officer (2007), and Director (1999 to present), Starwood Hotels & Resorts, a hotel and leisure company |
| | |
Robert J. Gerrard, Jr. (1952) 2012 [163] | | Advisory Board Member, Pipeline Crisis/Winning Strategies (1997 to present); Chairman of Compensation Committee and Director, Syniverse Holdings, Inc. (2008 to 2011) |
| | |
Karen N. Horn (1943) 2003 [163] | | Limited Partner and Senior Managing Director, Brock Capital Group, an advisory and investment banking firm (2004 to present); Director, Eli Lilly and Company (1987 to present); Director, Simon Property Group (2004 to present); Director, Norfolk Southern (2008 to present) |
| | |
Paul F. McBride (1956) 2013 [163] | | Former Company Officer and Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Initiatives, Black & Decker Corporation (2004 to 2010) |
| | |
Cecilia E. Rouse, Ph.D. (1963) 2012 [163] | | Dean, Woodrow Wilson School (2012 to present); Professor and Researcher, Princeton University (1992 to present); Director, MDRC, a nonprofit education and social policy research organization (2011 to present); Member, National Academy of Education (2010 to present); Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research’s Labor Studies Program (2011 to present); Member, President’s Council of Economic Advisors (2009 to 2011); Chair of Committee on the Status of Minority Groups in the Economic Profession, American Economic Association (2012 to present) |
| | |
John G. Schreiber (1946) 2001 [163] | | Owner/President, Centaur Capital Partners, Inc., a real estate investment company (1991 to present); Cofounder and Partner, Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, L.P. (1992 to present); Director, General Growth Properties, Inc. (2010 to 2013); Director, BXMT (formerly Capital Trust, Inc.), a real estate investment company (2012 to present); Director and Chairman of the Board, Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (2013 to present); Director, Hilton Worldwide (2013 to present) |
| | |
Mark R. Tercek (1957) 2009 [163] | | President and Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Conservancy (2008 to present) |
| | |
*Each independent director serves until retirement, resignation, or election of a successor. |
|
Inside Directors | | |
|
Name (Year of Birth) | | |
Year Elected* [Number of | | |
T. Rowe Price Portfolios Overseen] | | Principal Occupation(s) and Directorships of Public Companies and Other Investment Companies During the Past Five Years |
| | |
Edward C. Bernard (1956) 2006 [163] | | Director and Vice President, T. Rowe Price; Vice Chairman of the Board, Director, and Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.; Chairman of the Board, Director, and President, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc.; Chairman of the Board and Director, T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Services, Inc.; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, T. Rowe Price International; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Director, and President, T. Rowe Price Trust Company; Chairman of the Board, all funds |
| | |
Brian C. Rogers, CFA, CIC (1955) 2006 [109] | | Chief Investment Officer, Director, and Vice President, T. Rowe Price; Chairman of the Board, Chief Investment Officer, Director, and Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.; Vice President, T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
*Each inside director serves until retirement, resignation, or election of a successor. |
Officers | | |
|
Name (Year of Birth) | | |
Position Held With Institutional International Funds | | Principal Occupation(s) |
| | |
Ulle Adamson, CFA (1979) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Roy H. Adkins (1970) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Christopher D. Alderson (1962) President | | Company’s Representative, Director, and Vice President, Price Hong Kong; Director and Vice President, T. Rowe Price International and Price Singapore; Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Paulina Amieva (1981) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Malik S. Asif (1981) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price International; formerly student, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (to 2012); Investment Consultant–Middle East and North Africa Investment Team, International Finance Corporation–The World Bank Group (to 2010) |
| | |
Peter J. Bates, CFA (1974) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
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Oliver D.M. Bell, IMC (1969) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International; formerly Head of Global Emerging Markets Research, Pictet Asset Management Ltd. (to 2011); Portfolio Manager of Africa and Middle East portfolios and other emerging markets strategies, Pictet Asset Management Ltd. (to 2009) |
| | |
R. Scott Berg, CFA (1972) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
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Peter I. Botoucharov (1965) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International; formerly Director, EMEA Macroeconomic Research and Strategy (to 2012); Independent Financial Advisor, Global Source (to 2010) |
| | |
Tala Boulos (1984) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price International; formerly Vice President, CEEMEA Corporate Credit Research, Deutsche Bank (to 2013) |
| | |
Darrell N. Braman (1963) Vice President | | Vice President, Price Hong Kong, Price Singapore, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price International, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. |
| | |
Brian J. Brennan, CFA (1964) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price International, and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
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Carolyn Hoi Che Chu (1974) Vice President | | Vice President, Price Hong Kong and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.; formerly Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Co-head of credit and convertibles research team in Hong Kong (to 2010) |
| | |
Archibald Ciganer Albeniz, CFA (1976) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
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Richard N. Clattenburg, CFA (1979) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, Price Singapore, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Michael J. Conelius, CFA (1964) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price International, and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Richard de los Reyes (1975) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
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Michael Della Vedova (1969) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
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Shawn T. Driscoll (1975) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
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Bridget A. Ebner (1970) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
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Mark J.T. Edwards (1957) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
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David J. Eiswert, CFA (1972) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Roger L. Fiery III, CPA (1959) Vice President | | Vice President, Price Hong Kong, Price Singapore, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price International, and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Mark S. Finn, CFA, CPA (1963) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
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John R. Gilner (1961) Chief Compliance Officer | | Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President, T. Rowe Price; Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. |
| | |
Gregory S. Golczewski (1966) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Paul D. Greene II (1978) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Benjamin Griffiths, CFA (1977) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Richard L. Hall (1979) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price; formerly Financial Attaché, U.S. Department of Treasury, International Affairs Division (to 2012) |
| | |
Gregory K. Hinkle, CPA (1958) Treasurer | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Stefan Hubrich, Ph.D., CFA (1974) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Arif Husain, CFA (1972) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International; formerly Director/Head of UK and Euro Fixed Income, AllianceBernstein |
| | |
Leigh Innes, CFA (1976) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Randal S. Jenneke (1971) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International; formerly Senior Portfolio Manager, Australian Equities (to 2010) |
| | |
Yoichiro Kai (1973) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Andrew J. Keirle (1974) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Christopher J. Kushlis, CFA (1976) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Mark J. Lawrence (1970) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
David M. Lee, CFA (1962) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Patricia B. Lippert (1953) Secretary | | Assistant Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. |
| | |
Christopher C. Loop, CFA (1966) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Anh Lu (1968) Vice President | | Vice President, Price Hong Kong and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Sebastien Mallet (1974) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Daniel Martino, CFA (1974) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Jonathan H.W. Matthews, CFA (1975) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Raymond A. Mills, Ph.D., CFA (1960) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price International, and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Sudhir Nanda, Ph.D., CFA (1959) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Joshua Nelson (1977) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Sridhar Nishtala, 1975 Vice President | | Vice President, Price Singapore and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Jason Nogueira, CFA (1974) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
David Oestreicher (1967) Vice President | | Director, Vice President, and Secretary, T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc., T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company; Chief Legal Officer, Vice President, and Secretary, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.; Vice President and Secretary, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price International; Vice President, Price Hong Kong and Price Singapore |
| | |
Michael D. Oh, CFA (1974) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Kenneth A. Orchard (1975) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International; formerly Vice President, Moody’s Investors Service (to 2010) |
| | |
Seun A. Oyegunle, CFA (1984) Vice President | | Employee, T. Rowe Price International; formerly student, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (to 2013); Summer Investment Analyst, T. Rowe Price International (2012); Analyst, Asset & Resource Management Limited (to 2012); Analyst, Vetiva Capital Management Limited (to 2011) |
| | |
Gonzalo Pángaro, CFA (1968) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Craig J. Pennington, CFA (1971) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International; formerly Global Energy Analyst, Insight Investment (to 2010) |
| | |
Christopher J. Rothery (1963) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Federico Santilli, CFA (1974) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Sebastian Schrott (1977) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Deborah D. Seidel (1962) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. |
| | |
Robert W. Sharps, CFA, CPA (1971) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
John C.A. Sherman (1969) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Robert W. Smith (1961) Executive Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company |
| | |
Gabriel Solomon (1977) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Joshua K. Spencer, CFA (1973) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
David A. Stanley (1963) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Taymour R. Tamaddon, CFA (1976) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Ju Yen Tan (1972) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Dean Tenerelli (1964) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Eric L. Veiel, CFA (1972) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
| | |
Verena Wachnitz, CFA (1978) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Julie L. Waples (1970) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price |
| | |
Christopher S. Whitehouse (1972) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
J. Howard Woodward, CFA (1974) Vice President | | Vice President, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and T. Rowe Price International |
| | |
Ernest C. Yeung (1979) Vice President | | Vice President, Price Hong Kong and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. |
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Unless otherwise noted, officers have been employees of T. Rowe Price or T. Rowe Price International for at least 5 years. |
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
The registrant has adopted 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. A copy of this code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to this code of ethics during the period covered by this report.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The registrant’s Board of Directors/Trustees has determined that Mr. Anthony W. Deering qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR. Mr. Deering is considered independent for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) – (d) Aggregate fees billed for the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered to, or on behalf of, the registrant by the registrant’s principal accountant were as follows:
Audit fees include amounts related to the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and services normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Audit-related fees include amounts reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and specifically include the issuance of a report on internal controls and, if applicable, agreed-upon procedures related to fund acquisitions. Tax fees include amounts related to services for tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice. The nature of these services specifically includes the review of distribution calculations and the preparation of Federal, state, and excise tax returns. All other fees include the registrant’s pro-rata share of amounts for agreed-upon procedures in conjunction with service contract approvals by the registrant’s Board of Directors/Trustees.
(e)(1) The registrant’s audit committee has adopted a policy whereby audit and non-audit services performed by the registrant’s principal accountant for the registrant, its investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant require pre-approval in advance at regularly scheduled audit committee meetings. If such a service is required between regularly scheduled audit committee meetings, pre-approval may be authorized by one audit committee member with ratification at the next scheduled audit committee meeting. Waiver of pre-approval for audit or non-audit services requiring fees of a de minimis amount is not permitted.
(2) No services included in (b) – (d) above were approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Less than 50 percent of the hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.
(g) The aggregate fees billed for the most recent fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year by the registrant’s principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant, its investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant were $2,159,000 and $1,828,000, respectively.
(h) All non-audit services rendered in (g) above were pre-approved by the registrant’s audit committee. Accordingly, these services were considered by the registrant’s audit committee in maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.
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 attached.
(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 Institutional International Funds, Inc.
| By | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
| | Edward C. Bernard |
| | Principal Executive Officer |
| |
Date December 16, 2014 | | |
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 December 16, 2014 | | |
| |
| |
| By | /s/ Gregory K. Hinkle |
| | Gregory K. Hinkle |
| | Principal Financial Officer |
| |
Date December 16, 2014 | | |