PAGE 1 SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [X] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 T. ROWE PRICE INDEX TRUST, INC. _________________________________________________________________ (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) T. ROWE PRICE INDEX TRUST, INC. _________________________________________________________________ (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2). [ ] $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3). [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a- 6(i)(4) and 0-11. 1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: _________________________________________________________ 2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: _________________________________________________________ 3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: (1) _________________________________________________________ 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: _________________________________________________________ 1 Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous PAGE 2 filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing, 1) Amount previously paid: _________________________________________________________ 2) Form, schedule, or Registration Statement no.: _________________________________________________________ 3) Filing party: _________________________________________________________ 4) Date filed: _________________________________________________________ PAGE 3 Proxy for the T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund, should be inserted here. PAGE 1 T. ROWE PRICE _________________________________________________________________ T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 James S. Riepe Managing Director Dear Shareholder: All of the T. Rowe Price mutual funds will hold shareholder meetings in 1994 to elect directors, ratify the selection of independent accountants, and approve amendments to a number of investment policies. The T. Rowe Price funds are not required to hold annual meetings each year if the only items of business are to elect directors or ratify accountants. In order to save fund expenses, most of the funds have not held annual meetings for a number of years. There are, however, conditions under which the funds must solicit shareholder approval of directors, and one is to comply with a requirement that a minimum number have been elected by shareholders, not appointed by the funds' boards. Since the last annual meetings of the T. Rowe Price funds, several directors have retired and new directors have been added. In addition, a number of directors will be retiring in the near future. Given this situation, we believed it appropriate to hold annual meetings for all the T. Rowe Price funds in 1994. At the same time, we reviewed the investment policies of all of the funds for consistency and to assure the portfolio managers have the flexibility they need to manage your money in today's fast changing financial markets. The changes being recommended, which are explained in detail in the enclosed proxy material, do not alter the funds' investment objectives or basic investment programs. In many cases the proposals are common to several funds, so we have combined certain proxy statements to save on fund expenses. For those of you who own more than one of these funds, the combined proxy may also save you the time of reading more than one document before you vote and mail your ballots. The proposals which are specific to an individual fund are easily identifiable on the Notice and in the proxy statement discussion. If you own more than one fund, please note that each fund has a PAGE 2 separate card. You should vote and sign each one, then return all of them to us in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Your early response will be appreciated and could save your fund the substantial costs associated with a follow-up mailing. We know we are asking you to review a rather formidable proxy statement, but this approach represents the most efficient one for your fund as well as for the other funds. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800- 225-5132. Sincerely, James S. Riepe Director, Mutual Funds Division CUSIP#77954G108/fund#068 CUSIP#779552108/fund#050 PAGE 3 T. ROWE PRICE BALANCED FUND, INC. T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INDEX FUND Notice of Meeting of Shareholders April 20, 1994 The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund, Inc. ("Balanced Fund") and T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund ("Equity Index Fund") (each a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds"), each a Maryland corporation, will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 1994, at 9:30 o'clock a.m., Eastern time, at the offices of the Funds, 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The Equity Index Fund is currently the sole portfolio of the T. Rowe Price Index Trust, Inc. (the "Corporation"). The following matters will be acted upon at that time: 1. For the shareholders of both Funds: To elect directors for the Fund in which you invest to serve until the next annual meeting, if any, or until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified; 2. For the shareholders of both Funds: A. To amend each Fund's fundamental policies to increase its ability to engage in borrowing transactions; B. To amend each Fund's fundamental policies to increase its ability to engage in lending transactions; C. To change from a fundamental to an operating policy each Fund's policy on purchasing securities on margin; D. To amend each Fund's fundamental policies on the issuance of senior securities; E. To amend each Fund's fundamental policies on investing in commodities and futures contracts to permit greater flexibility in futures trading; F. To change from a fundamental to an operating policy each Fund's policy on short sales; PAGE 4 3. For the shareholders of both Funds: To ratify or reject the selection of the firm of Coopers & Lybrand as the independent accountants for each Fund for the fiscal year 1994; and 4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof. LENORA V. HORNUNG Secretary March 9, 1994 100 East Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 _________________________________________________________________ YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT Shareholders are urged to designate their choices on each of the matters to be acted upon and to date, sign, and return the enclosed proxy in the envelope provided, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Your prompt return of the proxy will help assure a quorum at the meeting and avoid the additional Fund expense of further solicitation. _________________________________________________________________ CUSIP#77954G108/fund#068 CUSIP#779552108/fund#050 PAGE 5 T. ROWE PRICE BALANCED FUND, INC. T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INDEX FUND Meeting of Shareholders--April 20, 1994 PROXY STATEMENT This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund, Inc. (the "Balanced Fund") and the T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund (the "Equity Index Fund") (each a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds"), each a Maryland corporation, for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of each Fund to be held on April 20, 1994, and at any adjournments thereof. The Equity Index Fund is currently the sole portfolio of the T. Rowe Price Index Trust, Inc. (the "Corporation"). Shareholders may only vote on matters which concern the Fund or Funds in which they hold shares. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share, and a proportionate vote for each fractional share, of the Fund held as of the record date. Under Maryland law, shares owned by two or more persons (whether as joint tenants, co-fiduciaries, or otherwise) will be voted as follows, unless a written instrument or court order providing to the contrary has been filed with the Fund: (1) if only one votes, that vote will bind all; (2) if more than one votes, the vote of the majority will bind all; and (3) if more than one votes and the vote is evenly divided, the vote will be cast proportionately. In order to hold the meeting, a majority of each Fund's shares entitled to be voted must have been received by proxy or be present at the meeting. In the event that a quorum is present but sufficient votes in favor of one or more of the Proposals are not received by the time scheduled for the meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment if they determine that such adjournment and additional solicitation is reasonable and in the interests of each Fund's shareholders. The shareholders of each Fund vote separately with respect to each Proposal. The individuals named as proxies (or their substitutes) in the enclosed proxy card (or cards if you own shares of more than PAGE 6 one Fund or have multiple accounts) will vote in accordance with your directions as indicated thereon if your proxy is received properly executed. You may direct the proxy holders to vote your shares on a Proposal by checking the appropriate box "For" or "Against," or instruct them not to vote those shares on the Proposal by checking the "Abstain" box. Alternatively, you may simply sign, date and return your proxy card(s) with no specific instructions as to the Proposals. If you properly execute your proxy card and give no voting instructions with respect to a Proposal, your shares will be voted for the Proposal. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by filing with the Fund a written notice of revocation, by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. Abstentions and "broker non-votes" (as defined below) are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present, but do not represent votes cast with respect to any Proposal. "Broker non-votes" are shares held by a broker or nominee for which an executed proxy is received by the Fund, but are not voted as to one or more Proposals because instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote and the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power. VOTE REQUIRED: A PLURALITY OF ALL VOTES CAST AT THE MEETING IS SUFFICIENT TO APPROVE PROPOSAL 1 FOR EACH FUND. A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES PRESENT IN PERSON OR BY PROXY AT THE MEETING IS SUFFICIENT TO APPROVE PROPOSAL 3 FOR EACH FUND. APPROVAL OF ALL REMAINING PROPOSALS OF EACH FUND REQUIRES THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE HOLDERS OF THE LESSER OF (A) 67% OF THE SHARES PRESENT AT THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY, OR (B) A MAJORITY OF EACH FUND'S OUTSTANDING SHARES. If the proposed amendments to each Fund's fundamental investment policies are approved, they will become effective on or about May 1, 1994. If any of the proposed amendments to each Fund's fundamental investment policies are not approved, they will remain unchanged. Each Fund will pay a portion of the costs of the meeting, including the solicitation of proxies, allocated on the basis of the number of shareholder accounts of each Fund. Persons holding shares as nominees will be reimbursed, upon request, for their reasonable expenses in sending solicitation materials to the principals of the accounts. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, directors, officers, and/or employees of each PAGE 7 Fund or of its investment manager, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("T. Rowe Price"), may solicit proxies in person or by telephone. The approximate date on which this Proxy Statement and form of proxy is first being mailed to shareholders of each Fund is March 9, 1994. 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The following table sets forth information concerning each of the nominees for director indicating the particular Board(s) on which the nominee has been asked to serve. Each nominee has agreed to hold office until the next annual meeting (if any) or his successor is duly elected and qualified. With the exception of Ms. Merriman, each of the nominees is a member of the present Board of Directors of the Fund and has served in that capacity since originally elected. A shareholder using the enclosed proxy form can vote for all or any of the nominees of the Board of Directors or withhold his or her vote from all or any of such nominees. If the proxy card is properly executed but unmarked, it will be voted for all of the nominees. Should any nominee become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy will exercise their voting power in favor of such other person or persons as the Board of Directors of the Fund may recommend. There are no family relationships among these nominees. The membership of two Boards will not be identical following election at the meeting. Specifically, certain individuals who are interested persons of T. Rowe Price are being elected to only one of the Funds. Shareholders are being asked to elect the Board of Directors of their respective Fund only. PAGE 8 _________________________________________________________________ Fund All Other Shares Price Beneficially Funds' Owned, Shares Name, Address, Directly Beneficially Date of Birth or Owned of Nominee and Indirectly, Directly Position with Principal as of as of Fund Occupations(1) 1/31/94(2) 1/31/94 _________________________________________________________________ Leo C. Bailey Retired; Director of the Balanced 3396 S. Placita following T. Rowe Price Fund: Fabula Funds: Growth Stock, Equity Green Valley, AZ New Era, Science & Index 85614 Technology, Mid-Cap Fund: 3/3/24 Growth (since inception), 0Balanced Fund: OTC (since inception), Director since Dividend Growth (since 1992 inception), Blue Chip Growth 0Equity Index (since inception), International, Fund: Director and Institutional International since 1990 (since inception) Donald W. Dick, Partner, Overseas Partners Balanced Jr. Inc., a financial Fund: 375 Park Avenue investment firm; formerly Equity Suite 3505 (6/65-3/89) Director and Index New York, NY Vice President-Consumer Fund: 10152 Products Division, McCormick 1/27/43 & Company, Inc., international 0Balanced Fund: food processors; Director/ Director since Trustee, Waverly Press, 1991 Inc. and the following T. Rowe 0Equity Index Price Funds: Growth Stock, Fund: Initial Growth & Income, New America election Growth, Capital Appreciation, Mid-Cap Growth (since inception), OTC (since inception), Dividend Growth (since inception), Blue Chip Growth (since inception), International, and Institutional International (since inception) PAGE 9 _________________________________________________________________ Fund All Other Shares Price Beneficially Funds' Owned, Shares Name, Address, Directly Beneficially Date of Birth or Owned of Nominee and Indirectly, Directly Position with Principal as of as of Fund Occupations(1) 1/31/94(2) 1/31/94 _________________________________________________________________ David K. Fagin Chairman, Chief Executive Balanced One Norwest Officer and Director, Fund: Center Golden Star Resources, Equity 1700 Lincoln Ltd.; formerly (1986-7/91) Index Street President, Chief Operating Fund: Suite 1950 Officer and Director, Denver, CO Homestake Mining Company; 80203 Director/Trustee of the 4/9/38 following T. Rowe Funds/ 0Balanced Fund: Trusts: New Horizons, New Director since Era, Equity Income, 1991 Capital Appreciation, 0Equity Index Mid-Cap Growth (since inception), Fund: Initial OTC (since inception), Dividend election Growth (since inception), and Blue Chip Growth (since inception) Addison Lanier Financial management; Balanced 441 Vine Street, President and Director, Fund: #2310 Thomas Emery's Sons, Inc. Equity Cincinnati, OH and Emery Group, Inc.; Index 45202-2913 Director/Trustee, Scinet Fund: 1/12/24 Development and Holdings, 0Balanced Fund: Inc. and the following T. Director since Rowe Price Funds/Trusts: New 1991 America Growth, Equity Income, 0Equity Index Small-Cap Value, Mid-Cap Growth Fund: Initial (since inception), OTC (since election inception), Dividend Growth (since inception), Blue Chip Growth (since inception), International, and Institutional International (since inception) PAGE 10 _________________________________________________________________ Fund All Other Shares Price Beneficially Funds' Owned, Shares Name, Address, Directly Beneficially Date of Birth or Owned of Nominee and Indirectly, Directly Position with Principal as of as of Fund Occupations(1) 1/31/94(2) 1/31/94 _________________________________________________________________ John K. Major Chairman of the Board and Balanced 126 E. 26 Place President, KCMA Fund: Tulsa, OK Incorporated, Tulsa, Equity 74114-2422 Oklahoma; Director/Trustee Index 8/3/24 of the following T. Rowe Fund: 0Balanced Fund: Price Funds/Trusts: Growth Director since Stock, New Horizons, New 1991 Era, Growth & Income, Capital 0Equity Index Appreciation, Science & Fund: Initial Technology, Mid-Cap Growth election (since inception), OTC (since inception), Dividend Growth (since inception), and Blue Chip Growth (since inception) Hanne M. Retail business consultant; Balanced Merriman formerly, President and Fund: 655 15th Street Chief Operating Officer Equity Suite 300 (1991-92), Nan Duskin, Index Washington, Inc., a women's specialty Fund: D.C. 20005 store, Director (1984-90) 11/16/41 and Chairman (1989-90) Federal 0Balanced Fund: Reserve Bank of Richmond, and Initial election President and Chief Executive Officer 0Equity Index (1988-89), Honeybee, Inc., Fund: Initial a division of Spiegel, Inc.; election Director, Central Illinois Public Service Company, CIPSCO Incorporated, The Rouse Company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and USAir Group, Inc. PAGE 11 _________________________________________________________________ Fund All Other Shares Price Beneficially Funds' Owned, Shares Name, Address, Directly Beneficially Date of Birth or Owned of Nominee and Indirectly, Directly Position with Principal as of as of Fund Occupations(1) 1/31/94(2) 1/31/94 _________________________________________________________________ *James S. Riepe Managing Director, T. Rowe Balanced 100 East Pratt Price Associates, Inc.; Fund: Street President and Director, Equity Baltimore, MD T. Rowe Price Index 21202 Investment Services, Inc.; Fund: 6/25/43 Chairman of the Board, T. Rowe 0Balanced Fund: Price Services, Inc., T. Rowe Chairman of the Price Trust Company, T. Rowe Board and member Price Retirement Plan Services, of Executive Inc., and the following T. Rowe Committee since Price Funds: Growth & 1991 Income, Spectrum (since 0Equity Index inception), and Mid-Cap Growth Fund: Vice (since inception); Vice President President and of the following T. Rowe Price member of Funds/Trusts: New Era, New America Executive Growth, Prime Reserve, Committee International, and Institutional since 1990 International (since inception); Vice President and Director/ Trustee of the 23 other T. Rowe Price Funds/Trusts; Director, T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Insured Intermediate Bond Fund, Inc. (since inception) and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc. PAGE 12 _________________________________________________________________ Fund All Other Shares Price Beneficially Funds' Owned, Shares Name, Address, Directly Beneficially Date of Birth or Owned of Nominee and Indirectly, Directly Position with Principal as of as of Fund Occupations(1) 1/31/94(2) 1/31/94 _________________________________________________________________ *M. David Testa Managing Director, T. Rowe Balanced 100 East Pratt Price Associates, Inc.; Fund: Street Chairman of the Board, Equity Baltimore, MD Rowe Price-Fleming Index 21202 International, Inc. and Fund: 4/22/44 the following T. Rowe Price 0Balanced Funds: Growth Stock, Fund: Vice International, and Institutional President and International (since inception); member of Vice President and Executive Director, T. Rowe Price Committee since Trust Company; Director of 1991 the following T. Rowe Price 0Equity Index Funds: Dividend Growth (since Fund: Initial inception) and Blue Chip election Growth (since inception); Vice President, T. Rowe Price Spectrum Fund, Inc. (since inception) Hubert D. Vos President, Stonington Balanced 1231 State Capital Corporation, a Fund: Street private investment Equity Suite 210 company; Director/Trustee Index Santa Barbara, of the following T. Rowe Fund: CA 93190-0409 Price Funds/Trusts: New 8/2/33 Horizons, New Era, Equity Income, 0Balanced Fund: Capital Appreciation, Science & Director since Technology, Small-Cap Value, 1991 Mid-Cap Growth (since inception), 0Equity Index OTC (since inception), Dividend Fund: Initial Growth (since inception), and election Blue Chip Growth (since inception) PAGE 13 _________________________________________________________________ Fund All Other Shares Price Beneficially Funds' Owned, Shares Name, Address, Directly Beneficially Date of Birth or Owned of Nominee and Indirectly, Directly Position with Principal as of as of Fund Occupations(1) 1/31/94(2) 1/31/94 _________________________________________________________________ Paul M. Wythes Founding General Partner, Balanced 755 Page Mill Sutter Hill Ventures, a Fund: Road venture capital limited Equity Suite A200 partnership providing Index Palo Alto, CA equity capital to young Fund: 94304 high technology companies 6/23/33 throughout the United States; 0Balanced Fund: Director/Trustee, Teltone Director since Corporation, Interventional 1992 Technologies, Inc., Stuart 0Equity Index Medical, Inc., and the following Fund: Director T. Rowe Price Funds: New Horizons, since 1990 Growth & Income, New America Growth, Science & Technology, Small-Cap Value, Mid-Cap Growth (since inception), OTC (since inception), Dividend Growth (since inception), and Blue Chip Growth (since inception) *Nominees considered "interested persons" of Price Associates. (1) Except as otherwise noted, each individual has held the office indicated, or other offices in the same company, for the last five years. (2) In addition to the shares owned beneficially and of record by each of the nominees, the amounts shown reflect the proportionate interests of Messrs. Riepe and Testa in _________ shares of the Fund which are owned by a wholly- owned subsidiary of the Fund's investment manager T. Rowe Price, and their interests in _______ shares owned by the T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Profit Sharing Trust. The directors of the Fund who are officers or employees of T. Rowe Price receive no remuneration from the Fund. For the PAGE 14 year 1993, Messrs. Bailey, Dick, Fagin, Lanier, Major, Vos and Wythes, received from the Balanced Fund directors' fee aggregating $_________, including expenses. For the same period, Messrs. Bailey and Wythes, received rom the Equity Index Fund directors' fees aggregating $_________, including expenses. The fee paid to each such director is calculated in accordance with the following fee schedule: a fee of $25,000 per year as the initial fee for the first Price Fund/Trust on which a director serves; a fee of $5,000 for each of the second, third, and fourth Price Funds/Trusts on which a director serves; a fee of $2,500 for each of the fifth and sixth Price Funds/Trusts on which a director serves; and a fee of $1,000 for each of the seventh and any additional Price Funds/Trusts on which a director serves. For the year ended December 31, 1993, this group of directors received from the Fund directors' fees aggregating $___________, including expenses. Those nominees indicated by an asterisk (*) are persons who, for purposes of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are considered "interested persons" of T. Rowe Price. Each such nominee is deemed to be an "interested person" by virtue of his officership, directorship, and/or employment with T. Rowe Price. Messrs. Bailey, Dick, Fagin, Lanier, Major, Vos and Wythes are the independent directors of the Balanced Fund and Messrs. Bailey and Wythes are the independent directors of the Equity Index Fund. The Price Funds have established a Joint Audit Committee, which is comprised of at least one independent director representing each of the Funds. Messrs. Bailey, Dick and Vos, directors of the Fund, are members of the Committee. The other member is Anthony W. Deering. These directors also received a fee of $500 for each Committee meeting attended. The Audit Committee holds two regular meetings during each fiscal year, at which time it meets with the independent accountants of the Price Funds to review: (1) the services provided; (2) the findings of the most recent audit; (3) management's response to the findings of the most recent audit; (4) the scope of the audit to be performed; (5) the accountants' fees; and (6) any accounting questions relating to particular areas of the Price Funds' operations or the operations of parties dealing with the Price Funds, as circumstances indicate. The Board of Directors of the Fund has an Executive Committee which is authorized to assume all the powers of the Board to manage the Fund, in the intervals between meetings of the Board, except the powers prohibited by statute from being delegated. PAGE 15 The Board of Directors of the Fund has a Nominating Committee, which is comprised of all the Price Fund's independent directors. The Nominating Committee, which functions only in an advisory capacity, is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the full Board candidates for election as independent directors to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee will consider written recommendations from shareholders for possible nominees. Shareholders should submit their recommendations to the Secretary of the Fund. Members of the Nominating Committee met informally during the last full fiscal year, but the Committee as such held no formal meetings. The Board of Directors held seven meetings during the last full fiscal year. With the exception of Messrs. Major and Testa of Balanced Fund, each director standing for election or reelection attended 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors (held during the period for which he was a director) and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board on which he served. 2. APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF CHANGES TO THE FUNDS' FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES The Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") requires investment companies such as the Funds to adopt certain specific investment policies that can be changed only by shareholder vote. An investment company may also elect to designate other policies that may be changed only by shareholder vote. Both types of policies are often referred to as "fundamental policies." Certain of the Funds' fundamental policies have been adopted in the past to reflect regulatory, business or industry conditions that are no longer in effect. Accordingly, each Fund's Board of Directors has approved, and has authorized the submission to each Fund's shareholders for their approval, the amendment and/or reclassification of certain of the fundamental policies applicable to each Fund. The proposed amendments would (i) simplify and modernize the limitations that are required to be fundamental by the 1940 Act and (ii) eliminate as fundamental any limitations that are not required to be fundamental by that Act. By reducing to a minimum those limitations that can be changed only by shareholder vote, the Funds would be able to minimize the costs and delay associated with holding frequent annual shareholders' meetings. The Directors also believe that T. Rowe Price's ability to manage the Funds' assets in a changing investment environment will be PAGE 16 enhanced and that investment management opportunities will be increased by these changes. In the following discussion "the Fund" is intended to refer to each Fund. BOTH FUNDS A. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY TO INCREASE ITS ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN BORROWING TRANSACTIONS The Board of Directors has proposed an amendment to the Fund's fundamental policy which would permit the Fund greater flexibility to engage in borrowing transactions. The current restriction is not required by applicable law. The new restriction would (1) allow the Fund to borrow slightly larger amounts of money; (2) borrow from persons other than banks or other Price Funds to the extent permitted by applicable law; and (3) clarify that the Fund's restriction on borrowing does not prohibit the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase agreements and other proper investments and transactions. The new restriction would also conform the Fund's policy on borrowing to one which is expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price mutual funds. The Board believes that standardized policies will assist the Fund and T. Rowe Price in monitoring compliance with the various investment restrictions to which the T. Rowe Price mutual funds are subject. The Board has directed that such amendment be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policy in the area of borrowing is as follows: Balanced Fund "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Borrow money, except the Fund may borrow from banks or other Price Funds as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, and then only in amounts not exceeding 30% of its total assets valued at market. The Fund will not borrow in order to increase income (leveraging), but only to facilitate redemption requests which might otherwise require untimely disposition of portfolio securities (see page ___ of prospectus). Interest paid on any such borrowings will reduce net investment income. The Fund may enter into futures PAGE 17 contracts as set forth in [its fundamental policy on futures];" Equity Index Fund "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Borrow money, except the Fund may borrow from banks and other Price Funds as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes, and then only in amounts not exceeding 30% of its total assets valued at market. The Fund will not borrow in order to increase income (leveraging), but only to facilitate redemption requests which might otherwise require untimely disposition of portfolio securities (see page ___ of prospectus). Interest paid on any such borrowings will reduce net investment income. The Fund may enter into futures contracts as set forth in [its fundamental policy on futures];" As amended, the Fund's fundamental policy on borrowing would be as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Borrow money except that the Fund may (i) borrow for non- leveraging, temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) engage in reverse repurchase agreements and make other investments or engage in other transactions, which may involve a borrowing, in a manner consistent with the Fund's investment objective and program, provided that the combination of (i) and (ii) shall not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) or such other percentage permitted by law. Any borrowings which come to exceed this amount will be reduced in accordance with applicable law. The Fund may borrow from banks, other Price Funds or other persons to the extent permitted by applicable law." If approved, the primary effect of the proposals would be to allow the Fund to: (1) borrow up to 33 1/3% (or such higher amount permitted by law) of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less liabilities (other than borrowings) as opposed to the current limitation of 30%; (2) borrow from persons other than banks and other mutual funds advised by T. Rowe Price or Rowe Price-Fleming International, Inc. ("Price Funds"); and (3) enter into reverse repurchase agreements and other PAGE 18 investments consistent with the Fund's investment objective and program. 33 1/3% Limitation The increase in the amount of money which the Fund could borrow is designed to allow the Fund greater flexibility to meet shareholder redemption requests should the need arise. As is the case under its current policy, the Fund would not borrow to increase income through leveraging. It is possible the Fund's ability to borrow a larger percentage of its assets could adversely affect the Fund if the Fund were unable to liquidate sufficient securities, or the Fund were forced to liquidate securities at unfavorable prices, to pay back the borrowed sums. However, the Directors believe the risks of such possibilities are outweighed by the greater flexibility the Fund would have in borrowing. The increased ability to borrow should permit the Fund, if it were faced with substantial shareholder redemptions, to avoid liquidating securities at unfavorable prices or times to a greater degree than would be the case under the current policy. Reverse Repurchase Agreements To facilitate portfolio liquidity, it is possible the Fund could enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are ordinary repurchase agreements in which a fund is a seller of, rather than the investor in, securities, and agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. Reverse repurchase agreements can avoid certain market risks and transaction costs associated with an outright sale and repurchase. Reverse repurchase agreements, however, may be viewed as borrowings. To the extent they are, the proposed amendment would clarify that the Fund's restrictions on borrowing would not prohibit the Fund from entering into a reverse repurchase agreement. Other Changes The other proposed changes in the Fund's fundamental policy - - - - to allow the Fund to borrow from persons other than banks and other Price Funds to the extent consistent with applicable law - and to engage in transactions other than reverse repurchase agreements which may, or may be deemed to, involve a borrowing - are simply designed to permit the Fund the greatest degree of flexibility permitted by law in pursuing its investment program. All activities of the Fund are, of course, subject to the 1940 PAGE 19 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder as well as various state securities laws. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. B. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY REGARDING THE MAKING OF LOANS The Board of Directors has proposed an amendment to the Fundamental Investment Policies of the Fund in order to: (i) increase the amount of its assets which may be subject to its lending policy; and (ii) allow the Fund to purchase the entire or any portion of the debt of a company. The new restriction would also conform the Fund's policy on lending to one which is expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price mutual funds. The Board believes that standardized policies will assist the Fund and T. Rowe Price in monitoring compliance with the various investment restrictions to which the T. Rowe Price mutual funds are subject. The Board has directed that such amendment be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policy in the area of making loans is as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Make loans, although the Fund may (i) purchase money market securities and enter into repurchase agreements; (ii) acquire publicly-distributed bonds, debentures, notes and other debt securities and purchase debt securities at private placement; (iii) lend portfolio securities; and (iv) participate in an interfund lending program with other Price Funds provided that no such loan may be made if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 30% of the value of the Fund's total assets;" As amended, the Fund's fundamental policy on loans would be as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Make loans, although the Fund may (i) lend portfolio securities and participate in an interfund lending program with other Price Funds provided that no such loan may be made if, as a result, the aggregate of such loans would exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets; (ii) purchase money market securities and enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) acquire publicly- PAGE 20 distributed or privately-placed debt securities and purchase debt;" 33 1/3% Restriction The Fund's current fundamental policy on lending restricts the Fund to lending no more than 30% of the value of the Fund's total assets. The new policy would raise this amount to 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund's total assets. The purpose of this change is to conform the Fund's policy to one that is expected to become standard for all Price Funds and to permit the Fund to lend its assets to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law. The Board of Directors does not view this change as significantly raising the level of risk to which the Fund would be subject. Purchase of Debt The Fund's fundamental policy on lending allows the Fund to purchase debt securities as an exception to the general limitations on making loans. However, there is no similar exception for the purchase of straight debt, e.g., debt held by a bank for example which might not be considered a debt security. Such an investment might be subject to greater risks of liquidity and unavailability of public information than would be the case for an investment in a publicly held security. The primary purpose of this proposal is to conform the Fund's fundamental policy in this area to one that is expected to become standard for all Price Funds. The Fund will continue to invest primarily in equity securities. However, the Board of Directors believes that increased standardization will help promote operational efficiencies and facilitate monitoring of compliance with the Fund's investment restrictions. Other Matters For purposes of the restriction on lending, the Fund will consider the acquisition of a debt security to include the execution of a note or other evidence of an extension of credit with a term of more than nine months. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. PAGE 21 C. PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY ON PURCHASING SECURITIES ON MARGIN The Board of Directors has proposed that the Fund's Fundamental Investment Policy on purchasing securities on margin be changed from a fundamental policy to an operating policy. Fundamental policies may be changed only by shareholder vote, while operating policies may be changed by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. The purpose of the proposal is to allow the Fund greater flexibility in responding to market and regulatory developments by providing the Board of Directors with the authority to make changes in the Fund's policy on margin without further shareholder approval. The new restriction would also conform the Fund's policy on margin to one which is expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price mutual funds. The Board believes that standardized policies will assist the Fund and T. Rowe Price in monitoring compliance with the various investment restrictions to which the T. Rowe Price mutual funds are subject. The Board has directed that such amendment be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policy in the area of purchasing securities on margin is as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Purchase securities on margin, except for use of short-term credit necessary for clearance of purchases of portfolio securities; except that it may make margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, subject to [its fundamental policy on futures];" As amended, the Fund's operating policy on purchasing securities on margin would be as follows: "[As a matter of operating policy, the Fund may not:] Purchase securities on margin, except (i) for use of short- term credit necessary for clearance of purchases of portfolio securities and (ii) it may make margin deposits in connection with futures contracts or other permissible investments;" Both the Fund's current policy and the proposed operating policy prohibit the purchase of securities on margin but allow the Fund to make margin deposits in connection with futures contracts and use such short-term credit as is necessary for clearance of purchases of portfolio securities. The proposed operating policy also would acknowledge that the Fund is PAGE 22 permitted to make margin deposits in connection with other investments in addition to futures. Such investments might include, but are not limited to, written options where the Fund could be required to put up margin with a broker as security for the Fund's obligation to deliver the security on which the option is written. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. D. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY ON THE ISSUANCE OF SENIOR SECURITIES The Fund's Board of Directors has proposed an amendment to the Fund's fundamental policy on investing in senior securities which would allow the Fund to invest in senior securities to the extent permitted under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The new policy, if adopted, would provide the Fund with greater flexibility in pursuing its investment objective and program. The Board has directed that such amendment be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policy in the area of issuing senior securities is as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Issue senior securities;" As amended, the Fund's fundamental policy on issuing senior securities would be as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Issue senior securities except in compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940;" The 1940 Act limits a Fund's ability to issue senior securities or engage in investment techniques which could be deemed to create a senior security. Although the definition of a "senior security" involves complex statutory and regulatory concepts, a senior security is generally thought of as a class of security preferred over shares of the Fund with respect to the Fund's assets or earnings. It generally does not include temporary or emergency borrowings by the Fund (which might occur to meet shareholder redemption requests) in accordance with federal law and the Fund's investment limitations. Various investment techniques that obligate the Fund to pay money at a PAGE 23 future date (e.g., the purchase of securities for settlement on a date that is longer than required under normal settlement practices) occasionally raise questions as to whether a "senior security" is created. The Fund utilizes such techniques only in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements under the 1940 Act. Although the Fund has no current intention of issuing senior securities, the proposed change will clarify the Fund's authority to issue senior securities in accordance with the 1940 Act without the need to seek shareholder approval. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. E. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES ON INVESTING IN COMMODITIES AND FUTURES CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN FUTURES TRADING Balanced Fund The Board of Directors has proposed amendments to the Fund's Fundamental Investment Policies on commodities and futures. The principal purpose of the proposals is to conform the Fund's policies on commodities and futures with policies which are expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price mutual funds. The Board has directed that such amendments be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policies in the area of investing in commodities and futures are as follows: Commodities "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts; except that it may (i) enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts, subject to [its fundamental policy of futures]; (ii) enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (although the Fund does not consider such contracts to be commodities); and (iii) invest in instruments which have the characteristics of both futures contracts and securities;" Futures Contracts "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Enter into a futures contract or an option thereon, although the Fund may enter into financial and currency PAGE 24 futures contracts or options on financial and currency futures contracts;" As amended, the Fund's fundamental policies on investing in futures and commodities would be combined and would be as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Purchase or sell physical commodities; except that it may enter into futures contracts and options thereon;" In addition, the Board of Directors intends to adopt the following operating policy, which may be changed by the Board of Directors without further shareholder approval. "[As a matter of operating policy, the Fund will not:] Purchase a futures contract or an option thereon if, with respect to positions in futures or options on futures which do not represent bona fide hedging, the aggregate initial margin and premiums on such positions would exceed 5% of the Fund's net asset value (the "New Operating Policy")." If adopted, the primary effect of the amendment would be to remove the restriction in the current policies the Fund may only enter into financial and currency futures. Although not specifically described in the amended fundamental restriction, the Fund would continue to have the ability to enter into forward foreign currency contracts and to invest in instruments which have the characteristics of futures and securities or whose value is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to commodity prices. The Fund has no current intention of investing in other types of futures. However, the new policy, if adopted, would allow it to do so. The risks of any such futures activity could differ from the risks of the Fund's currently permitted futures activity. As noted, the principal purpose of seeking the proposed change in the Fund's fundamental policies is to conform such policies to ones which are expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price Funds. The Board of Directors believes that standardized policies will assist the Fund and T. Rowe Price in monitoring compliance with the various investment restrictions to which the T. Rowe Price Funds are subject. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. PAGE 25 E. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES ON INVESTING IN COMMODITIES AND FUTURES CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN FUTURES TRADING Equity Index Fund The Board of Directors has proposed amendments to the Fund's Fundamental Investment Policies on commodities and futures. The principal purpose of the proposals is to conform the Fund's policies on commodities and futures with policies which are expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price mutual funds. The Board has directed that such amendments be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policies in the area of investing in commodities and futures are as follows: Commodities "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts; except that it may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts, subject to [its fundamental policy on futures];" Futures Contracts "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Enter into a futures contract or an option thereon, although the Fund may enter into financial futures contracts or options on financial futures contracts;" As amended, the Fund's fundamental policies on investing in commodities and futures would be combined and would be as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Purchase or sell physical commodities; except that it may enter into futures contracts and options thereon;" In addition, the Board of Directors intends to adopt the following operating policy, which may be changed by the Board of Directors without further shareholder approval. "[As a matter of operating policy, the Fund will not:] Purchase a futures contract or an option thereon if, with PAGE 26 respect to positions in futures or options on futures which do not represent bona fide hedging, the aggregate initial margin and premiums on such positions would exceed 5% of the Fund's net asset value (the "New Operating Policy")." If adopted, the primary effect of the amendment would be to remove the restriction in the current policies the Fund may only enter into financial futures. The Fund has no current intention of investing in other types of futures. However, the new policy, if adopted, would allow it to do so. As noted, the principal purpose of seeking the proposed change in the Fund's fundamental policies is to conform such policies to ones which are expected to become standard for all T. Rowe Price Funds. The Board of Directors believes that standardized policies will assist the Fund and T. Rowe Price in monitoring compliance with the various investment restrictions to which the T. Rowe Price Funds are subject. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. F. PROPOSAL TO ELIMINATE THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY ON SHORT SALES The Fund's Board of Directors has proposed that the Fund's Fundamental Policy on effecting short sales be eliminated and replaced with a substantially similar operating policy. Fundamental policies may be changed only by shareholder vote, while operating policies may be changed by the Board of Directors without shareholder approval. The current policy of the Fund is not required by applicable law to be fundamental. The purpose of the proposal is to provide the Fund with greater flexibility in pursuing its investment objective and program. The Board has directed that the proposal be submitted to shareholders for approval or disapproval. The Fund's current fundamental policy in the area of effecting short sales of securities is as follows: "[As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:] Effect short sales of securities;" The operating policy on short sales, to be adopted by the Fund, would be as follows: PAGE 27 "[As a matter of operating policy, the Fund may not:] Effect short sales of securities;" The current fundamental policy was formerly required by certain states to be fundamental. This is no longer the case and the replacement of the policy with an operating policy will adequately protect the Fund while providing greater flexibility to the Fund to respond to market or regulatory developments by allowing the Board of Directors the authority to make changes in this policy without seeking further shareholder approval. In a short sale, an investor, such as the Fund, sells a borrowed security and must return the same security to the lender. Although the Board has no current intention of allowing the Fund to engage in short sales, if the proposed amendment is adopted, the Board would be able to authorize the Fund to engage in short sales at any time without further shareholder action. In such a case, the Fund's prospectus would be amended and a description of short sales and their risks would be set forth therein. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR the proposal. 3. RATIFICATION OR REJECTION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS The selection by each Fund's Board of Directors of the firm of Coopers & Lybrand as the independent accountants for each Fund for the fiscal year 1994 is to be submitted for ratification or rejection by the shareholders at the Shareholder Meeting. The firm of Coopers & Lybrand has served each Fund as independent accountants since its inception. The independent accountants have advised each Fund that they have no direct or material indirect financial interest in the Fund. Representatives of the firm of Coopers & Lybrand are expected to be present at the Shareholder Meeting and will be available to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions which the shareholders may wish to address to them. INVESTMENT MANAGER The Fund's investment manager is T. Rowe Price, a Maryland corporation, 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The principal executive officer of T. Rowe Price is George J. PAGE 28 Collins, who together with Thomas H. Broadus, Jr., James E. Halbkat, Jr., Carter O. Hoffman, Henry H. Hopkins, James S. Riepe, George A. Roche, John W. Rosenblum, Charles H. Salisbury, Jr., Robert L. Strickland, M. David Testa, and Philip C. Walsh, constitute its Board of Directors. The address of each of these persons, with the exception of Messrs. Halbkat, Rosenblum, Stickland and Walsh, is 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, and, with the exception of Messrs. Halbkat, Rosenblum, Strickland, and Walsh, all are employed by T. Rowe Price. Mr. Halbkat is President of U.S. Monitor Corporation, a provider of public response systems, P.O. Box 23109, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29925. Mr. Rosenblum, whose address is P.O. Box 6550, Charlottesville, Virginia 22906, is the Tayloe Murphy Professor at the University of Virginia, and a director of: Chesapeake Corporation, a manufacturer of paper products; Cadmus Communications Corp., a provider of printing and communication services; Comdial Corporation, a manufacturer of telephone systems for businesses; and Cone Mills Corporation, a textiles producer. Mr. Strickland is Chairman of Lowe's Companies, Inc., a retailer of specialty home supplies, 604 Two Piedmont Plaza Building, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104. Mr. Walsh, whose address is Blue Mill Road, Morristown, New Jersey 07960, is a consultant to Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, Englewood, Colorado, and a director of Piedmont Mining Company, Charlotte, North Carolina. The officers of the Funds (other than the nominees for election or reelection as directors) and their positions with T. Rowe Price are as follows: Balanced Fund Position Position with Officer with Fund Manager *Richard T. Whitney President Vice President Stephen W. Boesel Vice President Managing Director Andrew M. Brooks Vice President Vice President Jonathan M. Greene Vice President Vice President Henry H. Hopkins Vice President Managing Director James A.C. Kennedy, III Vice President Managing Director Edmund M. Notzon Vice President Vice President M. David Testa Vice President Managing Director Peter Van Dyke Vice President Managing Director Lenora V. Hornung Secretary Vice President Carmen F. Deyesu Treasurer Vice President David S. Middleton Controller Vice President PAGE 29 Roger L. Fiery Assistant Vice PresidentEmployee Edward T. Schneider Assistant Vice PresidentEmployee Ingrid I. Vordemberge Assistant Vice PresidentEmployee Equity Index Fund *Richard T. Whitney President Vice President Kristen D. Farrow Vice President Assistant Vice President Jonathan M. Greene Vice President Vice President Henry H. Hopkins Vice President Managing Director Alan R. Stuart Vice President Vice President Lenora V. Hornung Secretary Vice President Carmen F. Deyesu Treasurer Vice President David S. Middleton Controller Vice President Roger L. Fiery Assistant Vice President Employee Edward T. Schneider Assistant Vice President Employee Ingrid I. Vordemberge Assistant Vice President Employee * Mr. Whitney's date of birth is ________. He has been President of the Balanced and Equity Index Fund since ______ and _____, respectively, and has been employed by T. Rowe Price since ____. The Funds have an Underwriting Agreement with T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. ("Investment Services"), a Transfer Agency Agreement with T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. ("Price Services"), and an Agreement with T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services, Inc. ("Retirement Services"), which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of T. Rowe Price. In addition, the Funds have an Agreement with T. Rowe Price to perform fund accounting services. James S. Riepe, the Chairman of the Board of the Balanced Fund and a Vice President and Director of the Equity Index Fund, is Chairman of the Board of Price Services and Retirement Services and President and Director of Investment Services. Henry H. Hopkins, a Vice President of the Funds, is a Vice President and Director of both Investment Services and Price Services and a Vice President of Retirement Services. Edward T. Schneider, an Assistant Vice President of the Funds, is a Vice President of Price Services. Certain officers of the Funds own shares of the common stock of T. Rowe Price, its only class of securities. The following information pertains to transactions involving common stock of T. Rowe Price, par value $.20 per share ("Stock"), during the period January 1, 1993 through December 31, 1993. There were no transactions during the period by any PAGE 30 director or officer of the Fund, or any director or officer of T. Rowe Price which involved more than 1% of the outstanding Stock of T. Rowe Price. These transactions did not involve, and should not be mistaken for, transactions in the stock of the Fund. During the period, the holders of certain options purchased a total of 343,525 shares of common stock at varying prices from $0.67 to $18.75 per share. Pursuant to the terms of T. Rowe Price's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, eligible employees of T. Rowe Price and its subsidiaries purchased an aggregate of 96,931 shares at fair market value. Such shares were purchased in the open market during this period for employees' accounts. The Company's Board of Directors has approved the repurchase of shares of its common stock in the open market. During 1993, the Company purchased 80,000 common shares under this plan, leaving 1,432,000 shares authorized for future repurchase at December 31, 1993. During the period, T. Rowe Price issued 1,154,000 common stock options with an exercise price of $28.13 per share to certain employees under terms of the 1990 and 1993 Stock Incentive Plans. An audited consolidated balance sheet of T. Rowe Price as of December 31, 1993, is included in this Proxy Statement. INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT T. Rowe Price serves as investment manager to the Funds pursuant to their Investment Management Agreements (each the "Management Agreement" and collectively the "Management Agreements"). The Balanced and Equity Index Funds' Management Agreements, dated May 1, 1992 and May 1, 1991, respectively, were approved by the shareholders of each Fund on April 23, 1992 and April 18, 1991, respectively. By their terms, the Management Agreements will continue in effect from year to year as long as they are approved annually by each Fund's Board of Directors (at a meeting called for that purpose) or by vote of a majority of each Fund's outstanding shares. In either case, renewal of the Management Agreement must be approved by a majority of each Fund's independent directors. On March __, 1994, the directors of each Fund, including all of the independent directors, voted to extend the Management Agreement for an additional period of one year, commencing May 1, 1994, and terminating April 30, 1995. Each Management Agreement is subject to termination by either PAGE 31 party without penalty on 60 days' written notice to the other and will terminate automatically in the event of assignment. Under each Management Agreement, T. Rowe Price provides the Fund with discretionary investment services. Specifically, T. Rowe Price is responsible for supervising and directing the investments of each Fund in accordance with the Funds' investment objectives, programs, and restrictions as provided in their prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information. T. Rowe Price is also responsible for effecting all security transactions on behalf of the Funds, including the negotiation of commissions and the allocation of principal business and portfolio brokerage. In addition to these services, T. Rowe Price provides the Funds with certain corporate administrative services, including: maintaining each Fund's corporate existence, corporate records, and registering and qualifying Fund shares under federal and state laws; monitoring the financial, accounting, and administrative functions of the Funds; maintaining liaison with the agents employed by the Funds such as each Fund's custodian and transfer agent; assisting the Funds in the coordination of such agents' activities; and permitting T. Rowe Price's employees to serve as officers, directors, and committee members of the Funds without cost to the Funds. Each Fund's Management Agreement also provides that T. Rowe Price, its directors, officers, employees, and certain other persons performing specific functions for the Fund will only be liable to the Fund for losses resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duty. The Management Agreement provides that each Fund will bear all expenses of its operations not specifically assumed by T. Rowe Price. However, in compliance with certain state regulations, T. Rowe Price will reimburse the Funds for any expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) which in any year exceed the limits prescribed by any state in which the Funds' shares are qualified for sale. Presently, the most restrictive expense ratio limitation imposed by any state is 2.5% of the first $30 million of the Fund's average daily net assets, 2% of the next $70 million of such assets, and 1.5% of net assets in excess of $100 million. For the purpose of determining whether a Fund is entitled to reimbursement, the expenses of the Fund are calculated on a monthly basis. If the Fund is entitled to reimbursement, that month's management fee will be reduced or postponed, with any adjustment made after the end of the year. PAGE 32 Balanced Fund Only In the interest of limiting the expenses of the Fund during its initial period of operations, T. Rowe Price agreed to bear any expenses through December 31, 1992, which would cause the Fund's ratio of expenses to average net assets to exceed 1.00%. Effective January 1, 1993, T. Rowe Price agreed to extend the Fund's 1.00% expense limitation for a period of two years through December 31, 1993. Expenses paid or assumed under each agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the Fund whenever the Fund's expense ratio is below 1.00%; however, no reimbursement will be made after December 31, 1994, (for the initial agreement) or December 31, 1996 (for the second agreement) or if it would result in the expense ratio exceeding 1.00%. The Management Agreement also provides that one or more additional expense limitation periods (of the same or different time periods) may be implemented after the expiration of the current one on December 31, 1994, and that with respect to any such additional limitation period, the Fund may reimburse T. Rowe Price, provided the reimbursement does not result in the Fund's aggregate expenses exceeding the additional expense limitation or any applicable state expense limitation. As a result of these agreements, as of December 31, 1992, $266,000 of management fees were not accrued by the Fund for the period subsequent to the reorganization date and $305,000 of unaccrued fees and expenses related to the Fund's operations in 1991 and 1992 (including the period prior to the reorganization date) are subject to reimbursement through December 31, 1994. For the years ended December 31, 1993, 1992 and 1991, the ratios of operating expenses to average net assets of the Balanced Fund were 1.00%, 1.00%, and 1.03%. Equity Index Fund Only Effective January 1, 1992, T. Rowe Price agreed to bear any expenses through December 31, 1993, which would cause the Fund's ratio of expenses to average net assets to exceed 0.45%. Effective January 1, 1994, T. Rowe Price agreed to extend the Fund's 0.45% expense limitation for a period of two years through December 31, 1995. Expenses paid or assumed under each agreement are subject to reimbursement to T. Rowe Price by the Fund whenever the Fund's expense ratio is below 0.45%; however, no reimbursement will be made after December 31, 1995 (for the first agreement) or December 31, 1997 (for the second agreement), or if it would result in the expense ratio exceeding 0.45%. The PAGE 33 Management Agreement also provides that one or more additional expense limitation periods (of the same or different time periods) may be implemented after the expiration of the one on December 31, 1995, and that with respect to any such additional limitation period, the Fund may reimburse T. Rowe Price, provided that the reimbursement does not result in the Fund's aggregate expenses exceeding the additional expense limitation or any applicable state expense limitation. Pursuant to this agreement, $293,000 of management fees were not accrued by the Fund for the year ended December 31, 1993, and $20,000 of other expenses were borne by the Manager. Additionally, $338,000 of unaccrued fees and expenses remain subject to future reimbursement. Pursuant to a previous agreement, $421,000 of unaccrued fees and expenses from 1990-1991 have been permanently waived. Equity Index Fund did not pay T. Rowe Price an investment management fee for the years ended December 1993, 1992, and 1991. For its services to the Balanced Fund under the Management Agreement, T. Rowe Price is paid a management fee ("Management Fee") consisting of two elements: a "group" fee ("Group Fee") and an "individual" fund fee ("Individual Fund Fee"). The Group Fee varies and is based on the combined net assets of all of the Price Funds distributed by T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., other than institutional or "private label" products. For this purpose, the Price Funds include all funds managed and sponsored by T. Rowe Price as well as those Funds managed and sponsored by Rowe Price-Fleming International, Inc. The Balanced Fund pays, as its portion of the Group Fee, an amount equal to the ratio of its daily net assets to the daily net assets of all the Price Funds. In addition, the Balanced Fund pays a flat Individual Fund Fee of 0.15%, based on the net assets of the Fund. Based on combined Price Funds' assets of approximately $34.7 billion at December 31, 1993, the Group Fee was 0.35% and the total management fee for the year would have been an annual rate of 0.50% of the Balanced Fund. The Equity Index Fund pays T. Rowe Price an annual investment management fee in monthly installments of 0.20% of the average daily net asset value of the Fund. The following chart shows the net assets and the management fees, paid by each Fund to T. Rowe Price, at December 31, 1993. PAGE 34 Net Assets Management Fee __________ ______________ Balanced Fund $340,799,576 $1,169,038 Equity Index Fund $166,993,589 $ 0 PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS In the following discussion "the Fund" is intended to refer to each Fund. Investment or Brokerage Discretion Decisions with respect to the purchase and sale of portfolio securities on behalf of the Fund are made by T. Rowe Price. T. Rowe Price is also responsible for implementing these decisions, including the negotiation of commissions and the allocation of portfolio brokerage and principal business. How Brokers and Dealers are Selected Equity Securities In purchasing and selling the Fund's portfolio securities, it is T. Rowe Price's policy to obtain quality execution at the most favorable prices through responsible brokers and dealers and, in the case of agency transactions, at competitive commission rates. However, under certain conditions, the Fund may pay higher brokerage commissions in return for brokerage and research services. As a general practice, over-the-counter orders are executed with market-makers. In selecting among market-makers, T. Rowe Price generally seeks to select those it believes to be actively and effectively trading the security being purchased or sold. In selecting broker-dealers to execute the Fund's portfolio transactions, consideration is given to such factors as the price of the security, the rate of the commission, the size and difficulty of the order, the reliability, integrity, financial condition, general execution and operational capabilities of competing brokers and dealers, and brokerage and research services provided by them. It is not the policy of T. Rowe Price to seek the lowest available commission rate where it is believed that a broker or dealer charging a higher commission rate would offer greater reliability or provide better price or execution. PAGE 35 Fixed Income Securities Fixed income securities are generally purchased from the issuer or a primary market-maker acting as principal for the securities on a net basis, with no brokerage commission being paid by the client. Transactions placed through dealers serving as primary market-makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Securities may also be purchased from underwriters at prices which include underwriting fees. With respect to equity and fixed income securities, T. Rowe Price may effect principal transactions on behalf of the Fund with a broker or dealer who furnishes brokerage and/or research services, designate any such broker or dealer to receive selling concessions, discounts or other allowances, or otherwise deal with any such broker or dealer in connection with the acquisition of securities in underwritings. How Evaluations are Made of the Overall Reasonableness of Brokerage Commissions Paid On a continuing basis, T. Rowe Price seeks to determine what levels of commission rates are reasonable in the marketplace for transactions executed on behalf of the Fund. In evaluating the reasonableness of commission rates, T. Rowe Price considers: (a) historical commission rates, both before and since rates have been fully negotiable; (b) rates which other institutional investors are paying, based on available public information; (c) rates quoted by brokers and dealers; (d) the size of a particular transaction, in terms of the number of shares, dollar amount, and number of clients involved; (e) the complexity of a particular transaction in terms of both execution and settlement; (f) the level and type of business done with a particular firm over a period of time; and (g) the extent to which the broker or dealer has capital at risk in the transaction. Description of Research Services Received from Brokers and Dealers T. Rowe Price receives a wide range of research services from brokers and dealers. These services include information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance analysis and analysis of corporate PAGE 36 responsibility issues. These services provide both domestic and international perspective. Research services are received primarily in the form of written reports, computer generated services, telephone contacts and personal meetings with security analysts. In addition, such services may be provided in the form of meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons, economists, academicians and government representatives. In some cases, research services are generated by third parties but are provided to T. Rowe Price by or through broker-dealers. Research services received from brokers and dealers are supplemental to T. Rowe Price's own research effort and, when utilized, are subject to internal analysis before being incorporated by T. Rowe Price into its investment process. As a practical matter, it would not be possible for T. Rowe Price's Equity Research Division to generate all of the information presently provided by brokers and dealers. T. Rowe Price pays cash for certain research services received from external sources. T. Rowe Price also allocates brokerage for research services which are available for cash. While receipt of research services from brokerage firms has not reduced T. Rowe Price's normal research activities, the expenses of T. Rowe Price could be materially increased if it attempted to generate such additional information through its own staff. To the extent that research services of value are provided by brokers or dealers, T. Rowe Price may be relieved of expenses which it might otherwise bear. T. Rowe Price has a policy of not allocating brokerage business in return for products or services other than brokerage or research services. In accordance with the provisions of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, T. Rowe Price may from time to time receive services and products which serve both research and non-research functions. In such event, T. Rowe Price makes a good faith determination of the anticipated research and non-research use of the product or service and allocates brokerage only with respect to the research component. Commissions to Brokers who Furnish Research Services Certain brokers who provide quality execution services also furnish research services to T. Rowe Price. In order to be assured of continuing to receive research services considered of value to its clients, T. Rowe Price has adopted a brokerage allocation policy embodying the concepts of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which permits an investment adviser to cause an account to pay commission rates in excess of PAGE 37 those another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the same transaction, if the adviser determines in good faith that the commission paid is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. The determination may be viewed in terms of either the particular transaction involved or the overall responsibilities of the adviser with respect to the accounts over which it exercises investment discretion. Accordingly, while T. Rowe Price cannot readily determine the extent to which commission rates or net prices charged by broker-dealers reflect the value of their research services, T. Rowe Price would expect to assess the reasonableness of commissions in light of the total brokerage and research services provided by each particular broker. Internal Allocation Procedures T. Rowe Price has a policy of not precommitting a specific amount of business to any broker or dealer over any specific time period. Historically, the majority of brokerage placement has been determined by the needs of a specific transaction such as market-making, availability of a buyer or seller of a particular security, or specialized execution skills. However, T. Rowe Price does have an internal brokerage allocation procedure for that portion of its discretionary client brokerage business where special needs do not exist, or where the business may be allocated among several brokers which are able to meet the needs of the transaction. Each year, T. Rowe Price assesses the contribution of the brokerage and research services provided by brokers, and attempts to allocate a portion of its brokerage business in response to these assessments. Research analysts, counselors, various investment committees, and the Trading Department each seek to evaluate the brokerage and research services they receive from brokers and make judgments as to the level of business which would recognize such services. In addition, brokers sometimes suggest a level of business they would like to receive in return for the various brokerage and research services they provide. Actual brokerage received by any firm may be less than the suggested allocations but can, and often does, exceed the suggestions, because the total brokerage business is allocated on the basis of all the considerations described above. In no case is a broker excluded from receiving business from T. Rowe Price because it has not been identified as providing research services. PAGE 38 Miscellaneous T. Rowe Price's brokerage allocation policy is consistently applied to all its fully discretionary accounts, which represent a substantial majority of all assets under management. Research services furnished by brokers through which T. Rowe Price effects securities transactions may be used in servicing all accounts (including non-Fund accounts) managed by T. Rowe Price. Conversely, research services received from brokers which execute transactions for the Fund are not necessarily used by T. Rowe Price exclusively in connection with the management of the Fund. From time to time, orders for clients may be placed through a computerized transaction network. The Fund does not allocate business to any broker-dealer on the basis of its sales of the Fund's shares. However, this does not mean that broker-dealers who purchase Fund shares for their clients will not receive business from the Fund. Some of T. Rowe Price's other clients have investment objectives and programs similar to those of the Fund. T. Rowe Price may occasionally make recommendations to other clients which result in their purchasing or selling securities simultaneously with the Fund. As a result, the demand for securities being purchased or the supply of securities being sold may increase, and this could have an adverse effect on the price of those securities. It is T. Rowe Price's policy not to favor one client over another in making recommendations or in placing orders. T. Rowe Price frequently follows the practice of grouping orders of various clients for execution which generally results in lower commission rates being attained. In certain cases, where the aggregate order is executed in a series of transactions at various prices on a given day, each participating client's proportionate share of such order reflects the average price paid or received with respect to the total order. T. Rowe Price has established a general investment policy that it will ordinarily not make additional purchases of a common stock of a company for its clients (including the Price Funds) if, as a result of such purchases, 10% or more of the outstanding common stock of such company would be held by its clients in the aggregate. To the extent possible, T. Rowe Price intends to recapture solicitation fees paid in connection with tender offers through T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., the Fund's distributor. PAGE 39 At the present time, T. Rowe Price does not recapture commissions or underwriting discounts or selling group concessions in connection with taxable securities acquired in underwritten offerings. T. Rowe Price does, however, attempt to negotiate elimination of all or a portion of the selling-group concession or underwriting discount when purchasing tax-exempt municipal securities on behalf of its clients in underwritten offerings. Balanced Fund Only Transactions with Related Brokers and Dealers As provided in the Investment Management Agreement between the Fund and T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price is responsible not only for making decisions with respect to the purchase and sale of the Fund's portfolio securities, but also for implementing these decisions, including the negotiation of commissions and the allocation of portfolio brokerage and principal business. It is expected that T. Rowe Price may place orders for the Fund's portfolio transactions with broker-dealers through the same trading desk T. Rowe Price uses for portfolio transactions in domestic securities. The trading desk accesses brokers and dealers in various markets in which the Fund's foreign securities are located. These brokers and dealers may include certain affiliates of Robert Fleming Holdings Limited ("Robert Fleming Holdings") and Jardine Fleming Group Limited ("JFG"), persons indirectly related to T. Rowe Price. Robert Fleming Holdings, through Copthall Overseas Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary, owns 25% of the common stock of Rowe Price-Fleming International, Inc. ("RPFI"), an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Fifty percent of the common stock of RPFI is owned by TRP Finance, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price, and the remaining 25% is owned by Jardine Fleming Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of JFG. JFG is 50% owned by Robert Fleming Holdings and 50% owned by Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited. Orders for the Fund's portfolio transactions placed with affiliates of Robert Fleming Holdings and JFG will result in commissions being received by such affiliates. The Board of Directors of the Fund has authorized T. Rowe Price to utilize certain affiliates of Robert Fleming and JFG in the capacity of broker in connection with the execution of the Fund's portfolio transactions. These affiliates include, but are not limited to, Jardine Fleming Securities Limited ("JFS"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of JFG, Robert Fleming & Co. Limited ("RF&Co."), Jardine Fleming Australia Securities Limited, and PAGE 40 Robert Fleming, Inc. (a New York brokerage firm). Other affiliates of Robert Fleming Holding and JFG also may be used. Although it does not believe that the Fund's use of these brokers would be subject to Section 17(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Board of Directors of the Fund has agreed that the procedures set forth in Rule 17e-1 under that Act will be followed when using such brokers. During the year ended December 31, 1993, the Fund paid Robert Fleming, Inc., (a New York brokerage firm) $10,000, in total brokerage commissions (including discounts received in connection with underwritings) in connection with the Fund's portfolio transactions. The brokerage commissions paid to Robert Fleming, Inc. represented 11%, of the Fund's aggregate brokerage commissions paid during 1993. The aggregate dollar amount of transactions effected through Robert Fleming, Inc. involving the payment of commissions (including discounts received in connection with underwritings) represented 2%, of the aggregate dollar amount of all transactions involving the payment of commissions during 1993. In accordance with the written procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 17e-1, the independent directors of the Fund reviewed the Fund's 1993 transactions with affiliated brokers and determined that such transactions resulted in an economic advantage to the Fund either in the form of lower execution costs or otherwise. Other Shown below are the approximate total brokerage commissions, including the discounts received by securities dealers in connection with underwritings, paid by the Balanced and Equity Index Funds for the last three years: 1993 1992 1991 ____ ____ ____ Balanced Fund $92,000 $162,000 $122,000 Equity Index Fund $21,000 $39,000 $10,000 The approximate percentage of these commissions paid to firms which provided research, statistical, or other services to T. Rowe Price in connection with the management of each Fund, or in some cases, to each Fund, for the last three years, are shown in the following chart. PAGE 41 1993 1992 1991 ____ ____ ____ Balanced Fund 46% 65% 20% Equity Index Fund 9% 3% * The portfolio turnover rate for each Fund for each of the last three years has been as follows: 1993 1992 1991 ____ ____ ____ Balanced Fund 8.7% 63.1% 10.3% Equity Index Fund 0.8% 0.1% 5.8% OTHER BUSINESS The management of each Fund knows of no other business which may come before the meeting. However, if any additional matters are properly presented at the meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed proxy, or their substitutes, will vote such proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters. GENERAL INFORMATION As of December 31, 1993, there were 28,362,315 and 12, 387,013 shares of the capital stock of the Balanced and Equity Index Funds, respectively, outstanding, each with a par value of $.01. Of those shares, approximately _____________ and _____________, representing ______% and ________%, respectively, of the outstanding stock, were registered to the T. Rowe Price Trust Company as Trustee for participants in the T. Rowe Price Funds Retirement Plan for Self-Employed (Keogh), as Trustee for participants in T. Rowe Price Funds 401(k) plans, as Custodian for participants in the T. Rowe Price Funds Individual Retirement Account (IRA), as Custodian for participants in various 403(b)(7) plans, and as Custodian for various Profit Sharing and Money Purchase plans. The T. Rowe Price Trust Company has no beneficial interest in such accounts, nor in any other account for which it may serve as trustee or custodian. As of December 31, 1993, approximately __________ and ___________ shares of the Balanced and Equity Index Funds, representing approximately ___% and ___%, respectively, of the PAGE 42 outstanding stock, were owned by various private counsel clients of T. Rowe Price, as to which T. Rowe Price has discretionary authority. Accordingly, such shares are deemed to be owned beneficially by T. Rowe Price only for the limited purpose as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. T. Rowe Price disclaims actual beneficial ownership of such shares. In addition, as of December 31, 1993, a wholly- owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price owned directly 169,698 and 241,736 shares of the Balanced and Equity Index Funds, respectively, representing approximately ___% and ____%, respectively, of the outstanding stock. As of December 31, 1993, the officers and directors of the Balanced Fund, as a group, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, _______ shares, representing approximately ____% of the Fund's outstanding stock. The ownership of the officers and directors reflects their proportionate interests, if any, in ___________ shares of the Fund which are owned by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund's investment manager, T. Rowe Price, and their interests in __________ shares owned by the T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Profit Sharing Trust. As of December 31, 1993, the officers and directors of the Equity Index Fund, as a group, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, _______ shares, representing approximately ____% of the Fund's outstanding stock. The ownership of the officers and directors reflects their proportionate interests, if any, in ___________ shares of the Fund which are owned by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund's investment manager, T. Rowe Price, and their interests in __________ shares owned by the T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. Profit Sharing Trust. A copy of the Annual Report of each Fund for the year ended December 31, 1993, including financial statements, has been mailed to shareholders of record at the close of business on that date and to persons who became shareholders of record between that time and the close of business on February 18, 1994, the record date for the determination of the shareholders who are entitled to be notified of and to vote at the meeting. ANNUAL MEETINGS Under Maryland General Corporation Law, any corporation registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("the Act") is not required to hold an annual meeting in any year in which the Act does not require action by shareholders on the election PAGE 43 of directors. The Board of Directors of the Fund has determined that in order to avoid the significant expense associated with holding annual meetings, including legal, accounting, printing and mailing fees incurred in preparing proxy materials, each Fund will take advantage of these Maryland law provisions. Accordingly, no annual meetings shall be held in any year in which a meeting is not otherwise required to be held by the Act for the election of Directors unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines that there should be an annual meeting. However, special meetings will be held in accordance with applicable law or when otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. Each Fund's By-Laws reflect this policy. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS If a shareholder wishes to present a proposal to be included in the Proxy Statement for the next Annual Meeting, and if such Annual Meeting is held in April, 1995, such proposal must be submitted in writing and received by the Corporation's Secretary at its Baltimore office prior to November 10, 1994. FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF INVESTMENT MANAGER The audited consolidated balance sheet of T. Rowe Price which follows is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940, and should not be confused with, or mistaken for, the financial statements of T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund, Inc., which are set forth in the Annual Report for each Fund. PAGE 44 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS _________________________________ To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheet presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1993 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. This financial statement is the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. PRICE WATERHOUSE Baltimore, Maryland January 25, 1994 PAGE 45 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1993 (in thousands) ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 46,218 Accounts receivable 43,102 Investments in sponsored mutual funds Short-term bond and money market mutual funds held as trading securities 27,647 Other funds held as available-for-sale securities 69,423 Partnership and other investments 19,606 Property and equipment 39,828 Goodwill and deferred expenses 9,773 Other assets 7,803 ________ $263,400 ________ ________ LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 15,111 Accrued retirement and other compensation costs 19,844 Income taxes payable 5,097 Dividends payable 3,784 Debt 12,915 Deferred revenues 1,548 Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries 9,148 ________ Total liabilities 67,447 ________ Commitments and contingent liabilities Stockholders' equity Common stock, $.20 par value - authorized 48,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 29,095,039 shares 5,819 Capital in excess of par value 1,197 Unrealized security holding gains 5,345 Retained earnings 183,592 ________ Total stockholders' equity 195,953 ________ $263,400 ________ ________ PAGE 46 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated balance sheet. T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company") provide investment advisory and administrative services to sponsored mutual funds and investment products, and to private accounts of other institutional and individual investors. Basis of preparation The Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority owned subsidiaries and, by virtue of the Company's controlling interest, its 50%-owned subsidiary, Rowe Price- Fleming International, Inc. ("RPFI"). All material intercompany accounts are eliminated in consolidation. Cash equivalents For purposes of financial statement disclosure, cash equivalents consist of all short-term, highly liquid investments including certain money market mutual funds and all overnight commercial paper investments. The cost of these investments is equivalent to fair value. Investments in sponsored mutual funds The Company has historically accounted for its investments in stock and bond mutual funds at the lower of aggregate cost or market. On December 31, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," which requires the Company to state its mutual fund investments at fair value and to classify these holdings as either trading (held for only a short period of time) or available-for-sale securities. PAGE 47 Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities at December 31, 1993 are reported net of income tax effects in a separate component of stockholders' equity. Concentration of credit risk Financial instruments which potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk as defined by SFAS No. 105 consist primarily of investments in sponsored money market and bond mutual funds and accounts receivable. Credit risk is believed to be minimal in that counterparties to these financial instruments have substantial assets including the diversified portfolios under management by the Company which aggregate $54.4 billion at December 31, 1993. PAGE 48 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued) Partnership and other investments The Company invests in various partnerships and ventures including those sponsored by the Company. These investments which hold equity securities, venture capital investments, debt securities and real estate are stated at cost adjusted for the Company's share of the earnings or losses of the investees subsequent to the date of investment. Because the majority of these entities carry their investments at fair value and include unrealized gains and losses in their reported earnings, the Company's carrying value for these investments approximates fair value. Property and equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization computed using the straight-line method. Provisions for depreciation and amortization are based on the following estimated useful lives: computer and communications equipment and furniture and other equipment, 3 to 7 years; building, 40 years; leased land, the 50-year lease term; and leasehold improvements, the shorter of their useful lives or the remainder of the lease term. PAGE 49 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET NOTE 1 - INVESTMENTS IN SPONSORED MUTUAL FUNDS Investments in sponsored money market mutual funds, which are classified as cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, aggregate $45,272,000 at December 31, 1993. The Company's investments in sponsored mutual funds held as available-for-sale at December 31, 1993 (in thousands) include: Gross unrealized Aggregate Aggregate holding fair cost gains value ________ _________ _________ Stock funds $ 34,990 $ 7,025 $ 42,015 Bond funds 26,190 1,218 27,408 ________ _______ _________ Total $ 61,180 $ 8,243 $ 69,423 ________ _______ _________ ________ _______ _________ The Company provides investment advisory and administrative services to the T. Rowe Price family of mutual funds which had aggregate assets under management at December 31, 1993 of $34.7 billion. All services rendered by the Company are provided under contracts that set forth the services to be provided and the fees to be charged. These contracts are subject to periodic review and approval by each of the funds' boards of directors and, with respect to investment advisory contracts, also by the funds' shareholders. Services rendered to the funds accounted for 71% of 1993 revenues. Accounts receivable from the sponsored mutual funds aggregated $21,741,000 at December 31, 1993. PAGE 50 NOTE 2 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment at December 31, 1993 (in thousands) consists of: Computer and communications equipment $ 31,431 Building and leased land 19,756 Furniture and other equipment 13,889 Leasehold improvements 4,691 _________ 69,767 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (29,939) _________ $ 39,828 _________ _________ PAGE 51 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Continued) NOTE 3 - GOODWILL AND DEFERRED EXPENSES On September 2, 1992, the Company acquired an investment management subsidiary of USF&G Corporation and combined six USF&G mutual funds with aggregate net assets of $.5 billion into the T. Rowe Price family of funds. The total transaction cost which has been recognized using the purchase method of accounting was approximately $11,024,000, including goodwill of $8,139,000 which is being amortized over 11 years using the straight-line method. Prepaid non-compete and transition services agreements totaling $2,500,000 are being amortized over their three-year life. Accumulated amortization at December 31, 1993 aggregates $2,216,000. Goodwill of $1,980,000 from an earlier corporate acquisition is being amortized over 40 years using the straight-line method. Accumulated amortization was $1,039,000 at December 31, 1993. NOTE 4 - DEBT In June 1991, the Company completed the long-term financing arrangements for its administrative services facility. Terms of the $13,500,000 secured promissory note with Confederation Life Insurance Company include an interest rate of 9.77%, monthly principal and interest payments totaling $128,000 for 10 years, and a final principal payment of $9,845,000 in 2001. A prepayment option is available under the terms of the note; however, the payment of a substantial premium would have been required to retire the debt at December 31, 1993. Related debt issuance costs of $436,000 are included in deferred expenses and are being amortized over the life of the loan to produce an effective annual interest rate of 10.14%. The outstanding principal balance for this note was $12,904,000 at December 31, 1993. A fair value of $16,030,000 was estimated based on the cost of risk-free assets that could be acquired to extinguish the obligation at December 31, 1993. A maximum of $20,000,000 is available to the Company under unused bank lines of credit at December 31, 1993. PAGE 52 NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES Deferred income taxes arise from differences between taxable income for financial statement and income tax return purposes and are calculated using the liability method prescribed by SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Continued) The net deferred tax liability of $2,596,000 included in income taxes payable at December 31, 1993 consists of total deferred tax liabilities of $5,609,000 and total deferred tax assets of $3,013,000. Deferred tax liabilities include $2,898,000 arising from unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities, $1,353,000 arising from unrealized capital gains allocated from the Company's partnership investments, and $677,000 from differences in the recognition of depreciation expense. Deferred tax assets include $1,100,000 from differences in the recognition of the costs of the defined benefit retirement plan and postretirement benefits. NOTE 6 - COMMON STOCK AND EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS Shares Authorized At December 31, 1993, the Company had reserved 8,151,315 shares of its unissued common stock for issuance upon the exercise of stock options and 420,000 shares for issuance under an employee stock purchase plan. Share Repurchases The Company's board of directors has authorized the future repurchase of up to 1,432,000 common shares at December 31, 1993. Executive Stock At December 31, 1993, there were outstanding 1,226,540 shares of common stock ("Executive Stock") which were sold to certain officers of the Company in 1982 at a discount. These shares are subject to restrictions which require payment of the discount of PAGE 53 $.32 per share to the Company at the earlier of the sale of such stock or termination of employment. PAGE 54 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Continued) Stock Incentive Plans The following table summarizes the status of noncompensatory stock options granted at market value to certain officers and directors of the Company. Options Unexer- Options Unexer- Exer- cised Options Granted cised cisable Options Exer- (Canceled) Options at Year at Decem- cised During Decem- Decem- Exer- of ber 31, During ber 31, ber 31, ber 31, cise Grant 1992 1993 1993 1993 1993 Price ____ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ______ 1983-4 53,000 (30,600) -- 22,400 22,400 $.67 & $.75 1987 309,410 (68,064) -- 241,346 241,346 $5.38 & $9.38 1988 359,000 (66,586) -- 292,414 292,414 $7.94 1989 632,280 (46,288) (5,600) 580,392 312,404 $11.38 1990 681,500 (83,387) (11,800) 586,313 141,313 $7.19 & $8.50 1991 811,450 (37,000) (14,000) 760,450 283,450 $17.00 1992 926,000 (11,600) (27,400) 887,000 168,600 $18.75 1993 -- -- 1,154,000 1,154,000 -- $28.13 _________ ________ _________ _________ _________ 3,772,640 (343,525) 1,095,200 4,524,315 1,461,927 _________ ________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ________ _________ _________ _________ The right to exercise stock options generally vests over the five-year period following the grant. After the tenth year following the grant, the right to exercise the related stock options lapses and the options are canceled. NOTE 7 - EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLANS The Company sponsors two defined contribution retirement plans: a profit-sharing plan based on participant compensation and a 401(k) plan. The Company also has a defined benefit plan covering those employees whose annual base salaries do not exceed a specified PAGE 55 salary limit. Participant benefits are based on the final month's base pay and years of service subsequent to January 1, 1987. The Company's funding policy is to contribute annually the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. The following table sets forth the plan's funded status and the amounts recognized in the Company's consolidated balance sheet (in thousands) at December 31, 1993. PAGE 56 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Continued) Actuarial present value of Accumulated benefit obligation for service rendered Vested $ 780 Non-vested 1,362 ______ Total 2,142 Obligation attributable to estimated future compensation increases 2,594 ______ Projected benefit obligation 4,736 Plan assets held in sponsored mutual funds, at fair value 2,594 ______ Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets 2,142 Unrecognized loss from decreases in discount rate 407 ______ Accrued retirement costs $1,735 ______ ______ Discount rate used in determining actuarial present values 6.40% ______ ______ NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Company is a minority partner in the joint venture which owns the land and building in which the Company leases its corporate offices. Future minimum rental payments under the Company's lease agreement are $3,110,000 in 1994 and 1995, $3,220,000 in 1996, $3,769,000 in 1997 and 1998, and $33,755,000 in 1999 through 2006. Other assets at December 31, 1992 includes a receivable from the venture of $3,485,000 for leasehold improvements made by the Company and reimbursed by the venture in 1993. The Company leases office facilities and equipment under other noncancelable operating leases. Future minimum rental payments under these leases aggregate $4,621,000 in 1994, $4,123,000 in 1995, $1,776,000 in 1996, $1,259,000 in 1997, $696,000 in 1998, and $4,806,000 in later years. At December 31, 1993, the Company had outstanding commitments to invest an additional $6,757,000 in various investment partnerships and ventures. PAGE 57 The Company has contingent obligations at December 31, 1993 under a $500,000 direct pay letter of credit expiring not later than 1999 and a $780,000 standby letter of credit which is renewable annually. PAGE 58 T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Continued) Consolidated stockholders' equity at December 31, 1993 includes $32,635,000 which is restricted as to use under various regulations and agreements to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the ordinary course of business. From time to time, the Company is a party to various employment- related claims, including claims of discrimination, before federal, state and local administrative agencies and courts. The Company vigorously defends itself against these claims. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, it is unlikely that any adverse determination in one or more pending employment-related claims would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position. [/TEXT] [/DOCUMENT] </DOCUMENT PAGE 4 T. ROWE PRICE (LOGO) PROXY _______________________________________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Cast your vote by checking the appropriate boxes on the reverse side. If you do not check a box, your vote will be cast FOR that proposal. 2. Sign and date the card below. 3. Please return the signed card promptly using the enclosed postage paid envelope, even if you will be attending the meeting. 4. Please do not enclose checks or any other correspondence. Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - T. ROWE PRICE INDEX TRUST, INC. MEETING: 9:30 A.M. EASTERN TIME THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints James S. Riepe and M. David Testa, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all shares of stock of the Fund, which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Wednesday, April 20, 1994, at the time indicated above, at the offices of the Fund, 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, and at any and all adjournments thereof, with respect to the matters set forth below and described in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March ___, 1994, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. Please sign exactly as name appears. Only authorized officers should sign for corporations. For information as to the voting of stock registered in more than one name, see page ___ of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement. Dated: __________________, 1994 ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Signature(s) CUSIP#779552108/fund#050 (Front) PAGE 5 T. ROWE PRICE (LOGO) WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE BEFORE APRIL 20, 1994 _________________________________________________________________ Please refer to the Proxy Statement discussion of each of these matters. THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL PROPOSALS. Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. Election of FOR all nominees / /WITHHOLD AUTHORITY / /1. directors. listed below (except to vote for all as marked to the nominees listed below contrary) (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.) Leo C. Bailey Donald W. Dick, Jr. David K. Fagin Addison Lanier John K. Major Hanne M. Merriman James S. Riepe M. David Testa Hubert D. Vos Paul M. Wythes 2. Approve changes to the Fund's fundamental policies. FOR each policy / / ABSTAIN / / 2. listed below (except as marked to the contrary) PLEASE CHECK THE BOX FOR any policy change you do NOT (underscored) wish to approve: / / / / / / / / / / / / A B C D E F 3. Ratify the selection of Coopers & Lybrand as independent accountants. FOR / / AGAINST / / ABSTAIN / / 3. 4. I authorize the Proxies, in their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. CUSIP#779552108/fund#050 (BACK)