PAGE 1
Prospectus for the T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Portfolio, dated
November 14, 1996, should be inserted here.
Prospectus
T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Portfolio
Facts at a Glance
Investment Goal
Preservation of capital, liquidity, and the highest possible income consistent
with these goals. The fund is managed to maintain a stable share price of
$1.00. Your investment in the fund is neither insured nor guaranteed by the
U.S. government, and there is no assurance the fund will be able to maintain a
stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.
As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee the fund will achieve its
goal.
Strategy
Invests in high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money market securities.
Average maturity will not exceed 90 days.
Risk/Reward
Greater safety and liquidity than can be found in longer-term, fixed income
funds, generally accompanied by a lower level of income.
Investor Profile
Investors who seek a high degree of principal stability and liquidity and can
accept lower income than longer-term investments typically provide.
Investment Manager
Founded in 1937 by the late Thomas Rowe Price, Jr., T. Rowe Price Associates,
Inc. ("T. Rowe Price") and its affiliates managed over $92 billion for more
than four million individual and institutional investor accounts as of
September 30, 1996.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
T. Rowe Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
November 14, 1996
Prospectus
Contents
1 About the Fund
Fund, Market, and Risk Characteristics 2
2 About Your Account
Pricing Shares and Receiving Sale Proceeds 5
Dividends and Distributions 5
3 More About the Fund
Organization and Management 7
Understanding Performance Information 8
Investment Policies and Practices 9
This prospectus contains information that a prospective Contract Holder or
Participant should know about the fund before investing. Please keep it for
future reference. A Statement of Additional Information about the fund, dated
November 14, 1996, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To obtain a free copy,
contact your insurance company.
Invest With Confidence(registered trademark)
T. Rowe Price
1 About the Fund
Fund, Market, and Risk Characteristics: What to Expect
To help you decide whether this fund is appropriate for you, this section
takes a closer look at its investment objective and approach.
__________________________________________________________________________
THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THE FUND WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A STABLE NET ASSET
VALUE OF $1.00 PER SHARE.
What is the fund's objective?
The fund's objective is preservation of capital, liquidity, and, consistent
with these, the highest possible current income through investments primarily
in high-quality, money market securities.
What is the fund's investment program?
The fund invests at least 95% of its total assets in prime money market
instruments, that is, securities receiving the highest credit rating assigned
by at least two established rating agencies, by one rating agency if the
security is rated by only one, or, if unrated, the equivalent rating as
established by T. Rowe Price. The fund's dollar-weighted average maturity will
not exceed 90 days. It will not purchase any security with a maturity of more
than 13 months. Its yield will fluctuate in response to changes in interest
rates, but the share price is managed to remain stable at $1.00. Unlike most
bank accounts or certificates of deposit, the fund is not insured or
guaranteed by the U.S. government.
What is a money market fund?
A money market fund is a pool of assets invested in U.S. dollar-denominated,
short-term debt obligations with fixed or floating rates of interest and
maturities generally less than 13 months. Issuers can include the U.S.
government and its agencies, domestic and foreign banks and other
corporations, and municipalities. Money funds can be taxable or tax-exempt,
depending on their investment program. Because of the high degree of safety
they provide, money market funds typically offer the lowest return potential
of any type of mutual fund.
__________________________________________________________________________
FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE FUND'S INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND PRACTICES, PLEASE SEE
THE SECTION ENTITLED "INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES."
What are the main types of money market securities the fund can invest in?
o Commercial paper: unsecured promissory notes that corporations typically
issue to finance current operations and other expenditures.
o Treasury bills: debt obligations sold at discount and repaid at face
value by the U.S. Treasury. Bills mature in one year or less and are
backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
o Certificates of deposit: receipts for funds deposited at banks that
guarantee a fixed interest rate over a specified time period.
o Repurchase agreements: contracts, usually involving U.S. government
securities, that require one party to repurchase securities at a fixed
price on a designated date.
o Banker's acceptances: bank-issued commitments to pay for merchandise
sold in the import/export market.
o Agency notes: debt obligations of agencies sponsored by the U.S.
government that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States.
o Medium-term notes: unsecured corporate debt obligations that are
continuously offered in a broad range of maturities and structures.
o Bank notes: unsecured obligations of a bank that rank on an equal basis
with other kinds of deposits but do not carry FDIC insurance.
What are the main risks of investing in money market funds?
Since they are managed to maintain a $1.00 share price, money market funds
should have little risk of principal loss. However, the potential for
realizing a loss of principal could derive from:
o Credit risk: the chance that any of the fund's holdings will have its
credit rating downgraded or will default (fail to make scheduled
interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the fund's income
level and share price. Regulations require that 95% of the holdings in
money market funds be rated in the highest credit category, and that the
remaining 5% be rated no lower than the second highest credit category.
o Interest rate or market risk: the decline in the prices of fixed income
securities and funds that may accompany a rise in the overall level of
interest rates. A sharp and unexpected rise in interest rates could
cause a money fund's price to drop below a dollar. However, the
extremely short maturity of securities held in money market portfolios -
a means of achieving an overall fund objective of principal safety -
reduces their potential for price fluctuation.
How does the portfolio manager try to reduce risk?
Consistent with the fund's objective, the portfolio manager actively seeks to
reduce risk and increase total return. Risk management tools include:
o Diversification of assets to reduce the impact of a single holding on
the fund's net asset value.
o Thorough credit research by our own analysts.
o Maturity adjustments to reflect the fund manager's interest rate
outlook.
What are derivatives and can the fund invest in them?
The term derivative is used to describe financial instruments whose value is
derived from an underlying security (e.g., a stock or bond) or a market
benchmark (e.g., an interest rate index). Many types of investments
representing a wide range of potential risks and rewards fall under the
"derivatives" umbrella -- from conventional instruments such as callable
bonds, futures, and options, to more exotic investments such as stripped
mortgage securities and structured notes. While the term "derivative" has only
recently become widely known among the investing public, derivatives have in
fact been employed by investment managers for many years.
The fund does not invest in high-risk, highly leveraged derivatives, and it
will invest in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards are
consistent with the fund's objective, policies, and overall risk profile as
described in this prospectus.
__________________________________________________________________________
YOU MAY WANT TO REVIEW SOME FUNDAMENTALS OF MONEY MARKET SECURITIES.
Is the fund's yield fixed or will it vary?
It will vary. Yield is calculated every day by dividing the fund's net income
per share, expressed at annual rates, by the share price. Since income in the
fund will fluctuate as the short-term securities in its portfolio mature and
the proceeds are reinvested, its yield will vary.
Is the fund's "yield" the same thing as its "total return"?
Yes. The total return reported for the fund is the result of reinvested
distributions (income and capital gains) and the change in share price for a
given time period. Since money funds are managed to maintain a stable share
price, their yield and total return should be the same. Of course, there is no
guarantee a money fund will maintain a $1.00 share price.
What is "credit quality" and how does it affect a money market fund's yield?
Credit quality refers to a borrower's expected ability to make all required
interest and principal payments in a timely manner. Because highly rated
issuers represent less risk, they can borrow at lower interest rates than less
creditworthy issuers. Securities backed by the full faith and credit of the
U.S. government are regarded as free of credit risk. Among money market
securities, Treasury bills generally carry lower yields than other instruments
of comparable maturity.
What is meant by a money market fund's "maturity"?
Every money market instrument has a stated maturity date when the issuer must
repay the entire principal to the investor. The fund has no maturity in the
strict sense of the word, but does have a dollar-weighted average maturity,
expressed in days. This number is an average of the maturites of the
underlying instruments, with each maturity "weighted" by the percentage of
fund assets it represents.
Do money market securities react to changes in interest rates?
Yes. As interest rates change, the prices of money market securities
fluctuate, but changes are usually small because of their very short
maturities. Investments are typically held until maturity in a money fund to
help it maintain a $1.00 share price.
__________________________________________________________________________
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUND SHOULD HELP YOU MEET YOUR INDIVIDUAL INVESTMENT
GOALS FOR PRINCIPAL STABILITY, LIQUIDITY, AND INCOME, BUT SHOULD NOT REPRESENT
YOUR COMPLETE INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
How can I decide if the fund is appropriate for me?
Review your own financial objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance. For
example, a money fund is designed to provide principal stability, which makes
it a good choice for money you may need for occasional or unexpected expenses
and for money awaiting investment in longer-term bond or stock funds.
Is there other information I need to review before making a decision?
Be sure to review "Investment Policies and Practices" in Section 3, which
discusses the following: Types of Portfolio Securities (money market
securities, asset-backed securities, foreign securities, and private
placements); and Types of Management Practices (borrowing money and
transferring assets, and lending of portfolio securities).
2 About Your Account
Pricing Shares and Receiving Sale Proceeds
Here are some procedures you should know when investing in the fund. For
instructions on how to purchase and redeem shares of the fund, read the
separate account prospectus.
Shares of the fund may be offered to insurance company separate accounts
established for the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts. They may
also be offered to insurance company separate accounts established for the
purpose of funding variable life contracts. Variable annuity and variable life
Contract Holders or Participants are not the shareholders of the fund. Rather,
the separate account is the shareholder. The variable annuity and variable
life contracts are described in separate prospectuses issued by the insurance
companies. The fund assumes no responsibility for such prospectuses, or
variable annuity or life contracts.
Shares of the fund are sold and redeemed without the imposition of any sales
commission or redemption charge. However, certain other charges may apply to
annuity or life contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account
prospectus.
How and when shares are priced
The share price (also called "net asset value" or NAV per share) for the fund
is calculated at 4 p.m. ET each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for
business. To calculate the NAV, the fund's assets are valued and totaled,
liabilities are subtracted, and the balance, called net assets, is divided by
the number of shares outstanding. Amortized cost is used to value money fund
securities.
How your purchase, sale, or exchange price is determined
Purchases. The insurance companies purchase shares of the fund for separate
accounts, using premiums allocated by the Contract Holders or Participants.
Shares are purchased at the NAV next determined after the insurance company
receives the premium payment in acceptable form. Initial and subsequent
payments allocated to the fund are subject to the limits stated in the
separate account prospectus issued by the insurance company.
Redemptions. The insurance companies redeem shares of the fund to make benefit
or surrender payments under the terms of its Contracts. Redemptions are
processed on any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open and are
priced at the fund's NAV next determined after the insurance company receives
a surrender request in acceptable form.
Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced and the time until
which orders are accepted may be changed in case of an emergency or if the New
York Stock Exchange closes at a time other than 4 p.m. ET.
How you can receive the proceeds from a sale
Payment for redeemed shares will be made promptly, but in no event later than
seven days. However, the right of redemption may be suspended or the date of
payment postponed in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940. The
amount received upon redemption of the shares of the fund may be more or less
than the amount paid for the shares, depending on the fluctuations in the
market value of the assets owned by the fund.
Dividends and Distributions
For a discussion of the tax status of your variable annuity contract, please
refer to the prospectus of your insurance company's separate account.
Dividends and other distributions. The policy of the fund is to distribute all
of its net investment income and net capital gains each year to its
shareholders, which are the separate accounts established by the various
insurance companies in connection with their issuance of variable annuity and
life contracts. Dividends from net investment income are declared daily and
paid monthly. All fund distributions made to a separate account will be
reinvested automatically in additional fund shares, unless a shareholder
(separate account) elects to receive distributions in cash. Under current law,
dividends and distributions made by the fund to separate accounts, generally,
are not taxable to the separate accounts, the insurance company or the
Contract Holder, provided that the separate account meets the diversification
requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and other tax-related requirements are satisfied. The fund intends to
diversify its investments in the manner required under Code Section 817(h).
3 More About the Fund
Organization and Management
__________________________________________________________________________
SHAREHOLDERS BENEFIT FROM T. ROWE PRICE'S 59 YEARS OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
EXPERIENCE.
How is the fund organized?
The T. Rowe Price Fixed Income Series, Inc. (the "Corporation") was
incorporated in Maryland in 1994, and is a "diversified, open-end investment
company," or mutual fund. Mutual funds pool money received from shareholders
and invest it to try to achieve specific objectives. Currently, the
corporation consists of two series, each representing a separate class of
shares having different objectives and investment policies. The two series
are: the Limited-Term Bond Portfolio, established in 1994 which is described
in a separate prospectus, and the Prime Reserve Portfolio, established in
1996. The Corporation's charter provides that the Board of Directors may issue
additional series of shares and/or additional classes of shares for each
series.
What is meant by "shares"?
As with all mutual funds, investors purchase shares when they put money in a
fund. These shares are part of a fund's authorized capital stock, but share
certificates are not issued.
Each share and fractional share entitles the shareholder to:
o Receive a proportional interest in the fund's income and capital gain
distributions.
o Cast one vote per share on certain fund matters, including the election
of fund directors, changes in fundamental policies, or approval of
changes in the fund's management contract.
The shares of the fund have equal voting rights. The various insurance
companies own the outstanding shares of the fund in their separate accounts.
These separate accounts are registered under the 1940 Act or are excluded from
registration thereunder. Under current law, the insurance companies must vote
the shares held in registered separate accounts in accordance with voting
instructions received from variable Contract Holders or Participants having
the right to give such instructions.
Do T. Rowe Price funds have annual shareholder meetings?
The funds are not required to hold annual meetings and, in order to avoid
unnecessary costs to fund shareholders, do not intend to do so except when
certain matters, such as a change in a fund's fundamental policies, are to be
decided. In addition, shareholders representing at least 10% of all eligible
votes may call a special meeting if they wish for the purpose of voting on the
removal of any fund director or trustee. If a meeting is held and you cannot
attend, you can vote by proxy. Before the meeting, the fund will send you
proxy materials that explain the issues to be decided and include a voting
card for you to mail back.
__________________________________________________________________________
ALL DECISIONS REGARDING THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND INVESTMENTS ARE MADE BY
T. ROWE PRICE - SPECIFICALLY BY THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO MANAGERS.
Who runs the fund?
General Oversight. The Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors that
meets regularly to review the funds' investments, performance, expenses, and
other business affairs. The Board elects the funds' officers. The policy of
the funds is that a majority of Board members will be independent of T. Rowe
Price.
Portfolio Management. The fund has an Investment Advisory Committee composed
of the following members: Edward A. Wiese, Chairman, Patrice L.
Berchtenbreiter, Paul W. Boltz, Brian E. Burns, Robert P. Campbell, Donna M.
Davis-Ennis, James M. McDonald, Joan R. Potee, Robert M. Rubino, and Gwendolyn
G. Wagner. The committee chairman has day-to-day responsibility for managing
the fund and works with the committee in developing and executing the fund's
investment program. Mr. Wiese has been chairman of the fund's committee since
its inception in 1996. He joined T. Rowe Price in 1984 and has been managing
investments since 1985.
Marketing. T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of T. Rowe Price, distributes (sells) shares of this and all other T. Rowe
Price funds.
Shareholder Services. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., another wholly owned
subsidiary, acts as the fund's transfer and dividend disbursing agent and
provides shareholder and administrative services. T. Rowe Price calculates the
daily share price and maintains the portfolio and general accounting records
of the fund. The address for T. Rowe Price Services is 100 East Pratt St.,
Baltimore, MD 21202.
How are fund expenses determined?
Under the management agreement, all expenses of the fund will be paid by T.
Rowe Price, except interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, directors' fees and
expenses (including counsel fees and expenses), and extraordinary expenses.
The Board of Directors of the fund reserves the right to impose additional
fees against shareholder accounts to defray expenses which would otherwise be
paid by T. Rowe Price under the management agreement. The Board does not
anticipate levying such charges; such a fee, if charged, may be retained by
the fund or paid to T. Rowe Price.
The Management Fee. The fund pays T. Rowe Price an annual all-inclusive fee of
0.55% based on its average daily net assets. The fund calculates and accrues
the fee daily. This fee pays for investment management services and other
operating costs.
Variable Annuity and Variable Life Charges. Variable annuity and variable life
fees and charges are in addition to those described previously and are
described in variable annuity and life prospectuses.
The fund may serve as an investment medium for both variable annuity contracts
and variable life insurance policies. Shares of the fund may be offered to
separate accounts established by any number of insurance companies. The fund
currently does not foresee any disadvantages to variable annuity contract
owners due to the fact that the fund may serve as an investment medium for
both variable life insurance policies and annuity contracts; however, due to
differences in tax treatment or other considerations, it is theoretically
possible that the interests of owners of annuity contracts and insurance
policies for which the fund serves as an investment medium might at some time
be in conflict. However, the Corporation's Board of Directors is required to
monitor events to identify any material conflicts between variable annuity
contract owners and variable life policy owners, and will determine what
action, if any, should be taken in the event of such a conflict. If such a
conflict were to occur, an insurance company participating in the fund might
be required to redeem the investment of one or more of its separate accounts
from the fund. This might force the fund to sell securities at disadvantageous
prices.
Understanding Performance Information
This section should help you understand the terms used to describe fund
performance. You will come across them in shareholder reports you receive from
us.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL RETURN IS THE MOST WIDELY USED PERFORMANCE MEASURE. DETAILED PERFORMANCE
INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN THE FUND'S ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL SHAREHOLDER
REPORTS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE.
Total Return
This tells you how much an investment in a fund has changed in value over a
given time period. It reflects any net increase or decrease in the share price
and assumes that all dividends and capital gains (if any) paid during the
period were reinvested in additional shares. Including reinvested
distributions means that total return numbers include the effect of
compounding, i.e., you receive income and capital gain distributions on a
rising number of shares.
Advertisements for a fund may include cumulative or compound average annual
total return figures, which may be compared with various indices, other
performance measures, or other mutual funds.
Cumulative Total Return
This is the actual rate of return on an investment for a specified period. A
cumulative return does not indicate how much the value of the investment may
have fluctuated between the beginning and the end of the period specified.
Average Annual Total Return
This is always hypothetical. Working backward from the actual cumulative
return, it tells you what constant year-by-year return would have produced the
actual cumulative return. By smoothing out all the variations in annual
performance, it gives you an idea of the investment's annual contribution to
your portfolio provided you held it for the entire period in question.
Total returns and yields quoted for the fund include the effect of deducting
the fund's expenses, but may not include charges and expenses attributable to
any particular insurance product. Since you can only purchase shares of the
fund through an insurance product, you should carefully review the prospectus
of the insurance product you have chosen for information on relevant charges
and expenses. Excluding these charges from quotations of the fund's
performance has the effect of increasing the performance quoted.
__________________________________________________________________________
YOU WILL SEE FREQUENT REFERENCES TO A FUND'S YIELD IN OUR REPORTS, IN
ADVERTISEMENTS, IN MEDIA STORIES, AND SO ON.
Yield
The current or "dividend" yield on a fund or any investment tells you the
relationship between the investment's current level of annual income and its
price on a particular day. The dividend yield reflects the actual income paid
to shareholders for a given period, annualized, and divided by the average
price during the given period. For example, a fund providing $5 of annual
income per share and a price of $50 has a current yield of 10%. Yields can be
calculated for any time period.
The fund may advertise "current" yield, reflecting the latest seven-day income
annualized, or an "effective" yield, which assumes the income has been
reinvested in the fund.
Investment Policies and Practices
__________________________________________________________________________
FUND MANAGERS HAVE CONSIDERABLE LEEWAY IN CHOOSING INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND
SELECTING SECURITIES THEY BELIEVE WILL HELP THE FUND ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVE.
This section takes a detailed look at some of the types of securities the fund
may hold in its portfolio and the various kinds of investment practices that
may be used in day-to-day portfolio management. The fund's investment program
is subject to further restrictions and risks described in the Statement of
Additional Information.
Shareholder approval is required to substantively change the fund's objectives
and certain investment restrictions noted in the following section as
"fundamental policies." The managers also follow certain "operating policies"
which can be changed without shareholder approval. However, significant
changes are discussed with shareholders in fund reports. The fund adheres to
applicable investment restrictions and policies at the time it makes an
investment. Except as may be required by Rule 2a-7 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, a later change in circumstances will not require the sale
of an investment if it was proper at the time it was made.
Changes in the fund's holdings, the fund's performance, and the contribution
of various investments are discussed in the shareholder reports sent to you.
Types of Portfolio Securities
In seeking to meet its investment objective, the fund may invest in any type
of short-term security or instrument whose investment characteristics are
consistent with the fund's investment program. The following pages describe
the principal types of portfolio securities and investment management
practices of the fund.
Money Market Securities. Money market securities are IOUs issued by companies
or governmental units. Money market securities may be interest-bearing or
discounted to reflect the rate of interest paid. In the case of
interest-bearing securities, the issuer has a contractual obligation to pay
coupon interest at a stated rate on specific dates and to repay the face value
on a specified date. In the case of a discount security, no coupon interest is
paid, but the security's price is discounted so that the interest is realized
when the security matures at face value. In either case, an issuer may have
the right to redeem or "call" the security before maturity, and the investor
may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower market rates.
Except for adjustable rate instruments, a money market security's interest
rate, as reflected in the coupon rate or discount, is usually fixed for the
life of the security. Its current yield (coupon or discount as a percent of
current price) will fluctuate to reflect changes in interest rate levels. A
money market security's price usually rises when interest rates fall, and vice
versa.
Money market securities may be unsecured (backed by the issuer's general
creditworthiness only) or secured (also backed by specified collateral).
Certain money market securities have interest rates that are adjusted
periodically which tend to minimize fluctuations in their principal value.
When calculating its weighted average maturity, the fund may shorten the
maturity of these securities in accordance with Rule 2a-7.
Operating policy: Except as may be permitted by Rule 2a-7, the fund will not
purchase any security (other than a U.S. government security) if it would
cause the fund to have more than: (1) 5% of its total assets in securities of
that issuer, where the securities are prime securities (other than for certain
temporary, limited purposes); or (2) where the securities are not prime
securities, 5% of its total assets in such securities and 1% of its total
assets in the securities of that issuer.
Asset-Backed Securities. An underlying pool of assets, such as credit card or
automobile trade receivables or corporate loans or bonds, backs these bonds
and provides the interest and principal payments to investors. Credit quality
depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets and the level of
credit support, if any, provided by the issuer. The underlying assets (i.e.,
loans) are subject to prepayments which can shorten the securities' weighted
average life and may lower their return. The value of these securities also
may change because of actual or perceived changes in the creditworthiness of
the originator, servicing agent, or of the financial institution providing the
credit support. There is no limit on the fund's investment in these
securities.
__________________________________________________________________________
FOREIGN SECURITIES INCREASE THE FUND'S DIVERSIFICATION AND MAY ENHANCE RETURN,
BUT INVOLVE SPECIAL RISKS, ESPECIALLY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
Foreign Securities. The fund may invest in certain foreign securities --
dollar-denominated money market securities of foreign issuers, foreign
branches of U.S. banks, and U.S. branches of foreign banks. Such investments
increase a portfolio's diversification and may enhance return, but they also
involve some special risks such as exposure to potentially adverse local
political and economic developments; nationalization and exchange controls;
potentially lower liquidity and higher volatility; and possible problems
arising from accounting, disclosure, settlement, and regulatory practices that
differ from U.S. standards.
Operating policy: The fund may invest without limit in U.S. dollar-denominated
foreign securities.
Private Placements. These securities are sold directly to a small number of
investors, usually institutions. Unlike public offerings, such securities are
not registered with the SEC. Although certain of these securities may be
readily sold, for example, under Rule 144A, others may be illiquid and their
sale may involve substantial delays and additional costs.
Operating policy: The fund will not invest more than 10% of its net assets in
illiquid securities.
Types of Management Practices
Borrowing Money and Transferring Assets. The fund can borrow money from banks
as a temporary measure for emergency purposes, to facilitate redemption
requests, or for other purposes consistent with the fund's investment
objective and program. Such borrowings may be collateralized with fund assets,
subject to restrictions.
Fundamental policy: Borrowings may not exceed 33 1/3% of total fund assets.
Operating policies: The fund may not transfer as collateral any portfolio
securities except as necessary in connection with permissible borrowings or
investments, and then such transfers may not exceed 33 1/3% of the fund's
total assets. The fund may not purchase additional securities when borrowings
exceed 5% of total assets.
In accordance with California law, the fund may not borrow more than 10% of
its net asset value when borrowing for any general purposes; and the fund may
not borrow more than 25% of net asset value when borrowing as a temporary
measure to facilitate redemptions. Net asset value of a portfolio is the
market value of all investments or assets owned less outstanding liabilities
of the portfolio at the time that any new or additional borrowing is
undertaken.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. Like other mutual funds, the fund may lend
securities to broker-dealers, other institutions, or other persons to earn
additional income. The principal risk is the potential insolvency of the
broker-dealer or other borrower. In this event, the fund could experience
delays in recovering its securities and possibly capital losses.
Fundamental policy: The value of loaned securities may not exceed 33 1/3% of
total fund assets.by the fund's portfolio managers.
_____________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EDGAR FILING AND PRINTED COPY
Information appearing in all capital letters before a paragraph in the Edgar
filing will appear, in the printed copy, as call-outs in the left margin.
PAGE 2
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
T. Rowe Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Portfolio
(the "Fund")
Shares of the Fund may be offered to insurance company separate
accounts established for the purpose of funding variable annuity
contracts. They may also be offered to insurance company
separate accounts established for the purpose of funding variable
life contracts. Variable annuity and variable life Contract
Holders or Participants are not the shareholders of the Fund.
Rather, the separate account is the shareholder. The variable
annuity and variable life contracts are described in separate
prospectuses issued by the insurance companies. The Fund assumes
no responsibility for such prospectuses, or variable annuity or
life contracts.
In the future, it is possible that the Fund may offer its shares
to separate accounts funding variable annuities, variable life
insurance or other insurance products of other insurance
companies.
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus but
should be read in conjunction with the Fund's prospectus dated
November 14, 1996, which may be obtained from T. Rowe Price
Investment Services, Inc., 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202.
The date of this Statement of Additional Information is November
14, 1996.
PAGE 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Page
Asset-Backed Securities 4 Legal Counsel . . . . . 32
Capital Stock . . . . . . 31 Lending of Portfolio
Code of Ethics . . . . . 18 Securities . . . . . . . 9
Custodian . . . . . . . . 18 Management of Fund . . . 14
Distributor for Fund . . 17 Net Asset Value Per Share 24
Dividends and Portfolio Transactions 18
Distributions . . . . . 24 Pricing of Securities . 22
Federal and State . . . . . . . . . . . .
Principal Holders of
Registration of Shares . 32 Securities . . . . . . 16
Independent Accountants . 33 Ratings of Commercial
Illiquid or Restricted Paper . . . . . . . . . 33
Securities . . . . . . . 8 Repurchase Agreements . . 9
Investment Management Risk Factors . . . . . . . 2
Services . . . . . . . . 16 Tax Status . . . . . . . 24
Investment Objectives and Taxation of Foreign
Policies . . . . . . . . 2 Shareholders . . . . . 25
Investment Performance . 26 When-Issued Securities and
Investment Program . . . 3 Forward Commitment
Investment Restrictions . 10 Contracts . . . . . . . . 7
Yield Information . . . 25
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The following information supplements the discussion of the
Fund's investment objective and policies discussed in the Fund's
prospectus. Unless otherwise specified, the investment program
and restrictions of the Fund are not fundamental policies. The
operating policies of the Fund are subject to change by its Board
of Directors without shareholder approval. However, shareholders
will be notified of a material change in an operating policy.
The fundamental policies of the Fund may not be changed without
the approval of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of
the Fund or, if it is less, 67% of the shares represented at a
meeting of shareholders at which the holders of 50% or more of
the shares are represented.
PAGE 4
RISK FACTORS
Debt Obligations
Yields on short, intermediate, and long-term securities are
dependent on a variety of factors, including the general
conditions of the money and bond markets, the size of a
particular offering, the maturity of the obligation, and the
credit quality and rating of the issue. Debt securities with
longer maturities tend to have higher yields and are generally
subject to potentially greater capital appreciation and
depreciation than obligations with shorter maturities and lower
yields. The market prices of debt securities usually vary,
depending upon available yields. An increase in interest rates
will generally reduce the value of portfolio debt securities, and
a decline in interest rates will generally increase the value of
portfolio debt securities. The ability of the Fund to achieve
its investment objective is also dependent on the continuing
ability of the issuers of the debt securities in which the Fund
invests to meet their obligations for the payment of interest and
principal when due. Although the Fund seeks to reduce risk by
portfolio diversification, credit analysis, and attention to
trends in the economy, industries and financial markets, such
efforts will not eliminate all risk. There can, of course, be no
assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
After purchase by the Fund, a debt security may cease to be
rated or its rating may be reduced below the minimum required for
purchase by the Fund. The Fund will follow the procedures set
forth in Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 in
its determination of whether it could continue to hold the
security. To the extent that the ratings given by Moody's or S&P
may change as a result of changes in such organizations or their
rating systems, the Fund will attempt to use comparable ratings
as standards for investments in accordance with the investment
policies contained in the prospectus. When purchasing unrated
securities, T. Rowe Price, under the supervision of the Fund's
Board of Directors, determines whether the unrated security is of
a quality comparable to that which the Fund is allowed to
purchase.
Reference is also made to the sections entitled "Types of
Securities" and "Portfolio Management Practices" for discussions
of the risks associated with the investments and practices
described therein as they apply to the Fund.
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its
investment objective or be able to maintain its net asset value
per share at $1.00. The price of the Fund is not guaranteed or
insured by the U.S. government and its yield is not fixed. An
increase in interest rates could reduce the value of the Fund's
portfolio investments, and a decline in interest rates could
increase the value.
INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Types of Securities
Set forth below is additional information about certain of
the investments described in the Fund's prospectus.
Debt Securities
Fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest
include, but are not limited to, those described below.
PAGE 5
U.S. Government Obligations. Bills, notes, bonds and other
debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. These are direct
obligations of the U.S. Government and differ mainly in the
length of their maturities.
U.S. Government Agency Securities. Issued or guaranteed by
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises and federal agencies.
These include securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage
Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal
Home Loan Bank, Federal Land Banks, Farmers Home Administration,
Banks for Cooperatives, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks,
Federal Financing Bank, Farm Credit Banks, the Small Business
Association, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Some of these
securities are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
Treasury; and the remainder are supported only by the credit of
the instrumentality, which may or may not include the right of
the issuer to borrow from the Treasury.
Bank Obligations. Certificates of deposit, bankers'
acceptances, and other short-term debt obligations. Certificates
of deposit are short-term obligations of commercial banks. A
bankers' acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by
a borrower, usually in connection with international commercial
transactions. Certificates of deposit may have fixed or variable
rates. The Fund may invest in U.S. banks, foreign branches of
U.S. banks, U.S. branches of foreign banks, and foreign branches
of foreign banks.
Corporate Debt Securities. Outstanding nonconvertible
corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures).
Corporate notes may have fixed, variable, or floating rates.
Commercial Paper. Short-term promissory notes issued by
corporations primarily to finance short-term credit needs.
Certain notes may have floating or variable rates.
Foreign Government Securities. Issued or guaranteed by a
foreign government, province, instrumentality, political
subdivision or similar unit thereof.
Savings and Loan Obligations. Negotiable certificates of
deposit and other short-term debt obligations of savings and loan
associations.
Supranational Agencies. Securities of certain supranational
entities, such as the International Development Bank.
Asset-Backed Securities
The credit quality of most asset-backed securities depends
primarily on the credit quality of the assets underlying such
securities, how well the entity issuing the security is insulated
from the credit risk of the originator or any other affiliated
entities and the amount and quality of any credit support
provided to the securities. The rate of principal payment on
asset-backed securities generally depends on the rate of
principal payments received on the underlying assets which in
turn may be affected by a variety of economic and other factors.
As a result, the yield on any asset-backed security is difficult
to predict with precision and actual yield to maturity may be
more or less than the anticipated yield to maturity. Asset-
backed securities may be classified as pass-through certificates
or collateralized obligations.
Pass-through certificates are asset-backed securities which
represent an undivided fractional ownership interest in an
underlying pool of assets. Pass-through certificates usually
provide for payments of principal and
PAGE 6
interest received to be passed through to their holders, usually
after deduction for certain costs and expenses incurred in
administering the pool. Because pass-through certificates
represent an ownership interest in the underlying assets, the
holders thereof bear directly the risk of any defaults by the
obligors on the underlying assets not covered by any credit
support. See "Types of Credit Support".
Asset-backed securities issued in the form of debt
instruments, also known as collateralized or pay-through
obligations, are generally issued as the debt of a special
purpose entity organized solely for the purpose of owning such
assets and issuing such debt. Such assets are most often trade,
credit card or automobile receivables. The assets
collateralizing such asset-backed securities are pledged to a
trustee or custodian for the benefit of the holders thereof.
Such issuers generally hold no assets other than those underlying
the asset-backed securities and any credit support provided. As
a result, although payments on such asset-backed securities are
obligations of the issuers, in the event of defaults on the
underlying assets not covered by any credit support (see "Types
of Credit Support"), the issuing entities are unlikely to have
sufficient assets to satisfy their obligations on the related
asset-backed securities.
Methods of Allocating Cash Flows. While many asset-backed
securities are issued with only one class of security, many
asset-backed securities are issued in more than one class, each
with different payment terms. Multiple class asset-backed
securities are issued for two main reasons. First, multiple
classes may be used as a method of providing credit support.
This is accomplished typically through creation of one or more
classes whose right to payments on the asset-backed security is
made subordinate to the right to such payments of the remaining
class or classes. See "Types of Credit Support". Second,
multiple classes may permit the issuance of securities with
payment terms, interest rates or other characteristics differing
both from those of each other and from those of the underlying
assets. Examples include so-called "strips" (asset-backed
securities entitling the holder to disproportionate interests
with respect to the allocation of interest and principal of the
assets backing the security), and securities with class or
classes having characteristics which mimic the characteristics of
non-asset-backed securities, such as floating interest rates
(i.e., interest rates which adjust as a specified benchmark
changes) or scheduled amortization of principal.
Asset-backed securities in which the payment streams on the
underlying assets are allocated in a manner different than those
described above may be issued in the future. The Fund may invest
in such asset-backed securities if such investment is otherwise
consistent with its investment objectives and policies and with
the investment restrictions of the Fund.
Types of Credit Support. Asset-backed securities are often
backed by a pool of assets representing the obligations of a
number of different parties. To lessen the effect of failures by
obligors on underlying assets to make payments, such securities
may contain elements of credit support. Such credit support
falls into two classes: liquidity protection and protection
against ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets.
Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances,
generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to
ensure that scheduled payments on the underlying pool are made in
a timely fashion. Protection against ultimate default ensures
ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the
assets in the pool. Such protection may be provided through
guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained from
third parties ("external credit enhancement"), through various
means of structuring the transaction ("internal credit
enhancement") or through a combination of such approaches.
Examples of PAGE 7
asset-backed securities with internal credit enhancement include
"senior-subordinated securities" (multiple class asset-backed
securities with certain classes subordinate to other classes as
to the payment of principal thereon, with the result that
defaults on the underlying assets are borne first by the holders
of the subordinated class) and asset-backed securities that have
"reserve funds" (where cash or investments, sometimes funded from
a portion of the initial payments on the underlying assets, are
held in reserve against future losses) or that have been "over
collateralized" (where the scheduled payments on, or the
principal amount of, the underlying assets substantially exceeds
that required to make payment of the asset-backed securities and
pay any servicing or other fees). The degree of credit support
provided on each issue is based generally on historical
information respecting the level of credit risk associated with
such payments. Depending upon the type of assets securitized,
historical information on credit risk and prepayment rates may be
limited or even unavailable. Delinquency or loss in excess of
that anticipated could adversely affect the return on an
investment in an asset-backed security.
Automobile Receivable Securities. The Fund may invest in
Asset Backed Securities which are backed by receivables from
motor vehicle installment sales contracts or installment loans
secured by motor vehicles ("Automobile Receivable Securities").
Since installment sales contracts for motor vehicles or
installment loans related thereto ("Automobile Contracts")
typically have shorter durations and lower incidences of
prepayment, Automobile Receivable Securities generally will
exhibit a shorter average life and are less susceptible to
prepayment risk.
Most entities that issue Automobile Receivable Securities
create an enforceable interest in their respective Automobile
Contracts only by filing a financing statement and by having the
servicer of the Automobile Contracts, which is usually the
originator of the Automobile Contracts, take custody thereof. In
such circumstances, if the servicer of the Automobile Contracts
were to sell the same Automobile Contracts to another party, in
violation of its obligation not to do so, there is a risk that
such party could acquire an interest in the Automobile Contracts
superior to that of the holders of Automobile Receivable
Securities. Also although most Automobile Contracts grant a
security interest in the motor vehicle being financed, in most
states the security interest in a motor vehicle must be noted on
the certificate of title to create an enforceable security
interest against competing claims of other parties. Due to the
large number of vehicles involved, however, the certificate of
title to each vehicle financed, pursuant to the Automobile
Contracts underlying the Automobile Receivable Security, usually
is not amended to reflect the assignment of the seller's security
interest for the benefit of the holders of the Automobile
Receivable Securities. Therefore, there is the possibility that
recoveries on repossessed collateral may not, in some cases, be
available to support payments on the securities. In addition,
various state and federal securities laws give the motor vehicle
owner the right to assert against the holder of the owner's
Automobile Contract certain defenses such owner would have
against the seller of the motor vehicle. The assertion of such
defenses could reduce payments on the Automobile Receivable
Securities.
Credit Card Receivable Securities. The Fund may invest in
Asset Backed Securities backed by receivables from revolving
credit card agreements ("Credit Card Receivable Securities").
Credit balances on revolving credit card agreements ("Accounts")
are generally paid down more rapidly than are Automobile
Contracts. Most of the Credit Card Receivable Securities issued
publicly to date have been Pass-Through Certificates. In order
to lengthen the maturity of Credit Card Receivable Securities,
most such securities provide for a fixed period during which only
interest payments on the
PAGE 8
underlying Accounts are passed through to the security holder and
principal payments received on such Accounts are used to fund the
transfer to the pool of assets supporting the related Credit Card
Receivable Securities of additional credit card charges made on
an Account. The initial fixed period usually may be shortened
upon the occurrence of specified events which signal a potential
deterioration in the quality of the assets backing the security,
such as the imposition of a cap on interest rates. The ability
of the issuer to extend the life of an issue of Credit Card
Receivable Securities thus depends upon the continued generation
of additional principal amounts in the underlying accounts during
the initial period and the non-occurrence of specified events.
An acceleration in cardholders' payment rates or any other event
which shortens the period during which additional credit card
charges on an Account may be transferred to the pool of assets
supporting the related Credit Card Receivable Security could
shorten the weighted average life and yield of the Credit Card
Receivable Security.
Credit cardholders are entitled to the protection of a
number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which
give such holder the right to set off certain amounts against
balances owed on the credit card, thereby reducing amounts paid
on Accounts. In addition, unlike most other Asset Backed
Securities, Accounts are unsecured obligations of the cardholder.
Other Assets. Asset Backed Securities backed by assets
other than those described above, including, but not limited to,
small business loans and accounts receivable, equipment leases,
commercial real estate loans, boat loans and manufacturing
housing loans. The Fund may invest in such securities in the
future if such investment is otherwise consistent with its
investment objective and policies.
There are, of course, other types of securities that are, or
may become available, which are similar to the foregoing and the
Fund reserves the right to invest in these securities.
When-Issued Securities and Forward Commitment Contracts
The Fund may purchase securities on a "when-issued" or
delayed delivery basis ("When-Issueds") and may purchase
securities on a forward commitment basis ("Forwards"). Any or
all of the Fund's investments in debt securities may be in the
form of When-Issueds and Forwards. The price of such securities,
which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the
commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment take
place at a later date. Normally, the settlement date occurs
within 90 days of the purchase for When-Issueds, but may be
substantially longer for Forwards. During the period between
purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the
issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. The purchase of
these securities will result in a loss if their value declines
prior to the settlement date. This could occur, for example, if
interest rates increase prior to settlement. The longer the
period between purchase and settlement, the greater the risks
are. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase these
securities, it will record the transaction and reflect the value
of the security in determining its net asset value. The Fund
will cover these securities by maintaining cash and/or liquid,
high-grade debt securities with its custodian bank equal in value
to commitments for them during the time between the purchase and
the settlement. Therefore, the longer this period, the longer
the period during which alternative investment options are not
available to the Fund (to the extent of the securities used for
cover). Such securities either will mature or, if necessary, be
sold on or before the settlement date.
PAGE 9
Additional Adjustable Rate Securities
Certain securities may be issued with adjustable interest
rates that are reset periodically by pre-determined formulas or
indexes in order to minimize movements in the principal value of
the investment. Such securities may have long-term maturities,
but may be treated as a short-term investment under certain
conditions. Generally, as interest rates decrease or increase,
the potential for capital appreciation or depreciation on these
securities is less than for fixed-rate obligations. These
securities may take the following forms:
Variable Rate Securities. Variable rate instruments are
those whose terms provide for the adjustment of their interest
rates on set dates and which, upon such adjustment, can
reasonably be expected to have a market value that approximates
its par value. A variable rate instrument, the principal amount
of which is scheduled to be paid in 397 days or less, is deemed
to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the next
readjustment of the interest rate. A variable rate instrument
which is subject to a demand feature entitles the purchaser to
receive the principal amount of the underlying security or
securities, either (i) upon notice of no more than 30 days or
(ii) at specified intervals not exceeding 397 days and upon no
more than 30 days' notice, is deemed to have a maturity equal to
the longer of the period remaining until the next readjustment of
the interest rate or the period remaining until the principal
amount can be recovered through demand.
Floating Rate Securities. Floating rate instruments are
those whose terms provide for the adjustment of their interest
rates whenever a specified interest rate changes and which, at
any time, can reasonably be expected to have a market value that
approximates its par value. The maturity of a floating rate
instrument is deemed to be the period remaining until the date
(noted on the face of the instrument) on which the principal
amount must be paid, or in the case of an instrument called for
redemption, the date on which the redemption payment must be
made. Floating rate instruments with demand features are deemed
to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until the
principal amount can be recovered through demand.
Put Option Bonds. Long-term obligations with maturities
longer than one year may provide purchasers an optional or
mandatory tender of the security at par value at predetermined
intervals, often ranging from one month to several years (e.g., a
30-year bond with a five-year tender period). These instruments
are deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining to
the put date.
Illiquid or Restricted Securities
Restricted securities may be sold only in privately
negotiated transactions or in a public offering with respect to
which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities
Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act"). Where registration is required,
the Fund may be obligated to pay all or part of the registration
expenses and a considerable period may elapse between the time of
the decision to sell and the time the Fund may be permitted to
sell a security under an effective registration statement. If,
during such a period, adverse market conditions were to develop,
the Fund might obtain a less favorable price than prevailed when
it decided to sell. Restricted securities will be priced at fair
value as determined in accordance with procedures prescribed by
the Fund's Board of Directors/Trustees. If through the
appreciation of illiquid securities or the depreciation of liquid
securities, the Fund should be in a position where more than 10%
of the value of its net assets is invested in illiquid assets,
including restricted securities, the Fund will take appropriate
steps to protect liquidity.
PAGE 10
Notwithstanding the above, the Fund may purchase securities
which, while privately placed, are eligible for purchase and sale
under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. This rule permits certain
qualified institutional buyers, such as the Fund, to trade in
privately placed securities even though such securities are not
registered under the 1933 Act. T. Rowe Price under the
supervision of the Fund's Board of Directors/Trustees, will
consider whether securities purchased under Rule 144A are
illiquid and thus subject to the Fund's restriction of investing
no more than 10% of its net assets in illiquid securities. A
determination of whether a Rule 144A security is liquid or not is
a question of fact. In making this determination, T. Rowe Price
will consider the trading markets for the specific security
taking into account the unregistered nature of a Rule 144A
security. In addition, T. Rowe Price could consider the (1)
frequency of trades and quotes, (2) number of dealers and
potential purchases, (3) dealer undertakings to make a market,
and (4) the nature of the security and of marketplace trades
(e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of
soliciting offers and the mechanics of transfer). The liquidity
of Rule 144A securities would be monitored, and if as a result of
changed conditions it is determined that a Rule 144A security is
no longer liquid, the Fund's holdings of illiquid securities
would be reviewed to determine what, if any, steps are required
to assure that the Fund does not invest more than 10% of its net
assets in illiquid securities. Investing in Rule 144A securities
could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund's
assets invested in illiquid securities if qualified institutional
buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Lending of Portfolio Securities
Securities loans are made to broker-dealers or institutional
investors or other persons, pursuant to agreements requiring that
the loans be continuously secured by collateral at least equal at
all times to the value of the securities lent marked to market on
a daily basis. The collateral received will consist of cash,
U.S. government securities, letters of credit or such other
collateral as may be permitted under its investment program.
While the securities are being lent, the Fund will continue to
receive the equivalent of the interest or dividends paid by the
issuer on the securities, as well as interest on the investment
of the collateral or a fee from the borrower. The Fund has a
right to call each loan and obtain the securities within the
lesser of five business days or the normal settlement period for
such securities. The Fund will not have the right to vote
securities while they are being lent, but it will call a loan in
anticipation of any important vote. The risks in lending
portfolio securities, as with other extensions of secured credit,
consist of possible delay in receiving additional collateral or
in the recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in
the collateral should the borrower fail financially. Loans will
only be made to firms deemed by T. Rowe Price to be of good
standing and will not be made unless, in the judgment of T. Rowe
Price, the consideration to be earned from such loans would
justify the risk.
Other Lending/Borrowing
Subject to approval by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and certain state regulatory agencies, the Fund may
make loans to, or borrow funds from, other mutual funds sponsored
or advised by T. Rowe Price or Rowe Price-Fleming International,
Inc. (collectively, "Price Funds"). The Fund has no current
intention of engaging in these practices at this time.
PAGE 11
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into a repurchase agreement through which
an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the
"underlying security") from a well-established securities dealer
or a bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Any
such dealer or bank will be on T. Rowe Price's approved list. At
that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the
underlying security at the same price, plus specified interest.
Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time,
often less than a week. Repurchase agreements which do not
provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid
securities. The Fund will only enter into repurchase agreements
where (i) the underlying securities are either U.S. government
securities or securities that, at the time the repurchase
agreement is entered into, are rated in the highest rating
category by the requisite number of NRSROs (as required by Rule
2a-7 under the 1940 Act) and otherwise are of the type (excluding
maturity limitations) which the Fund's investment guidelines
would allow it to purchase directly, (ii) the market value of the
underlying security, including interest accrued, will be at all
times equal to or exceed the value of the repurchase agreement,
and (iii) payment for the underlying security is made only upon
physical delivery or evidence of book-entry transfer to the
account of the custodian or a bank acting as agent. In the event
of a bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase
agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating
the underlying security and losses, including: (a) possible
decline in the value of the underlying security during the period
while the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto; (b) possible
subnormal levels of income and lack of access to income during
this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
Although the Fund has no current intention, in the
foreseeable future, of engaging in reverse repurchase agreements,
the Fund reserves the right to do so. Reverse repurchase
agreements are ordinary repurchase agreements in which a Fund is
the seller of, rather than the investor in, securities, and
agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. Use
of a reverse repurchase agreement may be preferable to a regular
sale and later repurchase of the securities because it avoids
certain market risks and transaction costs. A reverse repurchase
agreement may be viewed as a type of borrowing by the Fund,
subject to Investment Restriction (1). (See "Investment
Restrictions," below.)
INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS
Fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval
of the lesser of (1) 67% of the Fund's shares present at a
meeting of shareholders if the holders of more than 50% of the
outstanding shares are present in person or by proxy or (2) more
than 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares. Other restrictions in
the form of operating policies are subject to change by the
Fund's Board of Directors/Trustees without shareholder approval.
Any investment restriction which involves a maximum percentage of
securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated
unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after,
and is caused by, an acquisition of securities or assets of, or
borrowings by, the Fund.
Fundamental Policies
As a matter of fundamental policy, the Fund may not:
PAGE 12
(1) Borrowing. 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;
(2) Commodities. Purchase or sell physical
commodities;
(3) Industry Concentration. Purchase the securities
of any issuer if, as a result, more than 25% of
the value of the Fund's total assets would be
invested in the securities of issuers having their
principal business activities in the same
industry; provided, however, that this limitation
does not apply to securities of the banking
industry including, but not limited to,
certificates of deposit and bankers' acceptances;
(4) Loans. 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-distributed or privately-placed debt
securities and purchase debt;
(5) Percent Limit on Assets Invested in Any One
Issuer. Purchase a security if, as a result, with
respect to 75% of the value of its total assets,
more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total
assets would be invested in the securities of a
single issuer, except securities issued or
guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any of its
agencies or instrumentalities;
(6) Percent Limit on Share Ownership of Any One
Issuer. Purchase a security if, as a result, with
respect to 75% of the value of the Fund's total
assets, more than 10% of the outstanding voting
securities of any issuer would be held by the Fund
(other than obligations issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Government, its agencies or
instrumentalities);
(7) Real Estate. Purchase or sell real estate,
including limited partnership interests therein,
unless acquired as a result of ownership of
securities or other instruments (but this shall
not prevent the Fund from investing in securities
or other instruments backed by real estate or
securities of companies engaged in the real estate
business);
(8) Senior Securities. Issue senior securities except
in compliance with the Investment Company Act of
1940; or
PAGE 13
(9) Underwriting. Underwrite securities issued by
other persons, except to the extent that the Fund
may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 in
connection with the purchase and sale of its
portfolio securities in the ordinary course of
pursuing its investment program.
NOTES
The following Notes should be read in connection
with the above-described fundamental policies.
The Notes are not fundamental policies.
With respect to investment restrictions (1) and
(4) the Fund will not borrow from or lend to any
other T. Rowe Price Fund unless each Fund applies
for and receives an exemptive order from the SEC
or the SEC issues rules permitting such
transactions. The Fund has no current intention
of engaging in any such activity and there is no
assurance the SEC would grant any order requested
by the Fund or promulgate any rules allowing the
transactions.
With respect to investment restriction (1), the
Fund has no current intention of engaging in any
borrowing transactions.
With respect to investment restriction (2), the
Fund does not consider currency contracts or
hybrid instruments to be commodities.
For purposes of investment restriction (3), U.S.,
state or local governments, or related agencies or
instrumentalities, are not considered an industry.
Industries are determined by reference to the
classifications of industries set forth in the
Fund's Semiannual and Annual Reports.
For purposes of investment restriction (4), 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.
For purposes of investment restriction (5), the
Fund will consider a repurchase agreement fully
collateralized with U.S. government securities to
be U.S. government securities.
Operating Policies
As a matter of operating policy, the Fund may not:
(1) Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase additional
securities when money borrowed exceeds 5% of its
total assets;
(2) Control of Portfolio Companies. Invest in
companies for the purpose of exercising management
or control;
(3) Equity Securities. Purchase any equity
securities, or securities convertible into equity
securities except as set forth in its prospectus
and operating policy on investment companies;
PAGE 14
(4) Futures Contracts. Purchase a futures contract or
an option thereon;
(5) Illiquid Securities. Purchase illiquid securities
and securities of unseasoned issuers if, as a
result, more than 10% of its net of a Fund's net
assets would be invested in such securities,
provided that the Fund will not invest more than
10% of its total assets in restricted securities
and not more than 5% in securities of unseasoned
issuers. Securities eligible for resale under
Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 are not
included in the 10% limitation;
(6) Investment Companies. Purchase securities of
other money market funds, except in compliance
with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
applicable state law. Duplicate fees may result
from such purchases;
(7) Margin. 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 other permissible investments;
(8) Mortgaging. Mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or, in
any manner, transfer any security owned by the
Fund as security for indebtedness except as may be
necessary in connection with permissible
borrowings or investments and then such
mortgaging, pledging or hypothecating may not
exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund's total assets at the
time of borrowing or investment;
(9) Oil and Gas Programs. Purchase participations or
other direct interests or enter into leases with
respect to, oil, gas, or other mineral exploration
or development programs;
(10) Options, Etc. Invest in puts, calls, straddles,
spreads, or any combination thereof, except to the
extent permitted by the prospectus and Statement
of Additional Information;
(11) Ownership of Portfolio Securities by Officers and
Directors. Purchase or retain the securities of
any issuer if those officers and directors of the
Fund, and of its investment manager, who each own
beneficially more than .5% of the outstanding
securities of such issuer, together own
beneficially more than 5% of such securities;
(12) Short Sales. Effect short sales of securities;
(13) Unseasoned Issuers. Purchase a security (other
than obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S.,
any foreign, state or local government, their
agencies or instrumentalities) if, as a result,
more than 5% of the value of the Fund's total
assets would be invested in the securities issuers
which at the time of purchase had been in
operation for less than three years (for this
purpose, the period of operation of any issuer
shall include the period of operation of any
predecessor or unconditional guarantor of such
issuer). This restriction does not apply to
securities of pooled investment vehicles or
mortgage or asset-backed securities; or
PAGE 15
(14) Warrants. Invest in warrants except to the extent
permitted by the prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information.
MANAGEMENT OF FUND
The officers and directors of the Fund are listed below.
Unless otherwise noted, the address of each is 100 East Pratt
Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Except as indicated, each has
been an employee of T. Rowe Price for more than five years. In
the list below, the Fund's directors who are considered
"interested persons" of T. Rowe Price as defined under
Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 are noted
with an asterisk (*). These directors are referred to as inside
directors by virtue of their officership, directorship, and/or
employment with T. Rowe Price.
ROBERT P. BLACK, Director--Retired; formerly President, Federal
Reserve Bank of Richmond; Address: 10 Dahlgren Road, Richmond,
Virginia 23233
CALVIN W. BURNETT, PH.D., Director--President, Coppin State
College; Director, Maryland Chamber of Commerce and Provident
Bank of Maryland; Former President, Baltimore Area Council Boy
Scouts of America; Vice President, Board of Directors, The
Walters Art Gallery; Address: 2500 West North Avenue, Baltimore,
Maryland 21216
*GEORGE J. COLLINS, Chairman of the Board--President, Managing
Director, and Chief Executive Officer, T. Rowe Price; Director,
Price-Fleming, T. Rowe Price Trust Company and T. Rowe Price
Retirement Plan Services, Inc., Chartered Investment Counselor
ANTHONY W. DEERING, Director--Director, President and Chief
Operating Officer, The Rouse Company, real estate developers,
Columbia, Maryland; Advisory Director, Kleinwort, Benson (North
America) Corporation, a registered broker-dealer; Address: 10275
Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland 21044
F. PIERCE LINAWEAVER, Director--President, F. Pierce Linaweaver &
Associates, Inc., Consulting Environmental & Civil Engineer(s);
formerly Executive Vice President, EA Engineering, Science, and
Technology, Inc., and President, EA Engineering, Inc., Baltimore,
Maryland; Address: 224 Wendover Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
*JAMES S. RIEPE, Vice President and Director--Managing Director,
T. Rowe Price; Chairman of the Board, T. Rowe Price Services,
Inc., T. Rowe Price Trust Company and T. Rowe Price Investment
Services, Inc.; Director, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc.
JOHN G. SCHREIBER, Director--President, Schreiber Investments,
Inc., a real estate investment company; Director, AMLI
Residential Properties Trust and Urban Shopping Centers, Inc.;
Partner, Blackstone Real Estate Partners, L.P.; Director and
formerly Executive Vice President, JMB Realty Corporation, a
national real estate investment manager and developer; Address:
1115 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
PETER VAN DYKE, President--Managing Director, T. Rowe Price; Vice
President, Price-Fleming and T. Rowe Price Trust Company
EDWARD A. WIESE, Executive Vice President--Vice President, T.
Rowe Price, Price-Fleming and T. Rowe Price Trust Company
PATRICE L. BERCHTENBREITER, Vice President--Vice President, T.
Rowe Price
PAUL W. BOLTZ, Vice President--Vice President and Financial
Economist of T. Rowe Price
STEVEN G. BROOKS, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe Price;
Chartered Financial Analyst
ROBERT P. CAMPBELL, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe Price
and Price-Fleming; formerly Vice President and Director, Private
Finance, New York Life Insurance Company, New York, New York
PATRICK S. CASSIDY, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe
Price; Chartered Financial Analyst
PAGE 16
CHRISTY M. DIPIETRO, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe
Price and T. Rowe Price Trust Company
CHARLES B. HILL, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe Price
HENRY H. HOPKINS, Vice President--Managing Director, T. Rowe
Price; Vice President and Director, T. Rowe Price Investment
Services, Inc., T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price
Trust Company; Vice President, Price-Fleming and T. Rowe Price
Retirement Plan Services, Inc.
JAMES M. MCDONALD, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe Price
CHERYL A. REDWOOD, Vice President--Assistant Vice President, T.
Rowe Price
ROBERT M. RUBINO, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe Price
THOMAS E. TEWKSBURY, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe
Price; formerly senior bond trader, Scudder, Stevens & Clark, New
York, New York
MARK J. VASELKIV, Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe Price
GWENDOLYN G. WAGNER, Vice President--Vice President and
Economist, T. Rowe Price; Chartered Financial Analyst
LENORA V. HORNUNG, Secretary--Vice President, T. Rowe Price
PATRICIA S. BUTCHER, Assistant Secretary--Assistant Vice
President, T. Rowe Price and T. Rowe Price Investment Services,
Inc.
CARMEN F. DEYESU, Treasurer--Vice President, T. Rowe Price, T.
Rowe Price Services, Inc., and T. Rowe Price Trust Company
DAVID S. MIDDLETON, Controller--Vice President, T. Rowe Price,
and T. Rowe Price Trust Company
BRIAN E. BURNS, Assistant Vice President--Assistant Vice
President, T. Rowe Price
DONNA M. DAVIS-ENNIS, Assistant Vice President--Assistant Vice
President, T. Rowe Price
JOAN R. POTEE, Assistant Vice President--Vice President, T. Rowe
Price
EDWARD T. SCHNEIDER, Assistant Vice President--Vice President, T.
Rowe Price
INGRID I. VORDEMBERGE, Assistant Vice President--Employee, T.
Rowe Price
The Fund's Executive Committee, comprised of Messrs.
Collins, Riepe, and Reynolds, has been authorized by its Board of
Directors to exercise all 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.
COMPENSATION TABLE
The Fund does not pay pension or retirement benefits to
officers or directors of the Fund. Also, any director of the
Fund who is an officer or employee of T. Rowe Price or Price-
Fleming receives no remuneration from the Fund.
_________________________________________________________________
Total Compensation
from Fund and
Name of Aggregate Fund Complex
Person, Compensation Paid to
Position from Fund(a) Directors(b)
_________________________________________________________________
Robert P. Black, -- $56,000
Director
Calvin W. Burnett, -- 56,000
PH.D, Director
Anthony W. Deering, -- 68,250
Director
F. Pierce Linaweaver, -- 56,000
Director
PAGE 17
John G. Schreiber, -- 56,000
Director
(a) No estimated future payments for fiscal year 1996.
(b) Amounts in this column are for calendar year 1995. The Fund
complex consisted of 72 funds as of December 31, 1995.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of the date of the prospectus, the officers and directors
of the Fund, as a group, did not own any shares of the Fund.
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Services
Under the 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 the Fund in accordance with the Fund's investment
objectives, program, and restrictions as provided in its
prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information. T. Rowe
Price is also responsible for effecting all security transactions
on behalf of the Fund, including the negotiation of commissions
and the allocation of principal business and portfolio brokerage.
In addition to these services, T. Rowe Price provides the Fund
with certain corporate administrative services, including:
maintaining the Fund's corporate existence and corporate records;
registering and qualifying Fund shares under federal and state
laws; monitoring the financial, accounting, and administrative
functions of the Fund; maintaining liaison with the agents
employed by the Fund such as the Fund's custodian and transfer
agent; assisting the Fund in the coordination of such agents'
activities; and permitting T. Rowe Price's employees to serve as
officers, directors, and committee members of the Fund without
cost to the Fund.
The 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.
Management Fee
The Fund pays T. Rowe Price an annual all-inclusive fee (the
"Fee") of 0.55%. The Fee is paid monthly to T. Rowe Price on the
first business day of the next succeeding calendar month and is
the sum of the daily Fee accruals for each month. The daily Fee
accrual for any particular day is calculated by multiplying the
fraction of one (1) over the number of calendar days in the year
by the appropriate Fee rate and multiplying this product by the
net assets of the Fund for that day as determined in accordance
with the Fund's prospectus as of the close of business from the
previous business day on which the Fund was open for business.
The Management Agreement between the Fund and T. Rowe Price
provides that T. Rowe Price will pay all expenses of the Fund's
operations, except interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and
other charges incident to the purchase, sale or lending of the
Fund's portfolio securities, directors' fee and expenses
(including counsel fees and expenses) and such nonrecurring or
extraordinary expenses that may arise, including the costs of
actions, suits, PAGE 18
or proceedings to which the Fund is a party and the expenses the
Fund may incur as a result of its obligation to provide
indemnification to its officers, directors and agents. However,
the Board of Directors of the Fund reserves the right to impose
additional fees against shareholder accounts to defray expenses
which would otherwise be paid by T. Rowe Price under the
Management Agreement. The Board does not anticipate levying such
charges; such a fee, if charged, may be retained by the Fund or
paid to T. Rowe Price.
DISTRIBUTOR FOR FUND
T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. ("Investment
Services"), a Maryland corporation formed in 1980 as a wholly-
owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price, serves as the Fund's
distributor. Investment Services is registered as a broker-
dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The
offering of the Fund's shares is continuous.
Investment Services is located at the same address as the
Fund and T. Rowe Price -- 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202.
Investment Services serves as distributor to the Fund
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement ("Underwriting Agreement"),
which provides that the Fund will pay all fees and expenses in
connection with: registering and qualifying its shares under the
various state "blue sky" laws; preparing, setting in type,
printing, and mailing its prospectuses and reports to
shareholders; and issuing its shares, including expenses of
confirming purchase orders.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that Investment Services
will pay all fees and expenses in connection with: printing and
distributing prospectuses and reports for use in offering and
selling Fund shares; preparing, setting in type, printing, and
mailing all sales literature and advertising; Investment
Services' federal and state registrations as a broker-dealer; and
offering and selling Fund shares, except for those fees and
expenses specifically assumed by the Fund. Investment Services'
expenses are paid by T. Rowe Price.
Investment Services acts as the agent of the Fund in
connection with the sale of its shares in all states in which the
shares are qualified and in which Investment Services is
qualified as a broker-dealer. Under the Underwriting Agreement,
Investment Services accepts orders for Fund shares at net asset
value. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund.
CUSTODIAN
State Street Bank and Trust Company is the custodian for the
Fund's domestic securities and cash, but it does not participate
in the Fund's investment decisions. Portfolio securities
purchased in the U.S. are maintained in the custody of the Bank
and may be entered into the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or
the security depository system of the Depository Trust
Corporation. State Street's main office is at 225 Franklin
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Fund's investment adviser (T. Rowe Price) has a written
Code of Ethics which requires all employees to obtain prior
clearance before engaging PAGE 19
in personal securities transactions. Transactions must be
executed within three business days of their clearance. In
addition, all employees must report their personal securities
transactions within ten days of their execution. Employees will
not be permitted to effect transactions in a security: If there
are pending client orders in the security; the security has been
purchased or sold by a client within seven calendar days; the
security is being considered for purchase for a client; a change
has occurred in T. Rowe Price's rating of the security within
seven calendar days prior to the date of the proposed
transaction; or the security is subject to internal trading
restrictions. In addition, employees are prohibited from
profiting from short-term trading (e.g., purchases and sales
involving the same security within 60 days). Any material
violation of the Code of Ethics is reported to the Board of the
Fund. The Board also reviews the administration of the Code of
Ethics on an annual basis.
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
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. The Fund's purchases
and sales of fixed-income portfolio securities are normally done
on a principal basis and do not involve the payment of a
commission although they may involve the designation of selling
concessions. That part of the discussion below relating solely
to brokerage commissions would not normally apply to the Fund.
However, it is included because T. Rowe Price does manage a
significant number of common stock portfolios which do engage in
agency transactions and pay commissions and because some research
and services resulting from the payment of such commissions may
benefit the Fund.
How Brokers and Dealers are Selected
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 although the price usually includes an
undisclosed compensation. 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.
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. T. Rowe Price may
receive research services in connection with brokerage
transactions, including designations in fixed price offerings.
In purchasing and selling a 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 (in which a Fund does not
generally engage), at competitive commission rates. However,
under certain conditions, a Fund may pay higher brokerage
commissions in return for brokerage and research services. In
PAGE 20
selecting broker-dealers to execute a 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.
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
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.
PAGE 21
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 and dealers who provide quality brokerage
and execution services also furnish research services to T. Rowe
Price. With regard to the payment of brokerage commissions, 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 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. T. Rowe Price may receive research, as defined in
Section 28(e), in connection with selling concessions and
designations in fixed price offerings in which the Funds
participate.
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 or dealers 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 or dealers,
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 or dealers and make judgments as to the level of
business which would recognize such services. In addition,
brokers or dealers 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 business is
allocated on the basis of all the considerations described above.
In no case is a broker or dealer excluded from receiving business
from T. Rowe Price because it has not been identified as
providing research services.
PAGE 22
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 or dealers 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 or
dealers 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 T. Rowe 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.
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.
The Fund, in pursuing its objectives, may engage in short-term
trading to take advantage of market variations. The Fund will
seek to protect principal, improve liquidity of its securities,
or enhance yield by purchasing and selling securities based upon
existing or anticipated market discrepancies.
Trade Allocation Policies
T. Rowe Price has developed written trade allocation
guidelines for its Equity, Municipal, and Taxable Fixed Income
Trading Desks. Generally, when the amount of securities
available in a public offering or the secondary market is
insufficient to satisfy the volume or price requirements for the
participating client portfolios, the guidelines require a pro
rata allocation PAGE 23
based upon the amounts initially requested by each portfolio
manager. In allocating trades made on combined basis, the
Trading Desks seek to achieve the same net unit price of the
securities for each participating client. Because a pro rata
allocation may not always adequately accommodate all facts and
circumstances, the guidelines provide for exceptions to allocate
trades on an adjusted, pro rata basis. Examples of where
adjustments may be made include: (i) reallocations to recognize
the efforts of a portfolio manager in negotiating a transaction
or a private placement; (ii) reallocations to eliminate deminimis
positions; (iii) priority for accounts with specialized
investment policies and objectives; and (iv) reallocations in
light of a participating portfolio's characteristics (e.g.,
industry or issuer concentration, duration, and credit exposure).
PRICING OF SECURITIES
Securities are valued at amortized cost.
Assets and liabilities for which the above valuation
procedures are inappropriate or are deemed not to reflect fair
value are stated at fair value, as determined in good faith by or
under the supervision of officers of the Funds, as authorized by
the Board of Directors.
Maintenance of Net Asset Value Per Share
It is the policy of the Fund to attempt to maintain a net
asset value of $1.00 per share by using the amortized cost method
of valuation as permitted by Rule 2a-7 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Under this method, securities are valued by
reference to the fund's acquisition cost as adjusted for
amortization of premium or accumulation of discount rather than
by reference to their market value. Under Rule 2a-7:
(a) The Board of Directors must establish written procedures
reasonably designed, taking into account current market
conditions and the fund's investment objectives, to stabilize
the fund's net asset value per share, as computed for the
purpose of distribution, redemption and repurchase, at a
single value;
(b) the Fund must (i) maintain a dollar-weighted average
portfolio maturity appropriate to its objective of
maintaining a stable price per share, (ii) not purchase any
instrument with a remaining maturity greater than 397 days,
and (iii) maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio
maturity of 90 days or less;
(c) the Fund must limit its purchase of portfolio
instruments, including repurchase agreements, to those U.S.
dollar-denominated instruments which the Fund's Board of
Directors determines present minimal credit risks, and which
are eligible securities as defined by Rule 2a-7; and
(d) the Board of Directors must determine that (i) it is in
the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to
maintain a stable net asset value per share under the
amortized cost method; and (ii) the Fund will continue to use
the amortized cost method only so long as the Board of
Directors believes that it fairly reflects the Fund's market
based net asset value per share.
Although the Fund believes that it will be able to maintain
its net asset value at $1.00 per share under most conditions,
there can be no absolute assurance that it will be able to do so
on a continuous basis. If the Fund's PAGE 24
net asset value per share declined, or was expected to decline,
below $1.00 (rounded to the nearest one cent), the Board of
Directors of the Fund might temporarily reduce or suspend
dividend payments in an effort to maintain the net asset value at
$1.00 per share. As a result of such reduction or suspension of
dividends, an investor would receive less income during a given
period than if such a reduction or suspension had not taken
place. Such action could result in an investor receiving no
dividend for the period during which he holds his shares and in
his receiving, upon redemption, a price per share lower than that
which he paid. On the other hand, if the Fund's net asset value
per share were to increase, or were anticipated to increase above
$1.00 (rounded to the nearest one cent), the Board of Directors
of the Fund might supplement dividends in an effort to maintain
the net asset value at $1.00 per share.
Prime Money Market Securities Defined. Prime money market
securities are those which are described as First Tier Securities
under Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. These
include any security with a remaining maturity of 397 days or
less that is rated (or that has been issued by an issuer that is
rated with respect to a class of short-term debt obligations, or
any security within that class that is comparable in priority and
security with the security) by any two nationally recognized
statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) (or if only one NRSRO
has issued a rating, that NRSRO) in the highest rating category
for short-term debt obligations (within which there may be sub-
categories). First Tier Securities also include unrated
securities comparable in quality to rated securities, as
determined by T. Rowe Price under the supervision of the Fund's
Board of Directors.
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
The purchase and redemption price of the Fund's shares is
equal to the Fund's net asset value per share or share price.
The Fund determines its net asset value per share by subtracting
the Fund's liabilities (including accrued expenses and dividends
payable) from its total assets (the market value of the
securities the Fund holds plus cash and other assets, including
income accrued but not yet received) and dividing the result by
the total number of shares outstanding. The net asset value per
share of the Fund is normally calculated as of the close of
trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") every day the
NYSE is open for trading. The NYSE is closed on the following
days: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and
Christmas Day.
Determination of net asset value (and the offering, sale
redemption and repurchase of shares) for the Fund may be
suspended at times (a) during which the NYSE is closed, other
than customary weekend and holiday closings, (b) during which
trading on the NYSE is restricted, (c) during which an emergency
exists as a result of which disposal by the Fund of securities
owned by it is not reasonably practicable or it is not reasonably
practicable for the Fund fairly to determine the value of its net
assets, or (d) during which a governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Fund may by order permit such a suspension
for the protection of the Fund's shareholders; provided that
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (or any succeeding governmental authority) shall
govern as to whether the conditions prescribed in (b), (c), or
(d) exist.
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Unless the insurance company separate account elects
otherwise, the fourth quarter dividend and capital gain
distribution will be reinvested on
PAGE 25
the reinvestment date using the NAV per share of that date. The
reinvestment date normally precedes the payment date by about 10
days although the exact timing is subject to change.
TAX STATUS
The Fund intends to qualify as a "regulated investment
company" under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended ("Code") and also intends to diversify its assets in
accordance with regulations under Code Section 817(h).
In 1987, the Treasury Department indicated that it may issue
regulations addressing the circumstances in which a
policyholder's control of the investments of the insurance
company separate account would result in the policyholder being
treated as the owner of such assets. Although there is no
present indication that such regulations will be issued, their
adoption could alter the tax treatment of the policyholder,
separate account or insurance company.
For tax purposes, the Fund must declare dividends equal to at
least 98% of ordinary income (as of December 31) and capital
gains (as of October 31) in order to avoid a federal excise tax
and distribute 100% of ordinary income and capital gains as of
December 31 to avoid a federal income tax. In certain
circumstances, the Fund may not be required to comply with the
excise tax distribution requirements. It does not make any
difference whether dividends and capital gain distributions are
paid in cash or in additional shares.
At the time a shareholder acquires Fund shares, the Fund's
net asset value may reflect undistributed income, capital gains
or net unrealized appreciation of securities held by the Fund
which may be subsequently distributed as either dividends or
capital gain distributions.
If, in any taxable year, the Fund should not qualify as a
regulated investment company under the Code: (i) the Fund would
be taxed at normal corporate rates on the entire amount of its
taxable income, if any, without deduction for dividends or other
distributions to shareholders; and (ii) the Fund's distributions
to the extent made out of the Fund's current or accumulated
earnings and profits would be treated as ordinary dividends by
shareholders (regardless of whether they would otherwise have
been considered capital gain dividends), and (iii) the separate
accounts investing in the Fund may fail to satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 817(h) which in turn could adversely
affect the tax status of life insurance and annuity contracts
with premiums invested in the affected separate accounts.
Taxation of Foreign Shareholders
The Code provides that dividends from net income will be
subject to U.S. tax. For shareholders who are not engaged in a
business in the U.S., this tax would be imposed at the rate of
30% upon the gross amount of the dividends in the absence of a
Tax Treaty providing for a reduced rate or exemption from U.S.
taxation. Distributions of net long-term capital gains realized
by the Fund are not subject to tax unless the foreign shareholder
is a nonresident alien individual who was physically present in
the U.S. during the tax year for more than 182 days.
PAGE 26
YIELD INFORMATION
From time to time, the Fund may advertise a yield figure
calculated in the following manner:
The Fund's current and historical yield for a period is
calculated by dividing the net change in value of an account
(including all dividends accrued and dividends reinvested in
additional shares) by the account value at the beginning of the
period to obtain the base period return. This base period return
is divided by the number of days in the period then multiplied by
365 to arrive at the annualized yield for that period. The
Fund's annualized compound yield for such period is compounded by
dividing the base period return by the number of days in the
period, and compounding that figure over 365 days.
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
Total Return Performance
The Fund's calculation of total return performance will
include the reinvestment of all capital gain distributions and
income dividends for the period or periods indicated, without
regard to tax consequences to a shareholder in the Fund. Total
return is calculated as the percentage change between the
beginning value of a static account in the Fund and the ending
value of that account measured by the then current net asset
value, including all shares acquired through reinvestment of
income and capital gains dividends. The results that will be
shown are historical and should not be considered indicative of
the future performance of the Fund. Each average annual compound
rate of return is derived from the cumulative performance of the
Fund over the time period specified. The annual compound rate of
return for the Fund over any other period of time will vary from
the average.
Outside Sources of Information
From time to time, in reports and promotional literature, one
or more of the T. Rowe Price funds, including this Fund, may
compare its performance to Overnight Government Repurchase
Agreements, Treasury bills, notes, and bonds, certificates of
deposit, and six-month money market certificates. Bank
certificates of deposit differ from mutual funds in several ways:
the interest rate established by the sponsoring bank is fixed for
the term of a CD; there are penalties for early withdrawal from
CDs; and the principal on a CD is insured. Performance may also
be compared to (1) indices of broad groups of managed or
unmanaged securities considered to be representative of or
similar to Fund portfolio holdings; such as: Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc., "Lipper-Fixed Income Fund Performance Analysis"
is a monthly publication which tracks net assets, total return,
principal return and yield on approximately 950 fixed income
mutual funds offered in the United States; Morningstar, Inc., is
a widely used independent research firm which rates mutual funds
by overall performance, investment objectives and assets.; (2)
other mutual funds; or (3) other measures of performance set
forth in publications such as:
Advertising News Service, Inc., "Bank Rate Monitor+ - The
Weekly Financial Rate Reporter" is a weekly publication which
lists the yields on various money market instruments offered
to the public by 100 leading banks and thrift institutions in
the U.S., including loan rates offered by these banks.
IBC/Donoghue Organization, Inc., "IBC/Donoghue's Money Fund
Report" is a weekly publication which tracks net assets,
yield, maturity and portfolio
PAGE 27
holdings on approximately 380 money market mutual funds
offered in the U.S. These funds are broken down into various
categories such as U.S. Treasury, Domestic Prime and Euros,
Domestic Prime and Euros and Yankees, and Aggressive.
First Boston High Yield Index. It shows statistics on the
Composite Index and analytical data on new issues in the
marketplace and low-grade issuers.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., "Taxable Bond
Indices" is a monthly publication which lists principal,
coupon and total return on over 100 different taxable bond
indices tracked by Merrill Lynch, together with the par
weighted characteristics of each Index. The index used as a
benchmark for the High Yield Fund is the High Yield Index.
The two indices used as benchmarks for the Short-Term Bond
Fund are the 91-Day Treasury Bill Index and the 1-2.99 Year
Treasury Note Index.
Salomon Brothers Inc., "Analytical Record of Yields and Yield
Spreads" is a publication which tracks historical yields and
yield spreads on short-term market rates, public obligations
of the U.S. Treasury and agencies of the U.S. government,
public corporate debt obligations, municipal debt obligations
and preferred stocks.
Salomon Brothers Inc., "Bond Market Round-up" is a weekly
publication which tracks the yields and yield spreads on a
large, but select, group of money market instruments, public
corporate debt obligations, and public obligations of the
U.S. Treasury and agencies of the U.S. Government.
Salomon Brothers Inc., "High Yield Composite Index" is an
index which provides performance and statistics for the high
yield market place.
Salomon Brothers Inc., "Market Performance" is a monthly
publication which tracks principal return, total return and
yield on the Salomon Brothers Broad investment - Grade Bond
Index and the components of the Index.
Shearson Lehman Brothers, Inc., "The Bond Market Report" is a
monthly publication which tracks principal, coupon and total
return on the Shearson Lehman Govt./Corp. Index and Shearson
Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, as well as all the components of
these Indices.
Telerate Systems, Inc., is a market data distribution network
which tracks a broad range of financial markets including,
the daily rates on money market instruments, public corporate
debt obligations and public obligations of the U.S. Treasury
and agencies of the U.S. Government.
Wall Street Journal, is a national daily financial news
publication which lists the yields and current market values
on money market instruments, public corporate debt
obligations, public obligations of the U.S. Treasury and
agencies of the U.S. government as well as common stocks,
preferred stocks, convertible preferred stocks, options and
commodities.
Indices prepared by the research departments of such
financial organizations as Shearson Lehman/American Express
Inc., and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc.,
including information provided by the Federal Reserve Board.
PAGE 28
Performance rankings and ratings reported periodically in
national financial publications such as MONEY, FORBES, BUSINESS
WEEK, BARRON'S, etc. will also be used.
IRAs
An IRA is a long-term investment whose objective is to
accumulate personal savings for retirement. Due to the long-term
nature of the investment, even slight differences in performance
will result in significantly different assets at retirement.
Mutual funds, with their diversity of choice, can be used for IRA
investments. Generally, individuals may need to adjust their
underlying IRA investments as their time to retirement and
tolerance for risk changes.
Other Features and Benefits
The Fund is a member of the T. Rowe Price Family of Funds
and may help investors achieve various long-term investment
goals, such as investing money for retirement, saving for a down
payment on a home, or paying college costs. To explain how the
Fund could be used to assist investors in planning for these
goals and to illustrate basic principles of investing, various
worksheets and guides prepared by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
and/or T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. may be made
available. These currently include: the Asset Mix Worksheet
which is designed to show shareholders how to reduce their
investment risk by developing a diversified investment plan; the
College Planning Guide which discusses various aspects of
financial planning to meet college expenses and assists parents
in projecting the costs of a college education for their
children; the Retirement Planning Kit (also available in a PC
version) includes a detailed workbook to determine how much money
you may need for retirement and suggests how you might invest to
achieve your objectives; and the Retirees Financial Guide which
includes a detailed workbook to determine how much money you can
afford to spend and still preserve your purchasing power and
suggests how you might invest to reach your goal. Tax
Considerations for Investors discusses the tax advantages of
annuities and municipal bonds and how to assess whether they are
suitable for your portfolio, reviews pros and cons of placing
assets in a gift to minors account and summarizes the benefits
and types of tax-deferred retirement plans currently available.
Personal Strategy Planner simplifies investment decision making
by helping investors define personal financial goals, establish
length of time the investor intends to invest, determine risk
"comfort zone" and select diversified investment mix; and the How
to Choose a Bond Fund guide which discusses how to choose an
appropriate bond fund for your portfolio. From time to time,
other worksheets and guides may be made available as well. Of
course, an investment in the Fund cannot guarantee that such
goals will be met.
From time to time, the example shown below may be used to
assist investors in understanding the different returns and risk
characteristics of various investments, including presentation of
historical returns of these investments. An example of this is
shown below.
Historical Returns for Different Investments
Annualized returns for periods ended 12/31/95
50 years 20 years 10 years 5 years
Small-Company Stocks 13.8% 19.6% 11.9% 24.5%
Large-Company Stocks 11.9 14.6 14.8 16.6
PAGE 29
Foreign Stocks N/A 15.1 13.9 9.7
Long-Term Corporate Bonds 5.7 10.5 11.2 12.1
Intermediate-Term U.S.
Gov't. Bonds 5.9 9.7 9.1 8.8
Treasury Bills 4.8 7.3 5.5 4.3
U.S. Inflation 4.4 5.2 3.5 2.8
Sources: Ibbotson Associates, Morgan Stanley. Foreign stocks
reflect performance of The Morgan Stanley Capital International
EAFE Index, which includes some 1,000 companies representing the
stock markets of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Far
East. This chart is for illustrative purposes only and should
not be considered as performance for, or the annualized return
of, any T. Rowe Price Fund. Past performance does not guarantee
future results.
Also included will be various portfolios demonstrating how
these historical indices would have performed in various
combinations over a specified time period in terms of return. An
example of this is shown on the next page.
Performance of Retirement Portfolios*
Asset Mix Average Annualized Value
Returns 20 Years of
Ended 12/31/95 $10,000
Investment
After Period
________________ __________________ ____________
Nominal Real BestWorst
Portfolio Growth IncomeSafety ReturnReturn** YearYear
I. Low
Risk 40% 40% 20% 11.8% 6.5% 24.9% 0.1% $ 92,675
II. Moderate
Risk 60% 30% 10% 13.1% 7.9% 29.1% -1.8%$116,826
III. High
Risk 80% 20% 0% 14.3% 9.1% 33.4% -5.2%$145,611
Source: T. Rowe Price Associates; data supplied by Lehman
Brothers, Wilshire Associates and Ibbotson Associates.
* Based on actual performance for the 20 years ended 1995 of
stocks (85% Wilshire 5000 and 15% Europe, Australia, Far
East [EAFE] Index), bonds (Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond
Index from 1976-95 and 30-day Treasury bills from January
1976 through December 1995). Past performance does not
guarantee future results. Figures include changes in
principal value and reinvested dividends and assume the same
asset mix is maintained each year. This exhibit is for
illustrative purposes only and is not representative of the
performance of any T. Rowe Price fund.
** Based on inflation rate of 5.2% for the 20-year period ended
12/31/95.
PAGE 30
Insights
From time to time, Insights, a T. Rowe Price publication of
reports on specific investment topics and strategies, may be
included in the Fund's fulfillment kit. Such reports may include
information concerning: calculating taxable gains and losses on
mutual fund transactions, coping with stock market volatility,
benefiting from dollar cost averaging, understanding
international markets, investing in high-yield "junk" bonds,
growth stock investing, conservative stock investing, value
investing, investing in small companies, tax-free investing,
fixed income investing, investing in mortgage-backed securities,
as well as other topics and strategies.
Other Publications
From time to time, in newsletters and other publications
issued by T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., T. Rowe Price
mutual fund portfolio managers may discuss economic, financial
and political developments in the U.S. and abroad and how these
conditions have affected or may affect securities prices or the
Fund; individual securities within the Fund's portfolio; and
their philosophy regarding the selection of individual stocks,
including why specific stocks have been added, removed or
excluded from the Fund's portfolio.
Redemptions in Kind
In the unlikely event a shareholder were to receive an in
kind redemption of portfolio securities of the Fund, brokerage
fees could be incurred by the shareholder in a subsequent sale of
such securities.
Issuance of Fund Shares for Securities
Transactions involving issuance of Fund shares for
securities or assets other than cash will be limited to (1) bona
fide reorganizations; (2) statutory mergers; or (3) other
acquisitions of portfolio securities that: (a) meet the
investment objective and policies of the Fund; (b) are acquired
for investment and not for resale except in accordance with
applicable law; (c) have a value that is readily ascertainable
via listing on or trading in a recognized United States or
international exchange or market; and (d) are not illiquid.
CAPITAL STOCK
The Charter of the T. Rowe Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
(the "Corporation") authorizes its Board of Directors to classify
and reclassify any and all shares which are then unissued,
including unissued shares of capital stock into any number of
classes or series, each class or series consisting of such number
of shares and having such designations, such powers, preferences,
rights, qualifications, limitations, and restrictions, as shall
be determined by the Board subject to the Investment Company Act
and other applicable law. Currently, the Corporation consists of
two series, T. Rowe Price Limited-Term Bond Portfolio (1994) and
the Fund (1996). This series represents a separate class of the
Corporation's shares and has different objectives and investment
policies. The T. Rowe Price Limited-Term Bond Portfolio is
described in a separate Statement of Additional Information. The
shares of any such additional classes or series might therefore
differ from the shares of the present class and series of capital
stock and from each other as to preferences, conversions or other
rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption, subject to
applicable law, and might thus be
PAGE 31
superior or inferior to the capital stock or to other classes or
series in various characteristics. The Corporation's Board of
Directors may increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares
of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series
that the Fund has authorized to issue without shareholder
approval.
Except to the extent that the Corporation's Board of
Directors might provide by resolution that holders of shares of a
particular class are entitled to vote as a class on specified
matters presented for a vote of the holders of all shares
entitled to vote on such matters, there would be no right of
class vote unless and to the extent that such a right might be
construed to exist under Maryland law. The Charter contains no
provision entitling the holders of the present class of capital
stock to a vote as a class on any matter. Accordingly, the
preferences, rights, and other characteristics attaching to any
class of shares, including the present class of capital stock,
might be altered or eliminated, or the class might be combined
with another class or classes, by action approved by the vote of
the holders of a majority of all the shares of all classes
entitled to be voted on the proposal, without any additional
right to vote as a class by the holders of the capital stock or
of another affected class or classes.
The various insurance companies own the outstanding shares
of the Fund in their separate accounts. These separate accounts
are registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act or are
excluded from registration. Each insurance company, as the
Shareholder, is entitled to one vote for each full share held
(and fractional votes for fractional shares held). Under the
current laws the insurance companies must vote the shares held in
registered separate accounts in accordance with voting
instructions received from variable Contract Holders or
Participants. Fund shares for which Contract Holders or
Participants are entitled to give voting instructions, but as to
which no voting instructions are received, and shares owned by
the insurance companies or affiliated companies in the separate
accounts, will be voted in proportion to the shares for which
voting instructions have been received.
There will normally be no meetings of shareholders for the
purpose of electing directors unless and until such time as less
than a majority of the directors holding office have been elected
by shareholders, at which time the directors then in office will
call a shareholders' meeting for the election of directors.
Except as set forth above, the directors shall continue to hold
office and may appoint successor directors. Voting rights are
not cumulative, so that the holders of more than 50% of the
shares voting in the election of directors can, if they choose to
do so, elect all the directors of the Fund, in which event the
holders of the remaining shares will be unable to elect any
person as a director. As set forth in the By-Laws of the
Corporation, a special meeting of shareholders of the Corporation
shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation on the
written request of shareholders entitled to cast at least 10% of
all the votes of the Corporation entitled to be cast at such
meeting. Shareholders requesting such a meeting must pay to the
Corporation the reasonably estimated costs of preparing and
mailing the notice of the meeting. The Corporation, however,
will otherwise assist the shareholders seeking to hold the
special meeting in communicating to the other shareholders of the
Corporation to the extent required by Section 16(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940.
FEDERAL AND STATE REGISTRATION OF SHARES
The Fund's shares are registered for sale under the
Securities Act of 1933, and the Fund or its shares register with
state insurance divisions that require registration, as well as
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
PAGE 32
LEGAL COUNSEL
Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman, & Goodman, LLP, whose address is
919 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, is legal counsel to
the Fund.
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Price Waterhouse LLP, 7 St. Paul Street, Suite 1700,
Baltimore, Maryland 21202 are independent accountants to the
Fund.
RATINGS OF COMMERCIAL PAPER
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.: The rating of Prime-1 is the
highest commercial paper rating assigned by Moody's. Among the
factors considered by Moody's in assigning ratings are the
following: valuation of the management of the issuer; economic
evaluation of the issuer's industry or industries and an
appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in
certain areas; evaluation of the issuer's products in relation to
competition and customer acceptance; liquidity; amount and
quality of long-term debt; trend of earnings over a period of 10
years; financial strength of the parent company and the
relationships which exist with the issuer; and recognition by the
management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a
result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such
obligations. These factors are all considered in determining
whether the commercial paper is rated P1, P2, or P3.
Standard & Poor's Corporation: Commercial paper rated A (highest
quality) by S&P has the following characteristics: liquidity
ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements; long-term senior
debt is rated "A" or better, although in some cases "BBB" credits
may be allowed. The issuer has access to at least two additional
channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an
upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances.
Typically, the issuer's industry is well established and the
issuer has a strong position within the industry. The
reliability and quality of management are unquestioned. The
relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines
whether the issuer's commercial paper is rated A1, A2, or A3.
Fitch Investors Service, Inc.: Fitch 1 - Highest grade.
Commercial paper assigned this rating is regarded as having the
strongest degree of assurance for timely payment. Fitch 2 - Very
good grade. Issues assigned this rating reflect an assurance of
timely payment only slightly less in degree than the strongest
issues.
