PAGE 1
Prospectus for the T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Portfolio, dated
May 1, 1997, should be inserted here.
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PROSPECTUS
May 1, 1997
T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Portfolio
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FACTS AT A GLANCE
Investment Goal
Preservation of capital, liquidity, and the highest possible income consistent
with these goals.
As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee the fund will achieve its goal.
Strategy
Invests principally in the highest-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated money
market securities. Average maturity will not exceed 90 days. 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.
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 $99 billion for more
than five million individual and institutional investor accounts as of December
31, 1996.
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T. Rowe Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
Prospectus
May 1, 1997
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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T. ROWE PRICE 2
CONTENTS
1
ABOUT THE FUND
Fund, Market, and Risk Characteristics 2
2
ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
Pricing Shares and Receiving Sale Proceeds 6
Distributions and Taxes 7
3
MORE ABOUT THE FUND
Organization and Management 8
Understanding Performance Information 10
Investment Policies and Practices 12
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
May 1, 1997, 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.
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ABOUT THE FUND
1
FUND, MARKET, AND RISK CHARACTERISTICS: WHAT TO EXPECT
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To help you decide whether this fund is appropriate for you, this section
takes a closer look at its investment objective and approach.
What is the fund's objective?
The fund's objectives are 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.
o There is no assurance the fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset
value of $1.00 per share.
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.
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.
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T. ROWE PRICE 4
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.
o For further details on the fund's investment program and practices, please
see the section entitled Investment Policies and Practices.
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 in the fund 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.
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ABOUT THE FUND 5
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.
o You may want to review some fundamentals of money market securities.
Is a 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.
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T. ROWE PRICE 6
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 maturities 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.
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.
o 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.
Is there other information I need to review before making a decision?
Be sure to read Investment Policies and Practices in Section 3, which
discusses the principal types of portfolio securities that the fund may
purchase as well as the types of management practices that the fund may use.
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ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT
2
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.
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.
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T. ROWE PRICE 8
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 a fund.
Dividends and Other Distributions
For a discussion of the tax status of your variable annuity contract, please
refer to the attached separate account prospectus.
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).
Foreign Transactions
If the fund pays nonrefundable taxes to foreign governments during the year,
the taxes will reduce the fund's dividends.
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MORE ABOUT THE FUND
3
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
----------------------------------------------------------
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.
o Shareholders benefit from T. Rowe Price's 60 years of investment management
experience.
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.
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T. ROWE PRICE 10
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.
Who runs the fund?
General Oversight
The Corporation is governed by a Board of Directors that meets regularly to
review fund investments, performance, expenses, and other business affairs.
The Board elects the Corporation's officers. The policy of the Corporation is
that the majority of Board members will be independent of T. Rowe Price.
o All decisions regarding the purchase and sale of fund investments are made
by T. Rowe Price-specifically by the fund's portfolio managers.
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 these 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.
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ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT 11
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 Corporation 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.
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T. ROWE PRICE 12
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.
o 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 all available without charge.
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.
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 fund's net
asset value. 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.
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ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT 13
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.
o You will see frequent references to a fund's yield in our reports, in
advertisements, in media stories, and so on.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES
----------------------------------------------------------
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.
o Fund managers have considerable leeway in choosing investment strategies and
selecting securities they believe will help the fund achieve its objective.
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
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T. ROWE PRICE 14
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
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
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MORE ABOUT THE FUND 15
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.
o Foreign securities increase the fund's diversification and may enhance
return, but involve special risks, especially for developing countries.
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.
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T. ROWE PRICE 16
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.
PAGE 2
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
T. Rowe Price Fixed Income Series, Inc. (the "Corporation")
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 May 1, 1997, 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 May 1,
1997.
SAI-PRP 5/1/97
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Page
Asset-Backed Securities 4 Lending of Portfolio
Capital Stock . . . . . . 26 Securities . . . . . . . 9
Code of Ethics . . . . . 17 Management of Fund . . . . 13
Custodian . . . . . . . . 17 Net Asset Value Per Share 23
Distributor for Fund . . 16 Portfolio Transactions . . 18
Dividends and Pricing of Securities . . 22
Distributions . . . . . 23 Principal Holders of
Federal Registration Securities . . . . . . . 15
of Shares . . . . . . . 27 Ratings of Commercial
Independent Accountants . 27 Paper . . . . . . . . . . 27
Illiquid or Restricted Repurchase Agreements . . 9
Securities . . . . . . . 8 Risk Factors . . . . . . . 2
Investment Management Shareholder Services . . . 17
Services . . . . . . . . 16 Tax Status . . . . . . . . 23
Investment Objective and Taxation of Foreign
Policies . . . . . . . . 2 Shareholders . . . . . . 24
Investment Performance . 25 When-Issued Securities and
Investment Program . . . 3 Forward Commitment
Investment Restrictions . 10 Contracts . . . . . . . . 7
Legal Counsel . . . . . . 27 Yield Information . . . . 24
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.
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
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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.
PAGE 5
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.
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
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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 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
PAGE 7
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
PAGE 8
enhancement") or through a combination of such approaches.
Examples of 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
PAGE 9
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 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.
PAGE 10
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.
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
PAGE 11
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
PAGE 12
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.
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.
PAGE 13
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.
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
PAGE 14
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,
PAGE 15
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:
(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;
PAGE 16
(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
(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
PAGE 17
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 18
(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 if, as a result thereof,
more than 5% of the value of the total assets of
the Fund would be invested in such 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) Short Sales. Effect short sales of securities;
or
PAGE 19
(12) 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
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
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
*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.
PAGE 20
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
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
PAGE 21
INGRID I. VORDEMBERGE, Assistant Vice President--Employee,
T. Rowe Price
The Fund's Executive Committee, comprised of Mr. Riepe,
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 does not receive any 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, -- $56,917
Director
Calvin W. Burnett, -- 56,917
PH.D, Director
Anthony W. Deering, -- 70,667
Director
F. Pierce Linaweaver, -- 56,917
Director
John G. Schreiber, -- 56,917
Director
(a) There were no estimated future payments for the fiscal year
1996.
(b) Amounts in this column are for calendar year 1996.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
As of the date of the prospectus, the officers and directors
of the Fund, as a group, owned less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of the Fund.
PAGE 22
As of March 31, 1997, the following shareholders owned of
record more than 5% of the fund's outstanding shares:
Security Benefit Life Insurance Company, FBO, T. Rowe Price
No-Load Variable Annuity, Attn. Mark Young, 700 SW Harrison St.
Topeka, KS 66636-0002.
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 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
PAGE 23
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, 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: necessary state filings; preparing, setting in
type, printing, and mailing the Fund 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 registrations as a broker-dealer; and offering
and selling Fund shares, except for those fees and expenses
PAGE 24
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 the various states 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.
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
The Fund from time to time may enter into agreements with
outside parties through which shareholders hold Fund shares. The
shares would be held by such parties in omnibus accounts. The
agreements would provide for payments by the Fund to the outside
party for such shareholder services provided to shareholders in
the omnibus accounts.
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 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
PAGE 25
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
PAGE 26
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
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
PAGE 27
of meetings arranged with corporate and industry spokespersons,
economists, academicians and government representatives. In some
cases, research services are generated by third parties but are
provided to T. Rowe Price by or through broker-dealers.
Research services received from brokers and dealers are
supplemental to T. Rowe Price's own research effort and, when
utilized, are subject to internal analysis before being
incorporated by T. Rowe Price into its investment process. As a
practical matter, it would not be possible for T. Rowe Price's
Equity Research Division to generate all of the information
presently provided by brokers and dealers. T. Rowe Price pays
cash for certain research services received from external
sources. T. Rowe Price also allocates brokerage for research
services which are available for cash. While receipt of research
services from brokerage firms has not reduced T. Rowe Price's
normal research activities, the expenses of T. Rowe Price could
be materially increased if it attempted to generate such
additional information through its own staff. To the extent that
research services of value are provided by brokers or dealers,
T. Rowe Price may be relieved of expenses which it might
otherwise bear.
T. Rowe Price has a policy of not allocating brokerage
business in return for products or services other than brokerage
or research services. In accordance with the provisions of
Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, T. Rowe
Price may from time to time receive services and products which
serve both research and non-research functions. In such event,
T. Rowe Price makes a good faith determination of the anticipated
research and non-research use of the product or service and
allocates brokerage only with respect to the research component.
Commissions to Brokers who Furnish Research Services
Certain brokers 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
PAGE 28
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.
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
PAGE 29
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,
PAGE 30
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 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
PAGE 31
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 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
PAGE 32
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.
PAGE 33
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Unless the insurance company separate account elects
otherwise, the fourth quarter dividend and capital gain
distribution will be reinvested on 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
PAGE 34
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.
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
PAGE 35
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:
(1) the Fund's total return performance, ranking, or any other
measure of the Fund's performance may be compared to any one or
combination of the following: (i) a broad based index; (ii)
other groups of mutual funds, including T. Rowe Price Funds,
tracked by independent research firms ranking entities, or
financial publications; (iii) indices of stocks comparable to
those in which the Fund invests; (2) the Consumer Price Index (or
any other measure for inflation, government statistics, such as
GNP may be used to illustrate investment attributes of the Fund
or the general economic, business, investment, or financial
environment in which the Fund operates; (3) various financial,
economic and market statistics developed by brokers, dealers and
other persons may be used to illustrate aspects of the Fund's
performance; (4) the effect of tax-deferred compounding on the
Fund's investment returns, or on returns in general in both
qualified and non-qualified retirement plans or any other tax
advantage product, may be illustrated by graphs, charts, etc.;
and (5) the sectors or industries in which the Fund invests may
be compared to relevant indices or surveys in order to evaluate
the Fund's historical performance or current or potential value
with respect to the particular industry or sector.
Other Publications
From time to time, in newsletters and other publications
issued by T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., reference may
be made to 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 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
their effect on securities prices.
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
PAGE 36
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.
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
(established in 1994) and the Fund (established in 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 superior or inferior to the capital stock or to
other classes or series in various characteristics. The
PAGE 37
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
PAGE 38
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 REGISTRATION OF SHARES
Each Fund's shares are registered for sale under the
Securities Act of 1933. Registration of the Fund's shares is not
required under any state law, but the Fund is required to make
certain filings with and pay fees to the states in order to sell
its shares in the states.
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, Gateway International II, 1306
Concourse Drive, Suite 100, Linthicum, Maryland 21090-1020, 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
PAGE 39
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.
