T. Rowe Price - 10-Q quarterly report FY

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005

Commission File Number: 000-32191

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Address, including Zip Code, of principal executive offices)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock ($.20 par value), as of the latest practicable date, October 24, 2005, is 130,690,510.

The exhibit index is at Item 6 on page 15.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per-share amounts)

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in thousands)

See the accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 — THE COMPANY AND BASIS OF PREPARATION.

T. Rowe Price Group derives its consolidated revenues and net income primarily from investment advisory services that its subsidiaries provide to individual and institutional investors in the sponsored T. Rowe Price mutual funds and other investment portfolios. We also provide our investment advisory clients with related administrative services, including mutual fund transfer agent, accounting and shareholder services; participant recordkeeping and transfer agent services for defined contribution retirement plans; discount brokerage; and trust services. The investors that we serve are primarily domiciled in the United States of America.

Investment advisory revenues depend largely on the total value and composition of assets under our management. Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and in the composition of assets under management impact our revenues and results of operations.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of our results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

The unaudited interim financial information contained in these condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in our 2004 Annual Report.

NOTE 2 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION.

Our stock option-based compensation plans are accounted for using the intrinsic value based method. The exercise price of each option granted is equivalent to the market price of our common stock at the date of grant. Accordingly, no compensation expense related to stock option grants has been recognized in our consolidated statements of income.

The following table illustrates the pro forma effect on net income (in thousands) and earnings per share if we had applied the fair value based method to recognize expense associated with our outstanding and not yet vested stock options. Forfeitures of options are recognized as they occur for purposes of this presentation.

The following table summarizes the activity in our outstanding stock option grants during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Stock-based compensation expense for periods beginning after 2005 is estimated in a manner similar to that used in making our historical pro forma disclosures, except that we have also included a reduction for estimated future forfeitures of our stock incentive awards. Compensation expense as presented above will change to reflect future option and share awards, changes in estimated forfeitures, and adjustments for actual forfeitures. The income tax benefits presented will also vary as compensation expense changes and employees disqualify their incentive stock options as well as to reflect changes in our effective income tax rate.

The change in the recognition of forfeitures conforms to the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, which we are required to adopt on January 1, 2006. At that time, we will also begin recognizing stock option-based compensation expense in our income statement. It is important to note that the use of the fair value based method to recognize stock option-based compensation expense in the income statement does not diminish total stockholders’ equity.

NOTE 3 — INFORMATION ABOUT REVENUES AND SERVICES.

Revenues (in thousands) from advisory services provided under agreements with sponsored mutual funds and other investment clients for the interim periods ended September 30 include:

The following table summarizes the various investment portfolios and assets under management (in billions) on which advisory fees are earned.

Fees for advisory-related administrative services provided to our sponsored mutual funds were $137,796,000 and $155,924,000 for the first nine months of 2004 and 2005, respectively. Accounts receivable from the mutual funds aggregate $88,659,000 at December 31, 2004 and $95,334,000 at September 30, 2005. We provide all services to the sponsored U.S. mutual funds under contracts that are subject to periodic review and approval by each of the funds’ boards. Regulations require that the funds’ shareholders also approve material changes to the investment advisory contracts.

NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES.

Our deferred tax accounts at December 31, 2004 included a deferred tax asset and an offsetting valuation allowance of $1,536,000 that were recognized in 2002 for an operating loss carryforward originating in an international subsidiary. During the second quarter of 2005, we developed a tax-planning strategy that makes it more likely than not that we would be able to realize a substantial portion of this deferred tax asset. Accordingly, we reversed $1,361,000 of the valuation allowance in the second quarter of 2005. The remaining valuation allowance is provided for the estimated costs of implementing the strategy.

REVIEW REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.:

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2005, the related condensed consolidated statements of income for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, the related condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, and the related condensed consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005. These condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 4, 2005, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Baltimore, Maryland
October 25, 2005

GENERAL.

Our revenues and net income are derived primarily from investment advisory services provided to U.S. individual and institutional investors in our sponsored mutual funds and other managed investment portfolios. Investment advisory clients outside the United States account for 5% of our assets under management at September 30, 2005.

We manage a broad range of U.S. and international stock, bond, and money market mutual funds and other investment portfolios which meet the varied needs and objectives of individual and institutional investors. Investment advisory revenues depend largely on the total value and composition of assets under our management. Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and in the composition of assets under management impact our revenues and results of operations.

Financial market results during the third quarter of 2005 were mixed, continuing the trend experienced during the first half of the year. Results during the quarter were slightly positive for the three major stock indexes, though the nine-month results were mixed with only the broad S&P 500 index closing above its year-end 2004 level. Investor concerns about rising interest rates and record high fuel prices were compounded by the damage in the Gulf Coast region of the United States that was inflicted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Military action, terrorism and the strength of the U.S. economy also continued to weigh on the financial markets. The NASDAQ index, which is heavily weighted with technology companies, ended the nine-month period down just over 1% after finishing up more than 4% for the quarter. Similarly, the Dow Industrials ended the period about 2% lower than the beginning of the year after posting a modest gain of nearly 3% in the third quarter. Only the S&P 500 closed September with positive results for both the quarter and year-to-date periods (slightly more than 3% and 1%, respectively). All three indexes have reached four-year highs this year though all have fallen off subsequently. As for fixed income securities, the Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate twice during the third quarter pushing the target short-term rate to 3.75%. Yields for 10-year U.S. Treasuries rose to about 4.3%, up from 3.9% at June 30, but still not back to the nearly 4.5% level of March 31. Bond prices fell during the quarter while investors continued to seek higher yields.

Despite this challenging financial environment, total assets under our management ended the third quarter of 2005 at a record $257.6 billion, up $12.8 billion during the quarter and $22.4 billion since the beginning of the year. Strong relative investment performance and brand awareness contributed significantly to investors entrusting $10.9 billion of net cash inflows to our management thus far in 2005, including $2.2 billion in the third quarter. Higher market valuations and income have increased assets under our management by $11.5 billion during the first nine-months of 2005.

Assets under management at September 30, 2005 include $197 billion in equity securities and nearly $61 billion in bond and money market holdings. The underlying investment portfolios consist of $165.3 billion in the T. Rowe Price mutual funds distributed in the United States and $92.3 billion in other investment portfolios that we manage, including separately managed accounts, sub-advised funds, and other sponsored investment funds offered to investors outside the U.S. and through variable annuity life insurance plans.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Three months ended September 30, 2005 versus 2004.

Net revenues increased more than $72 million to $388.7 million. Net operating income increased over 37% to nearly $179.9 million from $130.9 million. Net income increased $33.8 million to $116.3 million, up 41% from $82.5 million. Diluted earnings per share increased 37% from $.62 to $.85.

Investment advisory revenues were up almost 26%, or $65.3 million due to increased assets under management. Average mutual fund assets were $161.6 billion, $35.5 billion higher than the $126.1 billion average during the comparable 2004 quarter. Average assets in other managed portfolios were $92.5 billion, up $14.1 billion from $78.4 billion for the 2004 period. Total average assets under management of $254.1 billion in the third quarter of 2005 were $49.6 billion higher than in the 2004 period.

Investment advisory revenues earned from the T. Rowe Price mutual funds distributed in the United States increased $52.7 million. Mutual fund assets ended September 2005 at $165.3 billion, up $10.8 billion during the 2005 quarter. Net investor inflows added $3.5 billion to mutual fund assets during the 2005 quarter, with the U.S. stock funds adding $2.3 billion, the international stock funds adding $.7 billion and the bond and money market funds adding $.5 billion. The Growth Stock and Capital Appreciation funds together added nearly $1.1 billion of the net inflows, while the New Income, Value, and Equity Income funds each added more than $250 million. Cash inflows during the third quarter of 2005 also included nearly $400 million resulting from the merger of the TD Waterhouse Index Funds into four of the T. Rowe Price index funds. Market appreciation and income, net of dividends not reinvested, added $7.3 billion during the 2005 quarter.

Investment advisory revenues earned on the other investment portfolios that we manage increased about $12.6 million to more than $85.3 million. Ending assets in these portfolios were $92.3 billion, up $2.0 billion from June 30, 2005. Market appreciation and income of $3.3 billion was offset by net investor outflows of $1.3 billion primarily from international investment portfolios.

Administrative fees and other income increased nearly $7.2 million to $68.6 million. The change in these revenues includes $4.6 million from increases in servicing activity including shareholder account and transaction volume in our transfer agent and defined contribution plan recordkeeping services to mutual funds and their investors. Additionally, revenues increased more than $1.5 million from 12b-1 distribution fees received on greater assets under management in the Advisor and R classes of our sponsored mutual fund shares. These changes in administrative fees are generally offset by similar changes in related operating expenses that we incur to provide these services and distribute the Advisor and R classes of mutual fund shares through third party financial intermediaries.

Operating expenses in the 2005 quarter were $23.5 million more than in the 2004 quarter. Our largest expense, compensation and related costs, increased $14.1 million from the third quarter of 2004. The number of our associates, their total compensation, and the costs of their employee benefits have all increased. Our bonus compensation is accrued in interim periods based on our anticipated operating results for the year, which for 2005 reflect our strong relative investment performance, continued growth in assets under management including new investment inflows, and sustained high-quality investor services. Base salaries for our associates were increased modestly on January 1, 2005, and we have increased our staff size 7% since July 1, 2004, primarily to handle increased volume-related activities and growth. At September 30, 2005, we employed 4,278 associates.

Advertising and promotion expenditures were up $2.4 million versus the 2004 period as investor activity has increased. We vary our level of spending based on market conditions and investor demand as well as our efforts to expand our investor base in the United States and abroad. We expect our advertising and promotion expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2005 will increase about $13 million from the third quarter of this year.

Occupancy and facility costs together with depreciation expense increased $2.4 million. Our costs for rented office facilities, including increased space, and related maintenance and operating costs have increased along with our staff size and business needs.

Other operating expenses increased more than $4.6 million, including $1.5 million of distribution expenses recognized on greater assets under management sourced from financial intermediaries who distribute our Advisor and R classes of mutual fund shares. These distribution costs are offset by an equal increase in our administrative revenues recognized from 12b-1 fees as discussed above. The cost of information services increased $2 million from the prior year’s quarter, primarily because of our decision in late 2004 to pay for non-broker-dealer third-party investment research and related services directly. Other operating expenses in 2005 have also risen to meet increased business demands and reflect an increase in charitable contributions to our corporate foundation.

Our net non-operating income, which includes the recognition of investment gains and losses as well as interest income and credit facility expenses, were $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2005, an increase of $2.9 million primarily as a result of larger money market mutual fund investment balances along with higher interest rates.

The 2005 quarterly provision for income taxes as a percentage of pretax income is 36.9%, little changed from the 36.8% rate for the 2004 year.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Nine months ended September 30, 2005 versus 2004.

Net revenues increased $178 million to $1.1 billion. Net operating income increased more than 26% to $483 million from $382 million. Net income increased more than $73 million to more than $313 million, up 30.5% from $240 million. Diluted earnings per share increased 28% from $1.80 to $2.30.

Investment advisory revenues were up 21%, or $156 million, due to increased assets under management. Average mutual fund assets were $152.9 billion, up $28.2 billion from the first nine months of 2004. Average assets in other managed portfolios were almost $90 billion, up $13 billion versus the average of nearly $77 billion in the 2004 period. Total average assets under management increased $41.3 billion to $242.6 billion for the first nine months of 2005.

Investment advisory revenues earned from the T. Rowe Price mutual funds distributed in the United States increased $121 million. Mutual fund assets under management are up $19.8 billion from the beginning of 2005. Net investor inflows have added $11.8 billion, including $9.5 billion into the U.S. stock funds, $1.2 billion into our bond and money market funds and $1.1 billion into our international stock funds. The Growth Stock, Capital Appreciation, Equity Income, New Era, and Mid-Cap Value funds each added more than $650 million of net investor inflows and, together, accounted for $7.2 billion of the funds’ net inflows. Market gains and income, net of dividends not reinvested, added $8.0 billion to fund assets in the first nine months of 2005, with more than 90% of that amount coming in the third quarter.

Investment advisory revenues earned on the other investment portfolios that we manage increased $35 million to nearly $248 million. Ending assets in these portfolios were $92.3 billion, up $2.6 billion from the beginning of 2005. Market value changes and income added $3.5 billion while net investor outflows were $.9 billion. Inflows from subadvised and separate account clients investing in U.S. securities were more than offset by outflows from international investment portfolios.

Administrative fees and other income increased nearly $22 million to more than $204 million. The change in these revenues includes $16.4 million from our transfer agent and defined contribution plan recordkeeping services to mutual funds and their investors. Additionally, revenues increased $3.6 million from 12b-1 distribution fees received on greater assets under management in the Advisor and R classes of our sponsored mutual fund shares.

Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2005 were $77 million more than in the 2004 period. Our largest expense, compensation and related costs, increased $48.4 million versus the first nine months of 2004. The number of our associates, their total compensation, and the costs of their employee benefits have all increased. Advertising and promotion expenditures were up $7.6 million, or 15%, versus the 2004 period. Occupancy and facility costs together with depreciation expense increased $7 million.

Other operating expenses increased $13.9 million, including $3.6 million of distribution expenses recognized on greater assets under management sourced from financial intermediaries who distribute our Advisor and R classes of mutual fund shares. The cost of information services increased $5.2 million from the first nine months of 2004, primarily because of our decision late last year to pay for non-broker-dealer third-party investment research and related services directly. Other operating expenses in 2005 have also risen to meet increased business demands and reflect an increase in charitable contributions to our corporate foundation.

Our net non-operating income increased $9 million to nearly $12 million. Larger money market and other mutual fund investment balances along with higher interest rates added $7.3 million to our investment income. Other net investment gains added $1.1 million, primarily the result of the acquisition of a cost-basis investee by a third party. Credit facility costs were down $.6 million as we reduced the size and ongoing cost of our credit facility in the first half of 2004.

The 2005 year-to-date provision for income taxes as a percentage of pretax income is 36.6% reflecting the $1.4 million reversal of the valuation allowance for foreign net operating loss carryforwards in the second quarter of 2005 that is discussed in Note 4 to the accompanying interim financial statements. We currently expect that our effective tax rate for the full year 2005 will be approximately 36.7%.

CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY.

Available net liquid assets, including our mutual fund investments portfolio in which there are unrealized losses of $5 thousand, were $800 million at September 30, 2005. A $300 million undrawn, committed credit facility expiring in June 2007 is also available to the company.

Operating activities provided cash flows of $476 million for the first nine months of 2005, up $132 million versus the 2004 period. Net income accounted for $73 million of the increase while timing differences in the cash settlements of our assets and liabilities added $58 million. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $67 million, up $21 million from the 2004 period. We added almost $29 million to our mutual fund and other investment portfolios in the first nine months of 2005, up $19 million versus the 2004 period. Net cash used in financing activities totaled $137 million in the first nine months of 2005, up $92 million from the 2004 period. We expended $76 million to repurchase 1.3 million shares of our common stock compared to $18 million for 400,000 shares in the first nine months of 2004. We also distributed $18 million more to our stockholders in the 2005 period based on our larger per-share quarterly dividend and collected $16 million less as exercises of vested stock options were 1.3 million shares fewer than in the 2004 period.

PENDING CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK OPTION-BASED COMPENSATION.

The Securities and Exchange Commission delayed the required implementation date of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment, which will require us to recognize stock option-based compensation expense in our income statement. Accordingly, we intend to implement Statement 123R on January 1, 2006, the date required for registrants with a calendar year end. See Note 2 beginning on page 6 of this Form 10-Q report for more information.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION.

From time to time, information or statements provided by or on behalf of T. Rowe Price, including those within this quarterly report, may contain certain forward-looking information, including information or anticipated information relating to changes in our revenues and net income, changes in the amount and composition of our assets under management, our expense levels, and our expectations regarding financial markets and other conditions. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of T. Rowe Price is not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information because of various factors including, but not limited to, those discussed below. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Our future revenues and results of operations will fluctuate primarily due to changes in the total value and composition of assets under our management. Such changes result from many factors including, among other things: cash inflows and outflows in the T. Rowe Price mutual funds and other managed investment portfolios; fluctuations in the financial markets around the world that result in appreciation or depreciation of the assets under our management; our introduction of new mutual funds and investment portfolios; and changes in retirement savings trends favoring participant-directed investments and defined contribution plans. The ability to attract and retain investors’ assets under our management is dependent on investor sentiment and confidence; the relative investment performance of the Price mutual funds and other managed investment portfolios as compared to competing offerings and market indexes; the ability to maintain our investment management and administrative fees at appropriate levels; competitive conditions in the mutual fund, asset management, and broader financial services sectors; and our level of success in implementing our strategy to expand our business. Our revenues are substantially dependent on fees earned under contracts with the Price funds and could be adversely affected if the independent directors of one or more of the Price funds terminated or significantly altered the terms of the investment management or related administrative services agreements.

Our future results are also dependent upon the level of our expenses, which are subject to fluctuation for the following or other reasons: changes in the level of our advertising expenses in response to market conditions, including our efforts to expand our investment advisory business to investors outside the United States and to further penetrate our distribution channels within the United States; variations in the level of total compensation expense

due to, among other things, bonuses, changes in our employee count and mix, and competitive factors; any goodwill impairment that may arise; fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to the costs of our international operations; expenses and capital costs, such as technology assets, depreciation, amortization, and research and development, incurred to maintain and enhance our administrative and operating services infrastructure; unanticipated costs that may be incurred to protect investor accounts and the goodwill of our clients; and disruptions of services, including those provided by third parties, such as facilities, communications, power, and the mutual fund transfer agent and accounting systems.

Our business is also subject to substantial governmental regulation, and changes in legal, regulatory, accounting, tax, and compliance requirements may have a substantial effect on our operations and results, including but not limited to effects on costs that we incur and effects on investor interest in mutual funds and investing in general, or in particular classes of mutual funds or other investments.

There has been no material change in the information provided in Item 7A of the 2004 Form 10-K Annual Report.

Our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2005. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including this Form 10-Q quarterly report, is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2005 are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, has evaluated any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter of 2005, and has concluded that there was no change during the third quarter of 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

In September 2003, a purported class action (T.K. Parthasarathy, et al., including Woodbury, v. T. Rowe Price International Funds, Inc., et al.) was filed in the Circuit Court, Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County, Illinois, against T. Rowe Price International and the T. Rowe Price International Funds with respect to the T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund. The basic allegations in the case were that the T. Rowe Price defendants did not make appropriate value adjustments to the foreign securities owned by the T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund prior to calculating the Fund’s daily share prices, thereby allegedly enabling market timing traders to trade the Fund’s shares in such a way as to disadvantage long-term investors. The plaintiffs sought monetary damages. The case was removed on April 22, 2005 to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, which dismissed the case on May 27, 2005. The Plaintiff appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The appeal is stayed pending a determination by the U.S. Supreme Court to grant or deny a writ of certiorari filed in another case involving unrelated third parties.

From time to time, various claims against us arise in the ordinary course of business, including employment-related claims. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, it is unlikely that there will be any adverse determination in one or more pending claims that would have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

On October 26, 2005, we issued a press release reporting our results of operations for the third quarter and first nine months of 2005. A copy of this press release is furnished herewith as exhibit 99. The information in this Item 5 and in Exhibit 99 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

The following exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are furnished herewith.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized on October 26, 2005.

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

/s/ Kenneth V. Moreland
     Vice President and Chief Financial Officer