PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
8
tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-11.70%]
|
|
[1.12%]
|
|
[7.05%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-11.75%]
|
|
[0.46%]
|
|
[6.55%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-7.55%]
|
|
[0.72%]
|
|
[6.01%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
[-10.71%]
|
|
[1.46%]
|
|
[7.13%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[-6.96%]
|
|
[1.65%]
|
|
[7.01%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[-6.16%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-0.54%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-6.08%]
|
|
[2.66%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[8.90%]
|
|
10/19/2004
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[-6.67%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-1.05%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[-6.54%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-0.94%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Index
|
|
Russell 2000
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-4.18%]
|
|
[0.15%]
|
|
[5.62%]
|
|
[4.76%]
[-0.55%]
|
|
10/31/2004
(1)
9/30/2007
(2)
|
|
S&P Developed Ex-U.S. SmallCap Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-14.49%]
|
|
[-3.20%]
|
|
[9.44%]
|
|
[6.00%]
[-6.39%]
|
|
10/31/2004
(1)
9/30/2007
(2)
|
|
85% Russell 2000
®
Index/15% S&P Developed
Ex-U.S. SmallCap Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-5.75%]
|
|
[-0.23%]
|
|
[6.29%]
|
|
[5.06%]
[-1.31%]
|
|
10/31/2004
(1)
9/30/2007
(2)
|
|
(1)
|
|
Corresponds with Class I period shown.
|
(2)
|
|
Corresponds with Class F, R2, and R3 periods shown.
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Manager.
The portfolio manager primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund is:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Robert I. Gerber, Partner and Chief Investment Officer
|
|
2005
|
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
9
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares no longer are available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be
issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or
retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class I Shares. Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums—Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, P, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
10
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital and income without excessive fluctuations in market value.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F, I, P, R2, and R3
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption
proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
5.00%
|
|
1.00%
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
P
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
[0.52%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.35%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[0.10%]
|
|
[None]
|
|
[0.45%]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
[0.22%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[1.09%]
|
|
[1.74%]
|
|
[1.74%]
|
|
[0.84%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[1.19%]
|
|
[1.34%]
|
|
[1.24%]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
|
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
11
year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares.
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$680]
|
|
|
|
|
[$902]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,141]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,827]
|
|
|
|
|
[$680]
|
|
|
|
|
[$902]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,141]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,827]
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
[$677]
|
|
|
|
|
[$848]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,144]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,880]
|
|
|
|
|
[$177]
|
|
|
|
|
[$548]
|
|
|
|
|
[$944]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,880]
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
[$277]
|
|
|
|
|
[$548]
|
|
|
|
|
[$944]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,052]
|
|
|
|
|
[$177]
|
|
|
|
|
[$548]
|
|
|
|
|
[$944]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,052]
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
|
|
[$86]
|
|
|
|
|
[$268]
|
|
|
|
|
[$466]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,037]
|
|
|
|
|
[$86]
|
|
|
|
|
[$268]
|
|
|
|
|
[$466]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,037]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$76]
|
|
|
|
|
[$237]
|
|
|
|
|
[$411]
|
|
|
|
|
[$918]
|
|
|
|
|
[$76]
|
|
|
|
|
[$237]
|
|
|
|
|
[$411]
|
|
|
|
|
[$918]
|
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
|
|
[$121]
|
|
|
|
|
[$378]
|
|
|
|
|
[$654]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,443]
|
|
|
|
|
[$121]
|
|
|
|
|
[$378]
|
|
|
|
|
[$654]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,443]
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$136]
|
|
|
|
|
[$425]
|
|
|
|
|
[$734]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,613]
|
|
|
|
|
[$136]
|
|
|
|
|
[$425]
|
|
|
|
|
[$734]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,613]
|
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$126]
|
|
|
|
|
[$393]
|
|
|
|
|
[$681]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,500]
|
|
|
|
|
[$126]
|
|
|
|
|
[$393]
|
|
|
|
|
[$681]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,500]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [55.07%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in equity securities of U.S. and multinational companies that the Fund believes are undervalued in all market capitalization ranges. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Fund normally will invest at least
50% of its net assets in large, established companies having a market capitalization within the range of companies included in the Russell 1000
®
Index. The Fund normally will invest the remainder of its assets in securities of mid-sized and small companies.
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
12
The Fund attempts to invest in companies the portfolio manager believes have been undervalued by the market and are selling at reasonable prices. The Fund seeks to identify companies that have the strongest fundamentals relative to valuations and looks for positive factors that the Fund believes are likely to improve the
value of the company’s stock price. The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (including emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of
securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
of large, mid-sized, and small companies. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings
and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value companies
of any size that portfolio management believes to be undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential for capital appreciation.
|
At its discretion and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund selectively may use derivatives, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps, to hedge against the decline in value of the Fund’s investments and for other risk management purposes, to efficiently gain targeted investment exposure, and to
seek to increase the Fund’s investment returns.
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
13
of events affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Large Company Risk:
As compared to smaller successful companies, larger companies may be less able to respond quickly to certain market developments and may have slower rates of growth.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Mid-Sized and Small Company Risk:
Securities of mid-sized and small companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Mid-sized and small companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited access to capital, and limited products or services, or may operate in
markets that have not yet been established. Mid-sized and small company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, and social volatility, lack of transparency or inadequate
regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and
may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.
|
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
14
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to the different
expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[3rd Q ’09
+16.14%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[3rd Q ’11
-19.59%
]
|
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
15
of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts
(“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-9.46%]
|
|
[0.80%]
|
|
[4.99%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-9.83%]
|
|
[0.45%]
|
|
[4.48%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-5.77%]
|
|
[0.65%]
|
|
[4.28%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
[-8.28%]
|
|
[1.14%]
|
|
[5.09%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[-4.48%]
|
|
[1.33%]
|
|
[4.96%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[-3.70%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[0.25%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-3.65%]
|
|
[2.34%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[9.14%]
|
|
3/31/2003
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
[-4.03%]
|
|
[1.87%]
|
|
[5.51%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
8/15/2001
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[-4.19%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-0.23%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[-4.06%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-0.15%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Index
|
|
Russell 3000
®
Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-0.10%]
|
|
[-2.58%]
|
|
[4.08%]
|
|
[3.68%]
[7.28%]
[-4.17%]
|
|
8/15/2001
3/31/2003
9/28/2007
|
|
Russell 3000
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[1.03%]
|
|
[-0.01%]
|
|
[3.51%]
|
|
[3.21%]
[7.33%]
[-1.97%]
|
|
8/15/2001
3/31/2003
9/28/2007
|
|
S&P 500
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[2.11%]
|
|
[-0.25%]
|
|
[2.92%]
|
|
[2.61%]
[6.72%]
[-2.32%]
|
|
8/15/2001
3/31/2003
9/28/2007
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
16
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Robert P. Fetch, Partner and Director
|
|
2001
|
|
Deepak Khanna, Partner and Portfolio Manager
|
|
2007
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares no longer are available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be
issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or
retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class I shares. Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums — Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, P, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
17
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F, I, R2, and R3
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed
on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption
proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
5.00%
|
|
1.00%
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
[0.55%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.35%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[0.10%]
|
|
[None]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
Other Expenses
(3)
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
[0.74%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(3)
|
|
[1.64%]
|
|
[2.29%]
|
|
[2.29%]
|
|
[1.39%]
|
|
[1.29%]
|
|
[1.89%]
|
|
[1.79%]
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(3)(4)
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
[(0.79)%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(4)
|
|
[0.85%]
|
|
[1.50%]
|
|
[1.50%]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
[1.10%
(3)
]
|
|
[1.00%
(3)
]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
|
[
(3)
|
|
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.]
|
(4)
|
|
For the period from November 28, 2012 through February 28, 2014, Lord Abbett has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses for each class, excluding 12b-1 fees, if any, to an annual rate of 0.50%. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
|
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
18
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example takes into account the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement between the Fund and Lord, Abbett & Co.
LLC for the term of the agreement). The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after
approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including
any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$657]
|
|
|
|
|
[$970]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,326]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,327]
|
|
|
|
|
[$657]
|
|
|
|
|
[$970]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,326]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,327]
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
[$653]
|
|
|
|
|
[$919]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,334]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,384]
|
|
|
|
|
[$153]
|
|
|
|
|
[$619]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,134]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,384]
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
[$253]
|
|
|
|
|
[$619]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,134]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,548]
|
|
|
|
|
[$153]
|
|
|
|
|
[$619]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,134]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,548]
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
|
|
[$61]
|
|
|
|
|
[$341]
|
|
|
|
|
[$665]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,581]
|
|
|
|
|
[$61]
|
|
|
|
|
[$341]
|
|
|
|
|
[$665]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,581]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$51]
|
|
|
|
|
[$310]
|
|
|
|
|
[$611]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,468]
|
|
|
|
|
[$51]
|
|
|
|
|
[$310]
|
|
|
|
|
[$611]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,468]
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$112]
|
|
|
|
|
[$497]
|
|
|
|
|
[$928]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,130]
|
|
|
|
|
[$112]
|
|
|
|
|
[$497]
|
|
|
|
|
[$928]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,130]
|
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$102]
|
|
|
|
|
[$466]
|
|
|
|
|
[$876]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,022]
|
|
|
|
|
[$102]
|
|
|
|
|
[$466]
|
|
|
|
|
[$876]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,022]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [683.50%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that the Fund’s portfolio managers believe demonstrate above-average, long-term growth potential in all market
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
19
capitalization ranges. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 50% of its net assets in companies having a market capitalization range within the range of companies included in the Russell 1000
®
Index, a widely used benchmark for large-cap stock performance. The Fund normally will invest the
remainder of its assets in securities of mid-sized and small companies. Although the Fund is diversified across many industries and sectors, its assets may, from time to time, be overweighted or underweighted to certain industries and sectors relative to its benchmark index.
The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities of foreign (which may include emerging market) companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest without limitation in other types of securities that do not meet these criteria but represent economic
exposure to foreign markets, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
of large, mid-sized, and small companies. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings
and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Growth companies
of any size that portfolio management believes exhibit sustainable above-average gains in earnings.
|
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities.
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
20
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity Risk:
Common stocks and other equity securities, as well as equity-like securities such as convertible bonds, may experience significant volatility. Such securities may fall sharply in response to adverse events affecting overall markets, a particular industry or sector, or an individual company’s financial condition.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Growth Investing Risk:
The Fund employs a growth investing style, which may be out of favor or may not produce the best results over short or longer time periods. In addition, growth stocks generally are more volatile than value stocks.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Large Company Risk:
As compared to smaller successful companies, larger companies may be less able to respond quickly to certain market developments and may have slower rates of growth.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Mid-Sized and Small Company Risk:
Securities of mid-sized and small companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Mid-sized and small companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited access to capital, and limited products or services, or may operate in
markets that have not yet been established. Mid-sized and small company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investments in foreign (including emerging market) companies and in U.S. companies with economic ties to foreign markets generally involve special risks that can increase the likelihood that the Fund will lose money. For example, as compared with companies organized and
operated in the U.S., these companies may be more vulnerable to economic, political, and social instability and subject to less government supervision, inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, and foreign taxes. In addition, the securities of foreign companies also may be subject to inadequate exchange control
regulations, higher transaction and other costs, reduced liquidity, and delays in settlement to the extent they are traded on non-U.S. exchanges or markets. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Industry/Sector Risk:
To the extent the Fund overweights a single market sector or industry relative to its benchmark index, it can accumulate relatively large positions in a single issuer, industry, or sector. As a result, the Fund’s performance may be tied more directly to the success or failure of a relatively smaller or
less diversified group of portfolio holdings.
|
|
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
21
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
High Portfolio Turnover Risk:
High portfolio turnover (more than 100%) may result in increased brokerage fees or other transaction costs, reduced investment performance, and higher taxes.
|
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares for its first full calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, the returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to the different expenses each
class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[
]
|
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
22
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-
deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
[
]
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
Index
|
|
|
|
Russell 3000
®
Growth Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
Russell 1000
®
Growth Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
S&P 500
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
|
[
]
|
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
23
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
F. Thomas O’Halloran, Partner and Director
|
|
2011
|
|
Paul J. Volovich, Partner and Director
|
|
2011
|
|
Arthur K. Weise, Partner and Portfolio Manager
|
|
2011
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares are not available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be issued
in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or
retirement and benefit plans otherwise eligible to invest in Class I shares. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums — Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
24
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
25
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F, I, P, R2, and R3
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
5.00%
|
|
1.00%
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
P
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.35%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[0.10%]
|
|
[None]
|
|
[0.45%]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[1.42%]
|
|
[2.07%]
|
|
[2.07%]
(3)
|
|
[1.17%]
|
|
[1.07%]
|
|
[1.52%]
|
|
[1.67%]
|
|
[1.57%]
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(4)
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
([0.30)%]
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
[(0.30)%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(4)
|
|
[1.12%]
|
|
[1.77%]
|
|
[1.77%]
(3)
|
|
[0.87%]
|
|
[0.77%]
|
|
[1.22%]
|
|
[1.37%]
|
|
[1.27%]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
|
[
(3)
|
|
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.]
|
(4)
|
|
For the period from [March 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014], Lord Abbett has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses for each class, excluding 12b-1 fees, to an annual rate of [0.77%]. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
26
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example takes into account the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement between the Fund and Lord, Abbett & Co.
LLC for the term of the agreement). The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately
eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable
CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$683]
|
|
|
|
|
[$971]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,280]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,155]
|
|
|
|
|
[$683]
|
|
|
|
|
[$971]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,280]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,155]
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
[$680]
|
|
|
|
|
[$920]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,286]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,210]
|
|
|
|
|
[$180]
|
|
|
|
|
[$620]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,086]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,210]
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
[$280]
|
|
|
|
|
[$620]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,086]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,376]
|
|
|
|
|
[$180]
|
|
|
|
|
[$620]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,086]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,376]
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
|
|
[$89]
|
|
|
|
|
[$342]
|
|
|
|
|
[$615]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,394]
|
|
|
|
|
[$89]
|
|
|
|
|
[$342]
|
|
|
|
|
[$615]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,394]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$79]
|
|
|
|
|
[$311]
|
|
|
|
|
[$561]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,279]
|
|
|
|
|
[$79]
|
|
|
|
|
[$311]
|
|
|
|
|
[$561]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,279]
|
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
|
|
[$124]
|
|
|
|
|
[$451]
|
|
|
|
|
[$801]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,787]
|
|
|
|
|
[$124]
|
|
|
|
|
[$451]
|
|
|
|
|
[$801]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,787]
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$139]
|
|
|
|
|
[$497]
|
|
|
|
|
[$879]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,951]
|
|
|
|
|
[$139]
|
|
|
|
|
[$497]
|
|
|
|
|
[$879]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,951]
|
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$129]
|
|
|
|
|
[$466]
|
|
|
|
|
[$827]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,842]
|
|
|
|
|
[$129]
|
|
|
|
|
[$466]
|
|
|
|
|
[$827]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,842]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [83.78%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
27
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of large foreign companies that the portfolio managers believe are undervalued. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will diversify its investments among a number of different countries throughout the world and will invest
at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of large companies. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, a large company is defined as a company included among the largest 80% of companies in terms of market capitalization in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East Index
(“MSCI EAFE
®
Index”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
of large companies. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert
into the equity securities described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign companies
, which are traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded primarily in emerging markets.
|
At its discretion and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund selectively may use derivatives, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps. The Fund may do so to hedge against a decline in the value of certain investments, or for other risk management purposes. In addition, the Fund may use
derivatives as part of a speculative strategy intended to increase the Fund’s investment return. For example, the Fund may manage cash by investing in futures or other derivatives that provide efficient short-term investment exposure to broad equity markets.
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
28
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks of events
affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, and social volatility, currency exchange fluctuations, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and
accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Risk:
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and generally are riskier than investments in more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations.
Securities of emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than securities of issuers in developed markets. The Fund may invest in securities of companies whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange.
Such investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security. To the extent the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to emerging market risks may be greater than the percentage of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging
market securities.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Large Company Risk:
As compared to smaller successful companies, larger companies may be less able to respond quickly to certain market developments and may have slower rates of growth.
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
29
|
•
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and
may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.
|
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to the different
expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[2nd Q ’09
+28.44%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[3rd Q ’08
-20.59%
]
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
30
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-
deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/31/2003
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-17.24%]
|
|
[-5.20%]
|
|
[2.99%]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-17.85%]
|
|
[-5.89%]
|
|
[2.26%]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-11.22%]
|
|
[-4.50%]
|
|
[2.40%]
|
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
[-16.17%]
|
|
[-4.87%]
|
|
[3.09%]
|
|
12/31/2003
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[-12.72%]
|
|
[-4.70%]
|
|
[3.09%]
|
|
12/31/2003
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[-11.98%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-7.70%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-11.87%]
|
|
[-3.74%]
|
|
[4.12%]
|
|
12/31/2003
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
[-12.28%]
|
|
[-4.17%]
|
|
[3.66%]
|
|
12/31/2003
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[-12.40%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-7.87%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[-12.35%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-8.05%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Index
|
|
MSCI EAFE
®
Index with Gross Dividends
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-11.73%]
|
|
[-4.26%]
|
|
[4.33%]
[-7.79%]
|
|
12/31/2003
9/28/2007
|
|
MSCI EAFE
®
Index with Net Dividends
(reflects no deduction for fees or expenses, but reflects
deduction of withholding taxes)
|
|
[-12.14%]
|
|
[-4.72%]
|
|
[3.87%]
[-8.22%]
|
|
12/31/2003
9/28/2007
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co LLC.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
31
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Harold E. Sharon, Partner and Director
|
|
2003
|
|
Vincent J. McBride, Partner and Director
|
|
2003
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares no longer are available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be
issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or
retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class I shares. Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums—Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, P, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
32
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
33
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of total return.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F, I, R2, and R3
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption
proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
5.00%
|
|
1.00%
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.35%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[0.10%]
|
|
[None]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
[0.33%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[1.43%]
|
|
[2.08%]
|
|
[2.08%]
|
|
[1.18%]
|
|
[1.08%]
|
|
[1.68%
(3)
]
|
|
[1.58%]
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(4)
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
[(0.31)%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement
(4)
|
|
[1.12%]
|
|
[1.77%]
|
|
[1.77%]
|
|
[0.87%]
|
|
[0.77%]
|
|
[1.37%
(3)
]
|
|
[1.27%]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
|
[
(3)
|
|
These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.]
|
(4)
|
|
For the period from [March 1, 2013 through February 28, 2014], Lord Abbett has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to limit total net annual operating expenses for each class, excluding 12b-1 fees, to an annual rate of [0.77%]. This agreement may be terminated only by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
34
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same (except that the example takes into account the fee waiver and expense limitation agreement between the Fund and Lord, Abbett & Co.
LLC for the term of the agreement). The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately
eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable
CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$683]
|
|
|
|
|
[$973]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,284]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,164]
|
|
|
|
|
[$683]
|
|
|
|
|
[$973]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,284]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,164]
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
[$680]
|
|
|
|
|
[$922]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,290]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,219]
|
|
|
|
|
[$180]
|
|
|
|
|
[$622]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,090]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,219]
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
[$280]
|
|
|
|
|
[$622]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,090]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,386]
|
|
|
|
|
[$180]
|
|
|
|
|
[$622]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,090]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,386]
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
|
|
[$89]
|
|
|
|
|
[$344]
|
|
|
|
|
[$619]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,404]
|
|
|
|
|
[$89]
|
|
|
|
|
[$344]
|
|
|
|
|
[$619]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,404]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$79]
|
|
|
|
|
[$313]
|
|
|
|
|
[$565]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,289]
|
|
|
|
|
[$79]
|
|
|
|
|
[$313]
|
|
|
|
|
[$565]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,289]
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$139]
|
|
|
|
|
[$499]
|
|
|
|
|
[$883]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,961]
|
|
|
|
|
[$139]
|
|
|
|
|
[$499]
|
|
|
|
|
[$883]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,961]
|
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$129]
|
|
|
|
|
[$468]
|
|
|
|
|
[$831]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,852]
|
|
|
|
|
[$129]
|
|
|
|
|
[$468]
|
|
|
|
|
[$831]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,852]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [100.16%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
35
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in a diversified portfolio of dividend paying equity securities of foreign companies of all capitalizations that portfolio management believes are undervalued. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will diversify its investments among a number of different countries
throughout the world, including emerging market countries, and will invest at least 80% of its net assets in dividend paying securities.
The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
of foreign companies, including common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the
equity securities described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value stocks
of companies of any size that portfolio management believes to be undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential to provide total return through capital appreciation and dividend income.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign companies
, which may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund may invest without limitation in foreign companies located in emerging markets.
|
At its discretion and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund selectively may use derivatives, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps. The Fund may do so to hedge against a decline in the value of certain investments, or for other risk management purposes. In addition, the Fund may use
derivatives as part of a speculative strategy intended to increase the Fund’s investment return. For example, the Fund may manage cash by investing in futures or other derivatives that provide efficient short-term investment exposure to broad equity markets.
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
36
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks of events
affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, and social volatility, currency exchange fluctuations, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and
accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Risk:
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and generally are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations. Securities of
emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than securities of issuers in developed markets. The Fund may invest in securities of companies whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange. Such
investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security. To the extent the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to emerging market risks may be greater than the percentage of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging market
securities.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
37
|
•
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions or
may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the Fund may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.
|
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future. No performance is shown for Class B shares because the Fund has not issued Class B shares to date.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to the different
expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
38
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[2nd Q ‘09
+29.03%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[3rd Q ‘11
-19.00%
]
|
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-
deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-14.20%]
|
|
[-5.31%]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-15.59%]
|
|
[-5.91%]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-9.14%]
|
|
[-4.47%]
|
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[-9.61%]
|
|
[-4.33%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[-8.78%]
|
|
[-3.47%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-8.69%]
|
|
[-3.36%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[-8.82%]
|
|
[-3.45%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[-9.15%]
|
|
[-3.67%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
Index
|
|
MSCI All Country World Ex-U.S. Value Index with Gross Dividends
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
|
|
[-12.71%]
|
|
[-4.29%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
|
MSCI All Country World Ex-U.S. Value Index with Net Dividends
(reflects no deduction for fees or expenses, but reflects deduction of
withholding taxes)
|
|
[-13.19%]
|
|
[-4.81%]
|
|
6/30/2008
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Vincent J. McBride, Partner and Director
|
|
2008
|
|
Harold E. Sharon, Partner and Director
|
|
2008
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares are not available for purchase. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown
below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
40
does not apply to registered investment advisers or retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class I shares. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums — Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about tax information, and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
41
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F, I, P, R2, and R3
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or
redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
5.00%
|
|
1.00%
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
P
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
[0.75%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.35%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[0.10%]
|
|
[None]
|
|
[0.45%]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
[0.39%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[1.49%]
|
|
[2.14%]
|
|
[2.14%]
(3)
|
|
[1.24%]
|
|
[1.14%]
|
|
[1.59%]
|
|
[1.74%]
|
|
[1.64%]
(3)
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
|
(3)
|
|
[These amounts have been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.]
|
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
42
year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares.
Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$718]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,019]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,341]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,252]
|
|
|
|
|
[$718]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,019]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,341]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,252]
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
[$717]
|
|
|
|
|
[$970]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,349]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,307]
|
|
|
|
|
[$217]
|
|
|
|
|
[$670]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,149]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,307]
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
[$317]
|
|
|
|
|
[$670]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,149]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,472]
|
|
|
|
|
[$217]
|
|
|
|
|
[$670]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,149]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,472]
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
|
|
[$126]
|
|
|
|
|
[$393]
|
|
|
|
|
[$681]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,500]
|
|
|
|
|
[$126]
|
|
|
|
|
[$393]
|
|
|
|
|
[$681]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,500]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$116]
|
|
|
|
|
[$362]
|
|
|
|
|
[$628]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,386]
|
|
|
|
|
[$116]
|
|
|
|
|
[$362]
|
|
|
|
|
[$628]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,386]
|
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
|
|
[$162]
|
|
|
|
|
[$502]
|
|
|
|
|
[$866]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,889]
|
|
|
|
|
[$162]
|
|
|
|
|
[$502]
|
|
|
|
|
[$866]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,889]
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$177]
|
|
|
|
|
[$548]
|
|
|
|
|
[$944]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,052]
|
|
|
|
|
[$177]
|
|
|
|
|
[$548]
|
|
|
|
|
[$944]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,052]
|
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$167]
|
|
|
|
|
[$517]
|
|
|
|
|
[$892]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,944]
|
|
|
|
|
[$167]
|
|
|
|
|
[$517]
|
|
|
|
|
[$892]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,944]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [103.98%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in stocks of companies principally based outside the United States. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will diversify its investments among a number of different countries throughout the world. The Fund normally intends to invest at least 65% of its net assets in
equity securities of small companies generally having a market capitalization at the time of purchase of less than $5 billion. The Fund may invest its remaining assets in equity securities of mid-sized or larger companies. With respect to the portion of the Fund’s portfolio not subject to the 65% policy referenced above, the
Fund may invest in securities in accordance with its investment objective, strategies, and restrictions.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
43
The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities,
including common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities
described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign companies,
which may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded primarily in emerging markets.
|
At its discretion and consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund selectively may use derivatives, including futures, forwards, options, and swaps. The Fund may do so to hedge against a decline in the value of certain investments, or for other risk management purposes. In addition, the Fund may use
derivatives as part of a speculative strategy intended to increase the Fund’s investment return. For example, the Fund may manage cash by investing in futures or other derivatives that provide efficient short-term investment exposure to broad equity markets.
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks of events
affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
44
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Small and Mid-Sized Company Risk:
The Fund’s investments in equity securities of small and mid-sized companies tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies and may have limited management experience, limited ability to generate or borrow capital, and limited products,
services or markets.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, and social volatility, currency exchange fluctuations, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and
accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Emerging Markets Risk:
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and generally are riskier than investments in more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations.
Securities of emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than securities of issuers in developed markets. The Fund may invest in securities of companies whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange.
Such investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security. To the extent the Fund invests in this manner, the percent of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to emerging market risks may be greater than the percent of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging market
securities.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and
may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
45
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund—Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to the different
expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[2nd Q ‘09
+36.73%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[3rd Q ‘08
-24.96%
]
|
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of a securities index. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
46
of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts
(“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-20.11%]
|
|
[-5.99%]
|
|
[4.79%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-20.32%]
|
|
[-6.41%]
|
|
[4.49%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-13.08%]
|
|
[-4.88%]
|
|
[4.22%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
[-19.11%]
|
|
[-5.65%]
|
|
[4.83%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[-15.76%]
|
|
[-5.48%]
|
|
[4.81%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[-15.00%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-7.61%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-14.91%]
|
|
[-4.54%]
|
|
[5.74%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
[-15.37%]
|
|
[-4.97%]
|
|
[5.37%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[-15.42%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-8.06%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[-15.27%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[-7.89%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Index
|
|
|
|
S&P Developed Ex-U.S. SmallCap Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-14.49%]
|
|
[-3.20%]
|
|
[9.44%]
|
|
[-6.39%]
|
|
9/30/2007
(1)
|
|
(1)
|
|
Corresponds with Class F, R2, and R3 periods shown.
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Todd D. Jacobson, Portfolio Manager
|
|
2003
|
|
A. Edward Allinson, Portfolio Manager
|
|
2005
|
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
47
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares no longer are available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be
issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or
retirement and benefit plans otherwise eligible to invest in Class I shares. Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums—Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, P, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
48
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
I
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
I
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[1.50%]
|
|
[1.50%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.00%]
(2)
|
|
[None]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[2.07%]
|
|
[1.82%]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
This amount has been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.
|
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
49
or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”)) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$773]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,186]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,625]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,837]
|
|
|
|
|
[$773]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,186]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,625]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,837]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$185]
|
|
|
|
|
[$573]
|
|
|
|
|
[$985]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,137]
|
|
|
|
|
[$185]
|
|
|
|
|
[$573]
|
|
|
|
|
[$985]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,137]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [120.62%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of micro-cap companies. The Fund seeks to invest in micro-cap companies that appear to have the potential for more rapid growth than the overall economy. The Fund evaluates companies based on an analysis of their
financial statements, products and operations, market sectors and interviews with management. The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”).
The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities,
including common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include right offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described
above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Micro-cap companies
having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell Microcap
®
Index.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Growth companies
that portfolio management believes exhibit faster-than-average gains in earnings and have the potential to continue profit growth at a high level.
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
50
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks of events
affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Micro-Cap Company Risk:
Micro-cap companies may be less able to weather economic shifts or other adverse developments than larger, more established companies and may have less experienced management and unproven track records. Micro-cap companies may rely on limited product lines, may have more limited
financial resources, and may be more susceptible to setbacks or economic downturns. In addition, micro-cap company stocks tend to have fewer shares outstanding and trade less frequently than the stocks of larger companies, and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than larger company stocks.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Growth Investing Risk:
Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than slower-growing value stocks. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if, for example, the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
51
|
|
|
|
by political, economic, and social volatility, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and
are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.
|
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share class will vary due to the different
expenses the class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[2nd Q ‘09
+31.46%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[4th Q ’08
-29.02%
]
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
52
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-
deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for the other share class are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-11.28%]
|
|
[3.55%]
|
|
[7.11%]
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-13.44%]
|
|
[2.90%]
|
|
[6.18%]
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-4.73%]
|
|
[2.94%]
|
|
[5.98%]
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-5.68%]
|
|
[5.04%]
|
|
[8.03%]
|
|
Index
|
|
Russell Microcap
®
Growth Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-8.42%]
|
|
[-2.32%]
|
|
[2.77%]
|
|
Russell Microcap
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-9.27%]
|
|
[-3.75%]
|
|
[4.63%]
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
F. Thomas O’Halloran, Partner and Director
|
|
2006
|
|
Anthony W. Hipple, Portfolio Manager
|
|
2006
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
53
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional
investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class I shares. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums—Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
54
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
I
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
I
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[1.50%]
|
|
[1.50%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.00%]
(2)
|
|
[None]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.29%]
|
|
[0.29%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[2.04%]
|
|
[1.79%]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
This amount has been updated from fiscal year amounts to reflect current fees and expenses.
|
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.Although your actual costs may be higher or
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
55
lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”)) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$770]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,178]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,610]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,808]
|
|
|
|
|
[$770]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,178]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,610]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,808]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$182]
|
|
|
|
|
[$563]
|
|
|
|
|
[$970]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,105]
|
|
|
|
|
[$182]
|
|
|
|
|
[$563]
|
|
|
|
|
[$970]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,105]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [56.97%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of micro-cap companies. The Fund seeks to invest in micro-cap companies that appear to be undervalued and that appear to have good prospects for improvement in earnings trends, asset values, or other positive attributes.
The Fund evaluates companies based on an analysis of their financial statements, products and operations, market sectors and interviews with management. The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges
and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
, including common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities
described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Micro-cap companies
having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell Microcap
®
Index.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value companies
that portfolio management believes to be undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential for capital appreciation.
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
56
The Fund generally will see a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks of events
affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Micro-Cap Company Risk:
Micro-cap companies may be less able to weather economic shifts or other adverse developments than larger, more established companies and may have less experienced management and unproven track records. Micro-cap companies may rely on limited product lines and have more limited
financial resources and are more susceptible to setbacks or economic downturns. In addition, micro-cap company stocks tend to have fewer shares outstanding and trade less frequently than the stocks of larger companies, and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than larger company stocks.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, and social volatility, lack of transparency or
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
57
|
|
|
|
inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.
|
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share class will vary due to the different
expenses the class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
Bar Chart (per calendar year) — Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[2nd Q ’09
+28.95%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[4th Q ’08
-29.53%
]
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
58
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-
deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for the other share class are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-15.12%]
|
|
[-1.12%]
|
|
[8.93%]
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-15.12%]
|
|
[-1.40%]
|
|
[7.81%]
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-9.83%]
|
|
[-1.00%]
|
|
[7.58%]
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-9.69%]
|
|
[0.32%]
|
|
[9.88%]
|
|
Index
|
|
Russell Microcap
®
Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-10.34%]
|
|
[-5.23%]
|
|
[5.99%]
|
|
Russell Microcap
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-9.27%]
|
|
[-3.75%]
|
|
[4.63%]
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Manager.
The portfolio manager primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund is:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Gerard S.E. Heffernan, Jr., Partner and Director
|
|
1999
|
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
59
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional
investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class I shares. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums — Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
60
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
FEES AND EXPENSES
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. More information about these and other
discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Sales Charge Reductions and Waivers” on page [125] of the prospectus and “Purchases, Redemptions, Pricing, and Payments to Dealers” on page 8-1 of the statement of additional information (“SAI”).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholder Fees
(Fees paid directly from your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F, I, P, R2, and R3
|
|
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases
(as a percentage of offering price)
|
|
5.75%
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load)
(as a percentage of offering price or redemption proceeds, whichever is lower)
|
|
None
(1)
|
|
5.00%
|
|
1.00%
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
|
|
Class
|
|
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
P
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
|
Management Fees
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
[0.73%]
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees
|
|
[0.35%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[1.00%]
|
|
[0.10%]
|
|
[None]
|
|
[0.45%]
|
|
[0.60%]
|
|
[0.50%]
|
|
Other Expenses
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
[0.23%]
|
|
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses
|
|
[1.31%]
|
|
[1.96%]
|
|
[1.96%]
|
|
[1.06%]
|
|
[0.96%]
|
|
[1.41%]
|
|
[1.56%]
|
|
[1.46%]
|
|
(1)
|
|
A contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 1.00% may be assessed on certain Class A shares purchased or acquired without a sales charge if they are redeemed before the first day of the month of the one-year anniversary of the purchase.
|
(2)
|
|
A CDSC of 1.00% may be assessed on Class C shares if they are redeemed before the first anniversary of their purchase.
|
Example
The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund at the maximum sales charge, if any, for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those
periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that dividends and distributions are reinvested, and that the Fund’s
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
61
operating expenses remain the same. The example assumes a deduction of the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) for the one-year, three-year, and five-year periods for Class B shares and for the one-year period for Class C shares. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after approximately
eight years. The expense example for Class B shares for the ten-year period reflects the conversion to Class A shares. The first example assumes that you redeem all of your shares at the end of the periods. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs (including any applicable
CDSC) would be as shown below. The second example assumes that you do not redeem and instead keep your shares.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
If Shares Are Redeemed
|
|
If Shares Are Not Redeemed
|
|
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
1 Year
|
|
3 Years
|
|
5 Years
|
|
10 Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
|
|
[$701]
|
|
|
|
|
[$966]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,252]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,063]
|
|
|
|
|
[$701]
|
|
|
|
|
[$966]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,252]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,063]
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
|
|
[$699]
|
|
|
|
|
[$915]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,257]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,117]
|
|
|
|
|
[$199]
|
|
|
|
|
[$615]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,057]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,117]
|
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
|
|
[$299]
|
|
|
|
|
[$615]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,057]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,285]
|
|
|
|
|
[$199]
|
|
|
|
|
[$615]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,057]
|
|
|
|
|
[$2,285]
|
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
|
|
[$108]
|
|
|
|
|
[$337]
|
|
|
|
|
[$585]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,294]
|
|
|
|
|
[$108]
|
|
|
|
|
[$337]
|
|
|
|
|
[$585]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,294]
|
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
|
|
[$98]
|
|
|
|
|
[$306]
|
|
|
|
|
[$531]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,178]
|
|
|
|
|
[$98]
|
|
|
|
|
[$306]
|
|
|
|
|
[$531]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,178]
|
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
|
|
[$144]
|
|
|
|
|
[$446]
|
|
|
|
|
[$771]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,691]
|
|
|
|
|
[$144]
|
|
|
|
|
[$446]
|
|
|
|
|
[$771]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,691]
|
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$159]
|
|
|
|
|
[$493]
|
|
|
|
|
[$850]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,856]
|
|
|
|
|
[$159]
|
|
|
|
|
[$493]
|
|
|
|
|
[$850]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,856]
|
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
|
|
[$149]
|
|
|
|
|
[$462]
|
|
|
|
|
[$797]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,746]
|
|
|
|
|
[$149]
|
|
|
|
|
[$462]
|
|
|
|
|
[$797]
|
|
|
|
|
[$1,746]
|
|
Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not
reflected in the annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was [56.87%] of the average value of its portfolio.
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
To pursue its objective, the Fund normally invests at least 65% of its net assets in equity securities of small and mid-sized companies. The remainder of the Fund’s assets may be invested in companies of any size. The Fund may change this policy at any time. The Fund attempts to invest in companies the investment team
believes have been undervalued by the market and are selling at reasonable prices. The Fund seeks to identify companies that have the strongest fundamentals relative to valuations and looks for positive factors that the Fund believes are likely to improve the value of the company’s stock price.
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
62
The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may be traded on U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchanges and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund’s investments primarily include the following types of securities and other financial
instruments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
of mid-sized and small companies. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, and limited liability companies. The Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and
investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Mid-sized and small companies
having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell 2500
®
Index.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value companies
that portfolio management believes to be undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential for capital appreciation.
|
The Fund generally will sell a security when the Fund believes the security is less likely to benefit from the current market and economic environment, shows signs of deteriorating fundamentals, or has reached its valuation target, among other reasons. The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its
investment objective; however, in response to adverse economic, market or other unfavorable conditions, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner.
PRINCIPAL RISKS
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other securities described above, which may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. In addition to the risks of overall market movements, risks of events
affecting a particular industry or sector, and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks of investing in the Fund, which could adversely affect its performance, include:
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
63
|
•
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Management Risk:
If the strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management fail to produce the intended result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Mid-Sized and Small Company Risk:
Securities of mid-sized and small companies generally involve greater risks than investments in larger companies. Mid-sized and small companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited access to capital, and limited products or services or may operate in markets
that have not yet been established. Mid-sized and small company securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic, and social volatility, lack of transparency or inadequate
regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. Emerging market securities generally are more volatile than other foreign securities, and are subject to greater liquidity, regulatory, and political risks.
|
An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of any bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. For more information on the principal risks of the Fund, please see the “More Information About the Fund – Principal Risks” section in the prospectus.
PERFORMANCE
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by illustrating the variability of the Fund’s returns. Each assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions. The Fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the
future.
The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the Fund’s Class A shares from calendar year to calendar year. This chart does not reflect the sales charge applicable to Class A shares. If the sales charge were reflected, returns would be lower. Performance for the Fund’s other share classes will vary due to the different
expenses each class bears. Updated performance information is available at www.lordabbett.com or by calling 888-522-2388.
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
64
Bar Chart (per calendar year)—Class A Shares
|
|
|
Best Quarter
[3rd Q ‘09
+19.26%
]
|
|
Worst Quarter
[3rd Q ‘11
-21.04%
]
|
The table below shows how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of securities indices. The Fund’s average annual total returns include applicable sales charges.
The after-tax returns of Class A shares included in the table below are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. In some cases, the return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may exceed the return before taxes due
to a tax benefit resulting from realized losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the period that is used to offset other gains. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-
deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns for other share classes are not shown in the table and will vary from those shown for Class A shares.
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended [December 31, 2012])
|
|
Class
|
|
1 Year
|
|
5 Years
|
|
Life of Class
|
|
Inception
Date for
Performance
|
|
Class A Shares
|
|
12/30/2005
|
|
Before Taxes
|
|
[-9.71%]
|
|
[3.80%]
|
|
[7.62%]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions
|
|
[-9.76%]
|
|
[3.52%]
|
|
[7.19%]
|
|
|
|
After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
|
|
[-6.25%]
|
|
[3.12%]
|
|
[6.39%]
|
|
|
|
Class B Shares
|
|
[-8.62%]
|
|
[4.19%]
|
|
[8.01%]
|
|
12/30/2005
|
|
Class C Shares
|
|
[-4.83%]
|
|
[4.36%]
|
|
[8.01%]
|
|
12/30/2005
|
|
Class F Shares
|
|
[-3.92%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[2.92%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class I Shares
|
|
[-3.83%]
|
|
[5.41%]
|
|
[9.07%]
|
|
12/30/2005
|
|
Class P Shares
|
|
[-4.32%]
|
|
[4.93%]
|
|
[8.58%]
|
|
12/30/2005
|
|
Class R2 Shares
|
|
[-4.40%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[2.40%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Class R3 Shares
|
|
[-4.33%]
|
|
[–]
|
|
[2.50%]
|
|
9/28/2007
|
|
Index
|
|
|
|
Russell 2500
®
Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-3.36%]
|
|
[-0.58%]
|
|
[2.61%]
[-0.61%]
|
|
12/30/2005
9/28/2007
|
|
Russell 2500
®
Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
|
|
[-2.51%]
|
|
[1.24%]
|
|
[3.59%]
[0.10%]
|
|
12/30/2005
9/28/2007
|
|
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC.
Portfolio Managers.
The portfolio managers jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund are:
|
|
|
Portfolio Manager/Title
|
|
Member of
the Investment
Management
Team Since
|
|
Thomas B. Maher, Partner and Portfolio Manager
|
|
2005
|
|
Justin C. Maurer, Partner and Portfolio Manager
|
|
2007
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Class B shares no longer are available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be
issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
66
another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types of institutional investors, but does not apply to registered investment advisers or retirement and benefit plans otherwise elegible to invest in Class
I shares. Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors. See “Choosing a Share Class – Investment Minimums” in the prospectus for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Minimums — Initial/Additional Investments
|
|
Class
|
|
A and C
|
|
F, P, R2, and R3
|
|
I
|
|
General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
|
|
$1,500/No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
$1 million minimum
|
|
Invest-A-Matic Accounts
|
|
$250/$50
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
|
|
No minimum
|
|
N/A
|
|
N/A
|
|
Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
No minimum
|
|
You may sell (redeem) shares through your securities broker, financial professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account access privileges, you may redeem your shares by contacting the Fund in writing at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121, by calling 888-522-2388 or by accessing your account
online at www.lordabbett.com.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUND SHARES
For important information about taxes and payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries, please turn to the “Tax Information” and “Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries” sections of the prospectus.
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
67
TAX INFORMATION
A Fund’s distributions, if any, generally are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains or a combination of the two, and also may be subject to state and local taxes. Certain taxes on distributions may not apply to tax exempt investors or tax deferred accounts, such as a 401(k) plan or an IRA.
PAYMENTS TO BROKER-DEALERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES
If you purchase Fund shares through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and the Fund’s distributor or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other
financial intermediary and your individual financial professional to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial professional or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
As used in the remaining portion of this prospectus, the terms “a Fund,” “each Fund,” and “the Fund” refer to each Fund individually or the Funds collectively, as the context may require, unless reference to a specific Fund is provided.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
Alpha Strategy Fund, International Opportunities Fund, Micro Cap Growth Fund, Micro Cap Value Fund, and Value Opportunities Fund
Each Fund’s investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
Fundamental Equity Fund
The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital and income without excessive fluctuations in market value.
Growth Leaders Fund
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation.
International Core Equity Fund
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation.
International Dividend Income Fund
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of total return.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
68
PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Alpha Strategy Fund
The Fund is a “fund of funds” that invests principally in other mutual funds managed by Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (the “underlying funds”). To pursue its investment objective, under normal market conditions, the Fund invests in underlying funds that invest principally in equity securities. Under normal market conditions,
the Fund’s investment allocation emphasizes U.S. and foreign small, mid-sized, and micro-cap companies managed in both growth and value styles. The Fund normally will allocate up to approximately 25% of its net assets among underlying funds that primarily invest in foreign companies, measured at the time of
investment in an underlying fund.
The Fund allocates its assets among the underlying funds on a fixed percentage basis. The Fund may periodically change its asset allocation, rebalance its allocation among the underlying funds, or add or remove underlying funds, in each case without shareholder approval or notice. Through the underlying funds, which
are described in “Appendix A: Underlying Funds of Alpha Strategy Fund,” the Fund’s assets are allocated primarily to the following types of investments:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Equity securities
of small, mid-sized, and micro-cap companies. Equity securities may include common stocks, preferred stocks, and equity interests in trusts (including real estate investment trusts), partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and similar enterprises. The underlying funds consider equity
securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Growth companies
that the underlying fund believes exhibit faster-than-average gains in earnings and have the potential to continue profit growth at a high level.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Value companies
that the underlying fund believes to be undervalued according to certain financial measurements of intrinsic worth or business prospects and have the potential for capital appreciation.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Foreign (including emerging market) companies,
which may be traded on a U.S. or non-U.S. securities exchange and may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”).
|
In addition to investing in the underlying funds, the Fund may invest directly in derivatives, including swaps, options, forwards, and futures, which are traded either on an exchange or over-the-counter. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or
index. To the extent that the Fund invests in derivatives, the Fund intends to do so primarily for non-hedging (sometimes referred to as “speculative”) purposes as a substitute for allocating its assets among the underlying funds. When
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
69
investing in this manner, the Fund may use a derivative investment, such as an index future, to gain exposure to, or to change the weighting of its investments in, a particular asset class represented by underlying funds without increasing or decreasing the allocation among the underlying funds. For example, the Fund may
adjust its exposure to mid-cap stocks by investing in an S&P MidCap 400 Index futures contract as an alternative to increasing or decreasing its holdings of underlying funds that invest primarily or substantially in mid-cap stocks. The Fund may use other types of derivative instruments to adjust the Fund’s exposure to asset
classes represented by the underlying funds, and may use derivative investments to gain access to asset classes that currently are not represented by the underlying funds in order to seek to enhance investment returns.
Under normal market conditions, the Fund’s directly held positions in derivatives will be limited so that the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, will not exceed 35% of the Fund’s net assets. However, the Fund may use derivatives to a greater
extent to respond to adverse market conditions, in which case the aggregate net notional value of such instruments, determined at the time of the most recent position established, will not exceed 50% of the Fund’s net assets. The Fund currently is not regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a
commodity pool under the Commodity Exchange Act. The Fund currently intends to limit its investments in derivatives to avoid such regulation, but the Fund may be subject to regulation as a commodity pool in the future.
When selecting investments, the Fund’s portfolio manager considers factors including the underlying funds’ domestic and foreign exposure, market capitalization range, investment style (growth versus value), performance, and volatility. The Fund may sell or reallocate its investment among the underlying funds for a
variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets, or satisfy redemption requests, among others. In considering whether to sell an investment, the Fund may evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the current allocation among the underlying funds, the overall market outlook, and the
condition of the overall economy.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. However, in an attempt to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the Fund may take a temporary defensive position by holding some or all of its assets in short-term investments. These investments include
cash, commercial paper, money market instruments, repurchase agreements, and U.S. government securities. Taking a temporary defensive position could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
70
Fundamental Equity Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in equity securities of U.S. and multinational companies that the Fund believes are undervalued in all market capitalization ranges. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment
purposes, in equity securities. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice of a change in this policy.
The Fund normally will invest at least 50% of its assets in large, established companies. A large company is defined as a company having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies included in the Russell 1000
®
Index, a widely-used benchmark for large-cap
stock performance. The market capitalization range of the Russell 1000
®
Index as of [June 22, 2012], following its most recent annual reconstitution, was approximately [$1.3 billion] to [$546 billion]. This range varies daily. The Fund normally will invest the remainder of its assets in securities of mid-sized and small
companies.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
The Fund attempts to invest in companies the investment team believes have been undervalued by the market and are selling at reasonable prices in relation to our assessment of their potential or intrinsic value. A security may be undervalued by the market because of a lack of awareness of the company’s intrinsic value or
a lack of recognition of the company’s future potential. In addition, a company may be undervalued because it may be temporarily out of favor by the market.
The Fund’s portfolio management uses a continuous and dynamic investment process in building the portfolio for the Fund, including quantitative research to identify stocks that the Fund believes represent attractive valuations, and fundamental research regarding a company’s resources, strategic plans and prospects for
growth. The Fund seeks to identify companies that have the strongest fundamentals relative to valuations and looks for positive factors in a company’s fundamental outlook that the Fund believes are likely to improve the value of the company’s stock price.
The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may include the following: companies that are incorporated outside of the U.S., but are headquartered within the U.S. and traded on a U.S. exchange; companies that are incorporated and headquartered
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
71
outside of the U.S., but are traded primarily on a U.S. exchange; and companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency.
The Fund may invest without limitation in other types of foreign companies, including ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An
ADR entitles the holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may use derivatives, which are financial instruments that derive their value from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The Fund may use derivatives for hedging, including protecting the Fund’s unrealized gains by hedging against possible adverse fluctuations in the securities markets or
changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates that may reduce the market value of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund also may use derivatives for non-hedging (sometimes referred to as “speculative”) purposes to enhance returns, efficiently invest excess cash, or quickly gain market exposure.
To the extent that the Fund is obligated under a derivatives contract to make a future payment, the Fund will be required to segregate or earmark on its books cash or other liquid assets to cover the Fund’s future obligations under the contract. This setting aside of assets generally is referred to as “cover.”
The Fund is not registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or subject to registration or regulation) as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act. Derivatives that the Fund may use include the following:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Options:
An option is the right to buy or sell a security (or other financial instrument) at a predetermined price. There are two basic types of options: a call option is the right to buy a security at a specific price; and a put option is the right to sell a security at a specific price. The Fund may buy options or sell
(sometimes called “write”) options. The Fund may buy or sell standardized options, which typically are listed on an exchange, or buy or sell privately negotiated and customized options, which typically are traded over-the-counter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the Fund is buying a call option, it has the right to buy the security from the seller of the option. If the Fund is buying a put option, it has the right to sell the security to the seller of the option. Conversely, if the Fund is selling a call option, it must sell the security if the buyer of the option exercises the call option.
If the Fund is selling a put option, it must buy the security from the buyer of the option if the buyer exercises the put option.
|
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
72
|
|
|
|
|
The Fund’s use of options is subject to certain restrictions. The Fund may not buy a put option or sell a call option unless the Fund actually holds the security or underlying asset that is the subject of the options contract. The Fund will not buy an option if, as a result of such purchase, more than 10% of its net assets
would be invested in premiums for such options. The Fund only may sell put options to the extent that the cover for such options does not exceed 15% of its net assets. The Fund only may sell call options with respect to securities having an aggregate market value of less than 25% of its net assets at the time the Fund
sells the option.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Forwards:
Forward contracts obligate the Fund and its counterparty to trade an underlying asset (e.g., foreign currency) at a specific price on a specific date in the future. Forwards are traded over-the-counter.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Futures:
Futures and forwards are similar, but futures are traded on an exchange and the counterparty to a futures contract is the clearing corporation for the appropriate exchange. Futures usually are settled in cash, rather than requiring delivery of the instrument. The Fund may buy or write options on futures.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Swaps:
The Fund may enter into interest rate, equity index, credit, currency, and total return swap agreements, swaptions (options on swaps) and similar transactions. A swap transaction involves an agreement between two parties to exchange different cash flows based on a specified or “notional” amount. The cash
flows exchanged in a specific transaction may be, among other things, payments that are the equivalent of interest on a principal amount, payments that would compensate the purchaser for losses on a defaulted security or basket of securities, or payments reflecting the performance of one or more specified currencies,
securities, or indices. The Fund may enter into swap transactions with counterparties that generally are banks, securities dealers, or their respective affiliates.
|
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may
evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security.
Growth Leaders Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies that the Fund’s portfolio managers believe demonstrate above-average, long-term growth potential in all market capitalization ranges.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
73
Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 50% of its net assets in companies having a market capitalization within the range of companies included in the Russell 1000
®
Index, a widely-used benchmark for large-cap stock performance. The market capitalization range of the Russell 1000
®
Index as of [June
22, 2012], following its most recent annual reconstitution, was approximately [$1.3 billion to $546 billion]. This range varies daily. The Fund normally will invest the remainder of its assets in securities of mid-sized and small companies.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
The Fund seeks to invest in companies demonstrating above-average, long-term growth potential. The Fund’s portfolio managers follow a growth style of investing and look for companies that they believe exhibit sustainable above-average gains in earnings. The Fund’s portfolio managers use a “bottom-up” investment
approach, meaning that they identify and select securities for investment by the Fund based on in-depth company, industry, and market research and analysis. Although the Fund is diversified broadly across many industries and sectors, its assets may, from time to time, be overweighted or underweighted to certain
industries and sectors relative to its benchmark index.
The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may include the following: companies that are incorporated outside of the U.S., but are headquartered within the U.S. and traded on a U.S. exchange; companies that are incorporated and headquartered outside
of the U.S., but primarily are traded on a U.S. exchange; and companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The
Fund may invest without limitation in other types of securities that do not meet these criteria but represent economic exposure to foreign markets, including ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s
holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR entitles the holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading of its portfolio securities in seeking to achieve its investment objective, and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
74
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may
evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security.
International Core Equity Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of large foreign companies that the portfolio managers believe are undervalued. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will diversify its investments among a number of different countries throughout the world and will invest
at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of large companies. The Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ notice of any change in the latter policy.
For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, a large company is defined as a company included among the largest 80% of companies in terms of market capitalization at the time of purchase in each country represented in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe, Australasia and Far East Index (“MSCI EAFE
®
Index”), a widely used benchmark for international stock performance. The market capitalization range for the MSCI EAFE
®
Index as of [June 1, 2012], following its most recent annual reconstitution, was [$693 million] to [$185 billion]. This range varies daily.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
The Fund invests principally in foreign companies, which may include the following: companies that are incorporated outside of the U.S., but are headquartered within the U.S. and traded on a U.S. exchange; companies that are incorporated and headquartered outside of the U.S., but are traded primarily on a U.S.
exchange; and companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in securities issued by foreign companies that are traded primarily on securities markets or exchanges located in emerging market countries. The Fund considers
emerging market countries to be those included in the MSCI Emerging Market Free
®
Index.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
75
Foreign company securities also include ADRs and similar depositary receipts. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR entitles the
holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may invest in supranational organizations, which are designed or supported by one or more governments or governmental agencies to promote economic development. Examples of supranational organizations include the Asian Development Bank, the European Coal and Steel Community, the European
Community and the World Bank.
The Fund’s valuation-based investment approach seeks to highlight companies whose market prices are at the greatest discount to their economic values taking into account our perception of the investment risks. For this purpose, the Fund considers the economic or intrinsic value as the amount that an informed buyer
would pay to own the entire business today. It is based on an assessment of the net assets of a company and the estimated future cash flows those assets will create in relation to the apparent business risk being taken.
The Fund attempts to take advantage of the short-term fluctuation of stock prices around the long-term measure of economic value, generally investing in opportunities that are at a significant discount to this measure. The Fund uses a bottom-up investment research approach to identify companies the Fund believes to be
attractive, long-term investment opportunities. The approach is based on in-depth analysis of a company’s financial statements, business strategy, management competence and overall industry trends, among other factors. Companies might be identified from investment research analysis or personal knowledge of their
products and services. The Fund’s investment approach incorporates the following:
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A fundamental analysis of both companies and industries. This analysis attempts to determine the relative economic value of a business and support an assessment of the inherent investment risks.
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An emphasis on absolute value and cross-border industry comparison.
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•
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An analysis of industry, sector and economic trends. The Fund seeks to optimize various investment strategies across sectors and regions and control overall portfolio risk characteristics.
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Use of various quantitative models and screening tools to provide support for the construction of the portfolio.
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The Fund may use derivatives to hedge against risk or to gain investment exposure. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The Fund may use
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
76
derivatives for hedging purposes, including protecting the Fund’s unrealized gains by hedging against possible adverse fluctuations in the securities markets or changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates that may reduce the market value of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund also may use derivatives for
speculative purposes, including using derivative instruments in an effort to enhance the Fund’s returns, spreads or gains, or efficiently invest excess cash or quickly gain market exposure. The Fund is not registered as, or subject to registration or regulation as, a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange
Act.
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. In the case of hedged positions, the U.S. dollar may decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Although
the Fund is not required to hedge its exposure to any currency, it may choose to do so. The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions on a spot (cash) basis, and enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (a type of forward contract) and invest in foreign currency futures contracts and options on
foreign currencies and futures. A forward contract involves obligations of one party to purchase, and another party to sell, a specific amount of a security, currency or other financial instrument at a future date, at a price established in the contract. Forward contracts also may be structured for cash settlement, rather than
physical delivery. The Fund may use these currency-related transactions to hedge the risk to the portfolio that foreign exchange price movements will be unfavorable for U.S. investors. Generally, these instruments allow the Fund to lock in a specified exchange rate for a period of time. They also may be used to increase
the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies that Lord Abbett believes may rise in value relative to the U.S. dollar or to shift an underlying fund’s exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.
Some examples of the other types of derivatives in which the Fund may invest are options, futures, forward contracts, and swap agreements. The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts and options on such contracts for hedging purposes or to pursue risk management strategies. These transactions involve the
purchase or sale of a contract to buy or sell a specified security or other financial instrument at a specific future date and price on an exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The Fund may purchase call and put options and write (sell) covered call and put option contracts in accordance with its investment
objective and policies.
A “call option” is a contract sold for a price giving its holder the right to buy a specific number of securities at a specific price prior to a specified date. A “covered call option” is a call option issued on securities already owned by the writer of the call option for delivery to the holder upon the exercise of the option. A
“put option” gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
77
obligates the writer to buy, the underlying securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period. A put option sold by the Fund is covered when, among other things, a Fund segregates permissible liquid assets having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option to fulfill the obligation
undertaken or otherwise covers the transaction. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options in respect of specific securities (or groups or “baskets” of specific securities) or securities indices, currencies or futures. The Fund also may enter into OTC options contracts, which are available for a greater variety of
securities, and a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices, than are exchange-traded options.
The Fund may enter into interest rate, equity index, credit, currency and total return swap agreements, and swaptions (options on swaps) and similar transactions. The Fund may enter into these transactions for hedging purposes or in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so. A swap
transaction involves an agreement between two parties to exchange different cash flows based on a specified or “notional” amount. The cash flows exchanged in a specific transaction may be, among other things, payments that are the equivalent of interest on a principal amount, payments that would compensate the
purchaser for losses on a defaulted security or basket of securities, or payments reflecting the performance of one or more specified currencies, securities or indices. The Fund may enter into swap transactions with counterparties that generally are banks, securities dealers or their respective affiliates.
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, control various industry, sector or country risk exposure levels, or satisfy redemption requests, among
others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security. The Fund also may
sell a stock when there has been a change in the fundamental company, industry or country factors that supported the original investment or when a company’s management has deviated from its financial plan or corporate strategy.
International Dividend Income Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in a diversified portfolio of dividend paying equity securities of foreign companies that the Fund believes are undervalued. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will diversify its investments among a number of different countries throughout the world, including
emerging market countries, and will invest at least 80% of its net
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
78
assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in dividend paying securities. The Fund will provide shareholders with 60 days’ notice of any change in the latter policy.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
The Fund invests principally in foreign companies, including, without limitation, companies that are incorporated or organized under the laws of jurisdictions outside of the U.S. The Fund also may invest, without limitation, in foreign companies that primarily are traded on a U.S. securities exchange. The Fund may invest,
without limitation, in foreign companies incorporated or located in emerging market countries. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be those included in the MSCI Emerging Market Free
®
Index.
Foreign company securities also include ADRs and similar depositary receipts. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR entitles the
holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund’s investment approach seeks to highlight undervalued companies that provide total return from both capital appreciation and dividend income. The Fund attempts to take advantage of the short-term fluctuation of stock prices around the long-term measure of economic value, generally investing in opportunities
that are at a significant discount to this measure. For this purpose, the Fund considers the economic or intrinsic value as the amount that an informed buyer would pay to own the entire business today. It is based on an assessment of the net assets of a company and the estimated future cash flows those assets will create in
relation to the apparent business risk being taken.
The Fund uses a bottom-up investment research approach to identify companies the Fund believes to be attractive, long-term investment opportunities. The approach is based on in-depth analysis of a company’s financial statements, business strategy, management competence and overall industry trends, among other
factors. Companies might be identified from investment research analysis or personal knowledge of their products and services. The Fund’s investment approach incorporates the following:
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A fundamental analysis of both companies and industries. This analysis attempts to determine the relative economic value of a business and assess the inherent investment risks.
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
79
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An analysis of the potential for capital appreciation among high dividend paying common stocks. This analysis uses quantitative and qualitative screening tools to focus on companies with sustained earnings growth and profitability while maintaining a level of diversification across sectors and countries.
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An emphasis on absolute value and cross-border industry comparison.
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•
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An analysis of industry, sector and economic trends. The Fund seeks to optimize various investment strategies across sectors and regions and control overall portfolio risk characteristics.
|
The Fund may use derivatives to hedge against risk or to gain investment exposure. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The Fund may use derivatives for hedging purposes, including protecting the Fund’s unrealized gains by hedging
against possible adverse fluctuations in the securities markets or changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates that may reduce the market value of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund also may use derivatives for speculative purposes, including using derivative instruments in an effort to enhance the Fund’s
returns, spreads or gains, or efficiently invest excess cash or quickly gain market exposure. The Fund is not registered as, or subject to registration or regulation as, a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. In the case of hedged positions, the U.S. dollar may decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Although
the Fund is not required to hedge its exposure to any currency, it may choose to do so. The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions on a spot (cash) basis, and enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (a type of forward contract) and invest in foreign currency futures contracts and options on
foreign currencies and futures. A forward contract involves obligations of one party to purchase, and another party to sell, a specific amount of a security, currency or other financial instrument at a future date, at a price established in the contract. Forward contracts also may be structured for cash settlement, rather than
physical delivery. The Fund may use these currency-related transactions to hedge the risk to the portfolio that foreign exchange price movements will be unfavorable for U.S. investors. Generally, these instruments allow the Fund to lock in a specified exchange rate for a period of time. They also may be used to increase
the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies that Lord Abbett believes may rise in value relative to the U.S. dollar or to shift an underlying fund’s exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
80
Some examples of the other types of derivatives in which the Fund may invest are options, futures, forward contracts, and swap agreements. The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts and options on such contracts for hedging purposes or to pursue risk management strategies. These transactions involve the
purchase or sale of a contract to buy or sell a specified security or other financial instrument at a specific future date and price on an exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The Fund may purchase call and put options and write (sell) covered call and put option contracts in accordance with its investment
objective and policies.
A “call option” is a contract sold for a price giving its holder the right to buy a specific number of securities at a specific price prior to a specified date. A “covered call option” is a call option issued on securities already owned by the writer of the call option for delivery to the holder upon the exercise of the option. A
“put option” gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and obligates the writer to buy, the underlying securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period. A put option sold by the Fund is covered when, among other things, a Fund segregates permissible liquid assets having a value equal to or
greater than the exercise price of the option to fulfill the obligation undertaken or otherwise covers the transaction. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options in respect of specific securities (or groups or “baskets” of specific securities) or securities indices, currencies or futures. The Fund also may enter into
OTC options contracts, which are available for a greater variety of securities, and a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices, than are exchange-traded options.
The Fund may enter into interest rate, equity index, credit, currency and total return swap agreements, and swaptions (options on swaps) and similar transactions. The Fund may enter into these transactions for hedging purposes or in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so. A swap
transaction involves an agreement between two parties to exchange different cash flows based on a specified or “notional” amount. The cash flows exchanged in a specific transaction may be, among other things, payments that are the equivalent of interest on a principal amount, payments that would compensate the
purchaser for losses on a defaulted security or basket of securities, or payments reflecting the performance of one or more specified currencies, securities or indices. The Fund may enter into swap transactions with counterparties that generally are banks, securities dealers or their respective affiliates.
Generally, the Fund may sell investments in the following circumstances. Sales of a stock may occur when the Fund believes that its capital appreciation or dividend yield will no longer sufficiently enhance the Fund’s return, or when a stock has otherwise exceeded its estimated long-term economic value. The Fund may
sell an investment when the Fund believes there has been a change in the
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
81
fundamental company, industry or country factors that supported the original investment, or when a company’s management has deviated from its financial plan or corporate strategy. The Fund also may sell a security in order to control various industry, sector or country risk exposure levels, or for a variety of other
reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others.
International Opportunities Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund invests principally in stocks of companies principally based outside the United States. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will diversify its investments among a number of different countries throughout the world. The Fund normally intends to invest at least 65% of its net assets in
equity securities of small companies. A small company is defined as a company having a market capitalization at the time of purchase of less than $5 billion. This market capitalization threshold may vary in response to changes in the markets. The Fund may invest its remaining assets in equity securities of mid-sized or
larger companies.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
The Fund invests principally in foreign companies, including, without limitation, companies that are incorporated or organized under the laws of jurisdictions outside of the U.S. The Fund also may invest, without limitation, in foreign companies that are primarily traded on a U.S. securities exchange. The Fund may invest
up to 15% of its net assets in securities issued by foreign companies that are traded primarily on securities markets or exchanges located in emerging market countries. The Fund considers emerging market countries to be those non-U.S. countries that are not included in the developed markets of the S&P Developed Ex-U.S.
SmallCap Index.
Foreign company securities also include ADRs and similar depositary receipts. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR entitles the
holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may use derivatives to hedge against risk or to gain investment exposure. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from the value of an underlying asset, reference rate, or index. The Fund may use
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
82
derivatives for hedging purposes, including protecting the Fund’s unrealized gains by hedging against possible adverse fluctuations in the securities markets or changes in interest rates or currency exchange rates that may reduce the market value of the Fund’s investment portfolio. The Fund also may use derivatives for
speculative purposes, including using derivative instruments in an effort to enhance the Fund’s returns, spreads or gains, or efficiently invest excess cash or quickly gain market exposure. The Fund is not registered as, or subject to registration or regulation as, a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange
Act.
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which may decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. In the case of hedged positions, the U.S. dollar may decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. Although
the Fund is not required to hedge its exposure to any currency, it may choose to do so. The Fund may engage in foreign currency transactions on a spot (cash) basis, and enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts (a type of forward contract) and invest in foreign currency futures contracts and options on
foreign currencies and futures. A forward contract involves obligations of one party to purchase, and another party to sell, a specific amount of a security, currency or other financial instrument at a future date, at a price established in the contract. Forward contracts also may be structured for cash settlement, rather than
physical delivery. The Fund may use these currency-related transactions to hedge the risk to the portfolio that foreign exchange price movements will be unfavorable for U.S. investors. Generally, these instruments allow the Fund to lock in a specified exchange rate for a period of time. They also may be used to increase
the Fund’s exposure to foreign currencies that Lord Abbett believes may rise in value relative to the U.S. dollar or to shift an underlying fund’s exposure to foreign currency fluctuations from one country to another.
Some examples of the other types of derivatives in which the Fund may invest are options, futures, forward contracts, and swap agreements. The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts and options on such contracts for hedging purposes or to pursue risk management strategies. These transactions involve the
purchase or sale of a contract to buy or sell a specified security or other financial instrument at a specific future date and price on an exchange or in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. The Fund may purchase call and put options and write (sell) covered call and put option contracts in accordance with its investment
objective and policies.
A “call option” is a contract sold for a price giving its holder the right to buy a specific number of securities at a specific price prior to a specified date. A “covered call option” is a call option issued on securities already owned by the writer of the call option for delivery to the holder upon the exercise of the option. A
“put option” gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
83
obligates the writer to buy, the underlying securities at the exercise price at any time during the option period. A put option sold by the Fund is covered when, among other things, a Fund segregates permissible liquid assets having a value equal to or greater than the exercise price of the option to fulfill the obligation
undertaken or otherwise covers the transaction. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options in respect of specific securities (or groups or “baskets” of specific securities) or securities indices, currencies or futures. The Fund also may enter into OTC options contracts, which are available for a greater variety of
securities, and a wider range of expiration dates and exercise prices, than are exchange-traded options.
The Fund may enter into interest rate, equity index, credit, currency and total return swap agreements, and swaptions (options on swaps) and similar transactions. The Fund may enter into these transactions for hedging purposes or in an attempt to obtain a particular return when it is considered desirable to do so. A swap
transaction involves an agreement between two parties to exchange different cash flows based on a specified or “notional” amount. The cash flows exchanged in a specific transaction may be, among other things, payments that are the equivalent of interest on a principal amount, payments that would compensate the
purchaser for losses on a defaulted security or basket of securities, or payments reflecting the performance of one or more specified currencies, securities or indices. The Fund may enter into swap transactions with counterparties that generally are banks, securities dealers or their respective affiliates.
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, control various industry, sector or country risk exposure levels, or satisfy redemption requests, among
others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security. The Fund also may
sell a stock when there has been a change in the fundamental company, industry or country factors that supported the original investment or when a company’s management has deviated from its financial plan or corporate strategy.
Micro Cap Growth Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of micro-cap companies. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice of any change in this policy. For purposes of the policy, the Fund
defines a micro-cap company as a company having a market capitalization at the
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
84
time of purchase that is under $1 billion or falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell Microcap
®
Index, a widely used benchmark for micro-cap growth stock performance. The market capitalization range of the Russell Microcap
®
Index as of [June 22, 2012], following its most recent annual
reconstitution, was [$20 million] to [$679 million]. This range varies daily.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
Micro-cap companies represent the smallest sector of companies based on market capitalization. Micro-cap companies may be in their earliest stages of development and may offer unique products, services or technologies or may serve special or rapidly expanding niches. Micro-cap stocks are not traded in the volume
typical of stocks listed on a national securities exchange. The Fund is intended for investors who are willing to withstand the risk of short-term price fluctuations in exchange for attractive potential long-term returns.
The Fund uses fundamental analysis to look for micro-cap companies that appear to have the potential for more rapid growth than the overall economy. The Fund seeks to identify micro-cap companies that generally exhibit faster-than-average gains in earnings and are expected to continue profit growth at a high level.
The Fund evaluates companies based on an analysis of their financial statements, products and operations, market sectors and interviews with management.
The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may include the following: companies that are incorporated outside of the U.S., but are headquartered within the U.S. and traded on a U.S. exchange; companies that are incorporated and headquartered outside
of the U.S., but are traded primarily on a U.S. exchange; and companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The
Fund may invest without limitation in other types of foreign companies, including ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR
entitles the holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
85
requests, among others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security.
Micro Cap Value Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of micro-cap companies. The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice of any change in this policy. For purposes of the policy, the Fund
defines a micro-cap company as a company having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell Microcap
®
Index, a widely used benchmark for micro-cap value stock performance. The market capitalization range of the Russell Microcap
®
Index as
of [June 22, 2012], following its annual reconstitution, was [$20 million] to [$679 million]. This range varies daily.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
Micro-cap companies represent the smallest sector of companies based on market capitalization. Micro-cap companies may be in their earliest stages of development and may offer unique products, services or technologies or may serve special or rapidly expanding niches. Micro-cap stocks are not traded in the volume
typical of stocks listed on a national securities exchange. The Fund is intended for investors who are willing to withstand the risk of short-term price fluctuations in exchange for attractive potential long-term returns.
The Fund attempts to invest in the securities of less well-known micro-cap companies selling at reasonable prices in relation to our assessment of their potential value. The Fund chooses stocks using:
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Quantitative research to identify stocks we believe represent the best bargains. As part of this process, we may look at the price of a company’s stock in relation to the company’s book value, its sales, the value of its assets, its earnings and its cash flow.
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Fundamental research to evaluate a company’s operating environment, resources and strategic plans and to assess its prospects for exceeding earnings expectations.
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may include the following: companies that are incorporated outside of the U.S., but are headquartered within the U.S. and traded on a U.S. exchange; companies that are incorporated and headquartered outside
of the U.S., but are traded primarily on a U.S. exchange; and companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The
Fund may invest without limitation in other types of foreign companies, including ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR
entitles the holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may
evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security.
Value Opportunities Fund
To pursue its objective, the Fund normally invests at least 65% of its net assets in equity securities of small and mid-sized companies. The remainder of the Fund’s assets may be invested in companies of any size. The Fund may change this policy at any time.
Small and mid-sized companies are defined as companies having a market capitalization at the time of purchase that falls within the market capitalization range of companies in the Russell 2500
®
Index, a widely used benchmark for small and mid-sized stock performance. The market capitalization range of the Russell 2500
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Index as of [June 22, 2012], following its most recent annual reconstitution, was approximately [$53 million] to [$7 billion]. This range varies daily.
Equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks; preferred stocks; equity interests in real estate investment trusts, privately offered trusts, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies and vehicles with similar legal structures; and other instruments with similar economic characteristics. The
Fund considers equity securities to include rights offerings and investments that convert into the equity securities described above.
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The Fund attempts to invest in companies the portfolio manager believes have been undervalued by the market and are selling at reasonable prices in relation to our assessment of their potential or intrinsic value. A security may be undervalued by the market because of a lack of awareness of the company’s intrinsic value
or a lack of recognition of the company’s future potential. In addition, a company may be undervalued because it may be temporarily out of favor by the market.
The Fund attempts to invest in the securities of smaller, less well-known companies, and mid-sized companies, selling at reasonable prices in relation to our assessment of their potential value. The Fund selects stocks using:
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Quantitative research to identify stocks the Fund believes represent the best bargains. As part of this process, the Fund may look at the price of a company’s stock in relation to the company’s book value, its sales, the value of its assets, its earnings and cash flow.
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Fundamental research to evaluate a company’s operating environment, resources and strategic plans and to assess its prospects for exceeding earnings expectations.
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The Fund may invest in U.S. and foreign (which may include emerging market) companies. Foreign companies may include the following: companies that are incorporated outside of the U.S., but are headquartered within the U.S. and traded on a U.S. exchange; companies that are incorporated and headquartered outside
of the U.S., but are traded primarily on a U.S. exchange; and companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in securities of foreign companies that are traded on a non-U.S. exchange and denominated in a foreign currency. The
Fund may invest without limitation in other types of foreign companies, including ADRs. ADRs are traded on U.S. exchanges and typically are issued by a financial institution (often a U.S. bank) acting as a depositary and represent the depositary’s holdings of a specified number of shares of a foreign company. An ADR
entitles the holder to all dividends and capital gains earned by the underlying foreign securities.
The Fund may sell a security if it no longer meets the Fund’s investment criteria or for a variety of other reasons, such as to secure gains, limit losses, redeploy assets into opportunities believed to be more promising, or satisfy redemption requests, among others. In considering whether to sell a security, the Fund may
evaluate factors including, but not limited to, the condition of the economy, changes in the issuer’s competitive position or financial condition, changes in the outlook for the issuer’s industry, and the Fund’s valuation target for the security.
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PRINCIPAL RISKS
Alpha Strategy Fund
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable results.
The Fund’s investment exposure primarily consists of common stocks and other investments described above. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Different segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets
may react differently than foreign markets. Individual investments also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor
confidence. In addition, individual stocks may be adversely affected by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common
stock has lower priority than preferred stock and debt securities.
Although the Fund maintains a diversified portfolio, from time to time one or more of the underlying funds may favor investments in one or more particular industries or sectors. To the extent that an underlying fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, the value of the relevant portion of the underlying fund’s
investments may fluctuate in response to events affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) to a greater degree than investments within other industries or sectors.
In addition to the risks of overall market movements and risks that are specific to an individual investment, the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and analysis, but there can be
no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be successful in reducing risk. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of strategies employed by the underlying funds and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used by the Fund’s portfolio management to allocate the Fund’s assets, and the strategies used and investments selected by portfolio management, may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses or
underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
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Underlying Fund Risk:
Because the Fund’s investments are concentrated in the underlying funds, the Fund’s performance is directly related to the performance of the underlying funds held by it and the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective is directly related to the ability of the underlying funds to meet
their investment objectives. In addition, the Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the underlying funds’ fees and expenses.
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Small, Mid-Sized, and Micro-Cap Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure primarily consists of investments in equity securities of small, mid-sized, and micro-cap companies, which typically involve greater investment risks than larger companies. Small, mid-sized, and micro-cap companies may have limited
management experience or depth, limited ability to generate or borrow capital needed for growth, and limited products or services. Small, mid-sized, and micro-cap companies may operate in markets that have not yet been established or only have a small share of more developed markets. Accordingly, small, mid-sized,
and micro-cap company securities tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions and tend to be more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.
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Blend Style Risk:
The Fund uses a “blend” strategy to gain investment exposure to both growth and value stocks, or stocks with characteristics of both. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if, for example, the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections. The prices of value stocks may lag the
market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s worth. By combining both growth and value styles, the portfolio managers seek to diversify these risks and lower the volatility, but there is no assurance this strategy will achieve that result.
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic and social volatility, lack of transparency, or inadequate
regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. A change in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the underlying fund that are denominated in that
foreign currency, including the value of any income distributions payable to the underlying fund as a holder of such securities. In
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addition, foreign company securities may be subject to less trading volume and liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. The underlying fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are linked to non-U.S. markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or exchange
and denominated in U.S. dollars. To the extent that the underlying fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the underlying fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the underlying fund’s assets that are invested in foreign securities that principally are
traded outside of the U.S.
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Emerging Market Company Risk:
Certain of the underlying funds may invest in emerging country securities. The securities markets of emerging countries tend to be less liquid, especially subject to greater price volatility, have a smaller market capitalization, have less government regulation and may not be subject to
as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements as securities issued in more developed countries. Further, investing in the securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries may present a greater risk of loss resulting from problems in security registration and custody or substantial
economic or political disruptions. Certain of the underlying funds may invest in securities of companies whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange. Such investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security.
To the extent an underlying fund invests in this manner, the percent of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to emerging market risks may be greater than the percent of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging market securities.
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Foreign Currency Risk:
Certain of the underlying funds may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged.
Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. A decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce the value of securities held by an underlying fund that are denominated in those currencies. An underlying fund’s use of currency-related
transactions involves the risk that Lord Abbett will not accurately predict currency movements, and an underlying fund’s return could be reduced as a result. Also, it may be difficult or impractical to hedge currency risk in many developing or emerging markets.
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Derivatives Risk:
Investments in derivatives may increase the Fund’s volatility and/or reduce the Fund’s returns. Derivatives are subject to the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the
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underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. In addition, derivatives involve heightened counterparty, liquidity, leverage, and other risks. Counterparty risk is the risk that the other party in a transaction may fail to fulfill its contractual obligations, leaving the Fund to bear the
resulting losses. If there is no liquid secondary trading market for derivatives, a fund may be unable to sell or otherwise close a derivatives position, exposing it to losses and making it more difficult to value accurately any derivatives in its portfolio.
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Because derivatives involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed (known as leverage), derivatives can magnify the Fund’s losses. An underlying fund’s use of leverage may make the underlying fund more volatile. A fund will be required to identify and earmark permissible liquid assets to cover its
obligations under derivative transactions. A fund may have to liquidate positions before it is desirable to do so in order to fulfill its requirements to provide asset coverage for derivative transactions. A fund’s use of derivatives may affect the amount, timing and character of distributions, and may cause the fund to
realize more short-term capital gain and ordinary income than if the fund did not use derivatives. Furthermore, new regulation may make derivatives more costly, limit their availability, or otherwise adversely affect their value.
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There is no assurance that a fund will be able to employ its derivatives strategy successfully. The impact of derivatives on the Fund’s performance will depend on the ability to correctly forecast market movements, company and industry valuation levels and trends, changes in foreign exchange rates, and other factors. If
a fund incorrectly forecasts such factors, the Fund’s performance could suffer. Although hedging may reduce or eliminate losses, it may also reduce or eliminate gains.
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Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of investments or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
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Fundamental Equity Fund and Value Opportunities Fund
As used in this subsection of the prospectus, the term “the Fund” refers to Fundamental Equity Fund and Value Opportunities Fund, unless reference to a specific Fund is provided.
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable results.
The Fund invests principally in common stocks and other equity securities. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Different segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets may react differently than foreign
markets. Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor confidence. In addition, individual
stocks may be affected adversely by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common stock has lower priority than
preferred stock and debt securities. Because convertible securities may be exchanged for common stock, they are subject to the risks affecting both equity and fixed income securities, including market, credit and interest rate risk.
Although the Fund maintains a diversified portfolio, from time to time the Fund may favor investments in one or more particular industries or sectors. To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, the value of the relevant portion of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate in response to events
affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) to a greater degree than securities within other industries or sectors.
In addition to the risks of overall market movements and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through careful security selection, portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and
analysis, but there can be no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be
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successful in reducing risk. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of strategies employed by the Fund and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. The securities selected for the Fund may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Fund. As a
result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
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Large Company Risk:
Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to certain market developments. In addition, larger companies may have slower rates of growth as compared to successful, but less well-established, smaller companies, especially during market cycles corresponding to periods
of economic expansion.
(This risk applies to Fundamental Equity Fund.)
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Mid-Sized and Small Company Risk:
Investments in mid-sized or small company stocks generally involve greater risks than investments in large company stocks. Mid-sized or small companies may be less able to weather economic shifts or other adverse developments than larger, more established companies. They
may have less experienced management and unproven track records. They may rely on limited product lines and have more limited financial resources. These factors may make them more susceptible to setbacks or economic downturns. Mid-sized or small company stocks tend to have fewer shares outstanding and trade
less frequently than the stocks of larger companies. In addition, there may be less liquidity in mid-sized or small company stocks, subjecting them to greater price fluctuations than larger company stocks.
(This risk applies to Fundamental Equity Fund and Value Opportunities Fund.)
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Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic and social volatility, lack of transparency, or inadequate
regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. A change in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in that foreign
currency, including the value of any income distributions payable to the Fund as a holder of such securities. In addition,
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foreign company securities may be subject to less trading volume and liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are linked to non-U.S. markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or exchange and denominated in
U.S. dollars. To the extent that the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that are invested in foreign securities that principally are traded outside of the U.S. The Fund’s investments in
companies tied to emerging markets generally are subject to more risks than investments in developed market companies because they tend to have less liquidity, greater price volatility, smaller market capitalizations, less government regulation, and less extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting
requirements.
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Derivatives Risk:
Derivatives are subject to certain risks, including the risk that the value of the derivative may not correlate with the value of the underlying security, rate, or index in the manner anticipated by portfolio management. Derivatives may be more sensitive to changes in economic or market conditions and
may become illiquid. Derivatives are subject to leverage risk, which may increase the Fund’s volatility, and counterparty risk, which means that the counterparty may fail to perform its obligations under the derivative contract.
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Because derivatives may involve a small amount of cash relative to the total amount of the transaction (known as leverage), the magnitude of losses from derivatives may be greater than the amount originally invested by the Fund in the derivative instrument. The Fund’s use of leverage may make the Fund more volatile.
The Fund will be required to identify and earmark permissible liquid assets to cover its obligations under these transactions. The Fund may have to liquidate positions before it is desirable to do so in order to fulfill its requirements to provide asset coverage for derivative transactions. The Fund’s use of derivatives may
affect the amount, timing and character of distributions, and may cause the Fund to realize more short-term capital gain and ordinary income than if the Fund did not use derivatives.
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There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to employ its derivatives strategy successfully. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, the Fund’s ability to correctly forecast market movements, company and industry valuation levels and trends, changes in foreign
exchange rates, and other factors. If the Fund incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the Fund’s performance could suffer. Although hedging may reduce or eliminate losses, it may also reduce or eliminate gains.
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Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading in seeking to achieve its investment objective, and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees or other transaction costs. These costs are not reflected in the Fund’s
annual operating expenses or in the expense example, but such costs can reduce the Fund’s investment performance. If the Fund realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those gains to shareholders, resulting in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Financial Highlights
table at the end of this prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during past fiscal years.
Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
Growth Leaders Fund
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable results.
The principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through careful security selection, portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and analysis, but there can be no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be successful in reducing
risk. Please see the statement of additional information (“SAI”) for a further discussion of strategies employed by the Fund and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. The securities selected for the Fund
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may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Fund. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
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Equity Risk:
The Fund invests principally in common stocks and other equity securities. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Certain segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets may react differently
than foreign markets. Individual stock prices also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor confidence. In
addition, individual stocks may be adversely affected by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common stock has
lower priority than preferred stock and debt securities. Because convertible securities have certain features that are common to fixed-income securities and may be exchanged for common stock, they are subject to the risks affecting both equity and fixed income securities, including market, credit and interest rate risk.
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Growth Investing Risk:
Growth stocks may trade at higher multiples of current earnings as compared to other stocks, which may lead to inflated prices. Growth stocks are subject to potentially greater declines in value if, among other things, the stock is subject to significant investor speculation but fails to increase as
anticipated. Growth investing has been in and out of favor during past market cycles. During periods when growth investing is out of favor or when markets are unstable, selling growth stocks at a desired price may be more difficult. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other slower-growing securities.
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Large Company Risk:
Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to certain market developments. In addition, larger companies may have slower rates of growth as compared to successful, but less well-established, smaller companies, especially during market cycles corresponding to periods
of economic expansion.
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Mid-Sized and Small Company Risk:
Investments in mid-sized or small company stocks generally involve greater risks than investments in large company stocks. Mid-sized or small companies may be less able to weather economic shifts or other adverse developments than larger, more established companies. They
may have less experienced management and unproven track records. They may rely on limited product lines and have more limited financial resources. These factors may make them more susceptible to
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setbacks or economic downturns. Mid-sized or small company stocks tend to have fewer shares outstanding and trade less frequently than the stocks of larger companies. In addition, there may be less liquidity in mid-sized or small company stocks, subjecting them to greater price fluctuations than larger company
stocks.
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investments in foreign (including emerging market) companies and in U.S. companies with economic ties to foreign markets generally involve special risks that can increase the likelihood that the Fund will lose money. For example, as compared with companies organized and operated in
the U.S., these companies may be more vulnerable to economic, political, and social volatility and subject to less government supervision, lack of transparency, inadequate regulatory and accounting standards, and foreign taxes. In addition, the securities of foreign companies also may be subject to inadequate exchange control
regulations, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement to the extent they are traded on non-U.S. exchanges or markets. Foreign company securities also may be subject to thin trading volumes and reduced liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. A change in the value of a foreign currency
relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in that foreign currency, including the value of any income distributions payable to the Fund as a holder of such securities. These and other factors can materially adversely affect the prices of securities the Fund holds, impair
the Fund’s ability to buy or sell securities at their desired price or time, or otherwise adversely affect the Fund’s operations. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are linked to non-U.S. markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or exchange and denominated in U.S.
dollars. To the extent the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is invested in foreign securities that are principally traded outside of the U.S. The Fund’s investments in emerging market
companies generally are subject to heightened risks compared to its investments in developed market companies.
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Industry/Sector Risk:
To the extent the Fund overweights a single market sector or industry relative to its benchmark index, it can accumulate relatively large positions in a single issuer, industry, or sector. As a result, the Fund’s performance may be tied more directly to the success or failure of a relatively smaller or
less diversified group of portfolio holdings.
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High Portfolio Turnover Risk:
High portfolio turnover (more than 100%) may result in increased brokerage fees or other transaction costs. These costs are not reflected in the Fund’s annual operating expenses or in the expense example, but they can reduce the Fund’s investment performance. If the
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Fund realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those gains to shareholders, resulting in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Financial Highlights table at the end of the prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during the past fiscal period.
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Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
International Core Equity Fund
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable results.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other equity securities. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Different segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets may react differently than foreign markets.
Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor confidence. In addition, individual stocks
may be adversely affected by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common stock has lower priority than preferred
stock and debt securities. Because convertible securities may be exchanged for common stock, they are subject to the risks affecting both equity and fixed income securities, including market, credit and interest rate risk.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Although the Fund maintains a diversified portfolio, from time to time the Fund may favor investments in one or more particular industries or sectors. To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, the value of that portion of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate in response to events affecting that
industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) to a greater degree than securities within other industries or sectors.
In addition to the risks of overall market movements and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through careful security selection, portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and
analysis, but there can be no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be successful in reducing risk. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of strategies employed by the Fund and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. The securities selected for the Fund may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Fund. As a
result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, and may generate losses even in a rising market.
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic and social volatility, currency exchange fluctuations, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and
accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. A change in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in that foreign currency, including the
value of any income distributions payable to the Fund as a holder of such securities. In addition, foreign company securities may be subject to less trading volume and liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are linked to non-U.S.
markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or exchange and denominated in U.S. dollars. To the extent that the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that are
invested in foreign securities that principally are traded outside of the U.S.
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
100
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Emerging Markets Risk:
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and generally are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations. Securities of
emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes, tend to be less liquid, especially subject to greater price volatility, have a smaller market capitalization, have less government regulation and may not be subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements as
securities issued in more developed countries. Further, investing in the securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries may present a greater risk of loss resulting from problems in security registration and custody or substantial economic or political disruptions. The Fund may invest in securities of companies
whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange. Such investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security. To the extent the Fund invests in this manner, the percent of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to
emerging market risks may be greater than the percent of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging market securities.
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Foreign Currency Risk:
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in
foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. A decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in those currencies. The Fund’s use of currency-related transactions involves the risk that the Fund will
not accurately predict currency movements and the Fund’s return could be reduced as a result. Also, it may be difficult or impractical to hedge currency risk in many developing or emerging countries.
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Large Company Risk:
Larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to certain market developments. In addition, larger companies may have slower rates of growth as compared to successful, but less well-established, smaller companies, especially during market cycles corresponding to periods
of economic expansion.
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Derivatives Risk:
To the extent that the Fund uses derivatives, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the value of a derivative instrument does not move in correlation with the value of the underlying security, market index or interest rate, or moves in an opposite direction than anticipated by the
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
101
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Fund. Investing in derivatives also involves the risk that the derivatives will become illiquid and that the counterparty to the options, futures, forwards or swap agreement or contract may fail to perform its obligations.
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Because derivatives may involve a small amount of cash relative to the total amount of the transaction, the magnitude of losses from derivatives may be greater than the amount originally invested by the Fund in the derivative instrument. In addition, the Fund will be required to segregate permissible liquid assets to
cover its obligations under these transactions and may have to liquidate positions before it is desirable to do so to fulfill its requirements to segregate.
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There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to employ its derivatives strategy successfully. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, the Fund’s ability to correctly forecast market movements, company and industry valuation levels and trends, changes in foreign exchange
rates, and other factors. If the Fund incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the Fund’s performance could suffer.
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Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading in seeking to achieve its investment objective, and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees or other transaction costs. These costs are not reflected in the Fund’s
annual operating expenses or in the expense example, but such costs can reduce the Fund’s investment performance. If the Fund realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those gains to shareholders, resulting in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Financial Highlights
table at the end of this prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during past fiscal years.
Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
International Dividend Income Fund
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
102
paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable
results.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other equity securities. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Different segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets may react differently than foreign markets.
Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor confidence. In addition, individual stocks
may be adversely affected by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common stock has lower priority than preferred
stock and debt securities. Because convertible securities may be exchanged for common stock, they are subject to the risks affecting both equity and fixed income securities, including market, credit and interest rate risk.
Although the Fund maintains a diversified portfolio, from time to time the Fund may favor investments in one or more particular industries or sectors. To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, the value of the relevant portion of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate in response to events
affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) to a greater degree than securities within other industries or sectors.
In addition to the risks of overall market movements and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through careful security selection, portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and
analysis, but there can be no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be successful in reducing risk. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of strategies employed by the Fund and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. The securities selected for the Fund may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Fund. As a
result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
103
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic and social volatility, currency exchange fluctuations, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and
accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. A change in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in that foreign currency, including the
value of any income distributions payable to the Fund as a holder of such securities. In addition, foreign company securities may be subject to less trading volume and liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are linked to non-U.S.
markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or exchange and denominated in U.S. dollars. To the extent that the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that are
invested in foreign securities that principally are traded outside of the U.S.
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Emerging Markets Risk:
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and generally are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations. Securities of
emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes, tend to be less liquid, especially subject to greater price volatility, have a smaller market capitalization, have less government regulation and may not be subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements as
securities issued in more developed countries. Further, investing in the securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries may present a greater risk of loss resulting from problems in security registration and custody or substantial economic or political disruptions. The Fund may invest in securities of companies
whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange. Such investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security. To the extent the Fund invests in this manner, the percent of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to
emerging market risks may be greater than the percent of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging market securities.
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Foreign Currency Risk:
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in
foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
104
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periods of time. A decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in those currencies. The Fund’s use of currency-related transactions involves the risk that the Fund will not accurately predict currency movements and the
Fund’s return could be reduced as a result. Also, it may be difficult or impractical to hedge currency risk in many developing or emerging countries.
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Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
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Derivatives Risk:
To the extent that the Fund uses derivatives, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the value of a derivative instrument does not move in correlation with the value of the underlying security, market index or interest rate, or moves in an opposite direction than anticipated by the Fund. Investing in
derivatives also involves the risk that the derivatives will become illiquid and that the counterparty to the options, futures, forwards or swap agreement or contract may fail to perform its obligations.
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Because derivatives may involve a small amount of cash relative to the total amount of the transaction, the magnitude of losses from derivatives may be greater than the amount originally invested by the Fund in the derivative instrument. In addition, the Fund will be required to segregate permissible liquid assets to
cover its obligations under these transactions and may have to liquidate positions before it is desirable to do so to fulfill its requirements to segregate.
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There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to employ its derivatives strategy successfully. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, the Fund’s ability to correctly forecast market movements, company and industry valuation levels and trends, changes in foreign exchange
rates, and other factors. If the Fund incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the Fund’s performance could suffer.
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Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading in seeking to achieve its investment objective, and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees or other transaction costs. These costs are not reflected in the Fund’s
annual operating expenses or in the expense example, but such costs can reduce the Fund’s investment performance. If the Fund realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those gains to shareholders, resulting in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Financial Highlights
table at the end of this prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during past fiscal years.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
105
Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
International Opportunities Fund
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable results.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other equity securities. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Different segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets may react differently than foreign markets.
Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor confidence. In addition, individual stocks
may be adversely affected by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common stock has lower priority than preferred
stock and debt securities. Because convertible securities may be exchanged for common stock, they are subject to the risks affecting both equity and fixed income securities, including market, credit and interest rate risk.
Although the Fund maintains a diversified portfolio, from time to time the Fund may favor investments in one or more particular industries or sectors. To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, the value of the relevant portion of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate in response to events
affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) to a greater degree than securities within other industries or sectors.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
106
In addition to the risks of overall market movements and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through careful security selection, portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and
analysis, but there can be no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be successful in reducing risk. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of strategies employed by the Fund and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. The securities selected for the Fund may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Fund. As a
result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
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Small and Mid-Sized Company Risk:
The Fund’s investments in equity securities of small and mid-sized companies typically involve greater investment risks than larger companies. Small and mid-sized companies may have limited management experience or depth, limited ability to generate or borrow capital needed
for growth, and limited products or services. Small and mid-sized companies may operate in markets that have not yet been established or only have a small share of more developed markets. Accordingly, small and mid-sized company securities tend to be more sensitive to changing economic conditions and tend to be
more volatile and less liquid than equity securities of larger companies.
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Blend Style Risk:
The Fund invests in both growth and value stocks, or in stocks with characteristics of both. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if, for example, the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections. The prices of value stocks may lag the market for long periods of time if the market
fails to recognize the company’s worth. A portfolio that combines growth and value styles may diversify these risks and lower the volatility, but there is no assurance this strategy will achieve that result.
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic and social volatility, currency exchange fluctuations, lack of transparency or inadequate regulatory and
accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. A change in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in that foreign currency, including the
value of any income distributions payable to the Fund as a holder of such securities. In addition, foreign company securities may be subject to less trading volume and
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
107
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liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are linked to non-U.S. markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or exchange and denominated in U.S. dollars. To the extent that the Fund invests in this manner, the
percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that are invested in foreign securities that principally are traded outside of the U.S.
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Emerging Markets Risk:
Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative and generally are riskier than more developed markets because they tend to develop unevenly and may never fully develop. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and currency devaluations. Securities of
emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes, tend to be less liquid, especially subject to greater price volatility, have a smaller market capitalization, have less government regulation and may not be subject to as extensive and frequent accounting, financial and other reporting requirements as
securities issued in more developed countries. Further, investing in the securities of issuers located in certain emerging countries may present a greater risk of loss resulting from problems in security registration and custody or substantial economic or political disruptions. The Fund may invest in securities of companies
whose economic fortunes are linked to emerging markets but which principally are traded on a non-emerging market exchange. Such investments do not meet the Fund’s definition of an emerging market security. To the extent that the Fund invests in this manner, the percent of the Fund’s portfolio that is exposed to
emerging market risks may be greater than the percent of the Fund’s assets that the Fund defines as representing emerging market securities.
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Foreign Currency Risk:
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies, which are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in
foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. A decline in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar will reduce the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in those currencies. The Fund’s use of currency-related transactions involves the risk that the Fund will
not accurately predict currency movements and the Fund’s return could be reduced as a result. Also, it may be difficult or impractical to hedge currency risk in many developing or emerging countries.
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
108
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Derivatives Risk:
To the extent that the Fund uses derivatives, the Fund will be exposed to the risk that the value of a derivative instrument does not move in correlation with the value of the underlying security, market index or interest rate, or moves in an opposite direction than anticipated by the Fund. Investing in
derivatives also involves the risk that the derivatives will become illiquid and that the counterparty to the options, futures, forwards or swap agreement or contract may fail to perform its obligations.
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Because derivatives may involve a small amount of cash relative to the total amount of the transaction, the magnitude of losses from derivatives may be greater than the amount originally invested by the Fund in the derivative instrument. In addition, the Fund will be required to segregate permissible liquid assets to
cover its obligations under these transactions and may have to liquidate positions before it is desirable to do so to fulfill its requirements to segregate.
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There is no assurance that a Fund will be able to employ its derivatives strategy successfully. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, the Fund’s ability to correctly forecast market movements, company and industry valuation levels and trends, changes in foreign exchange
rates, and other factors. If the Fund incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the Fund’s performance could suffer.
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Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading in seeking to achieve its investment objective, and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees or other transaction costs. These costs are not reflected in the Fund’s
annual operating expenses or in the expense example, but such costs can reduce the Fund’s investment performance. If the Fund realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those gains to shareholders, resulting in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Financial Highlights
table at the end of this prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during past fiscal years.
Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
109
Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund
As used in this subsection of the prospectus, the term “the Fund” refers to each of Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund, unless reference to a specific Fund is provided.
As with any investment in a mutual fund, investing in the Fund involves risk, including the risk that you may receive little or no return on your investment. When you redeem your shares, they may be worth more or less than what you paid for them, which means that you may lose a portion or all of the money you
invested in the Fund. Before you invest in the Fund, you should carefully evaluate the risks in light of your investment goals. An investment in the Fund held for longer periods over full market cycles typically provides the most favorable results.
The Fund invests principally in stocks and other equity securities. Stock markets may experience significant volatility at times and may fall sharply in response to adverse events. Different segments of the stock market may react differently than other segments and U.S. markets may react differently than foreign markets.
Individual securities also may experience dramatic movements in price. Factors that may affect the markets in general or individual stocks include periods of slower growth or recessionary economic conditions, future expectations of poor economic conditions or lack of investor confidence. In addition, individual stocks
may be adversely affected by factors such as reduced sales, increased costs or a negative outlook for the future performance of the company. Common stock represents ownership in a company. In claims for assets in a liquidation or bankruptcy and in claims for dividends, common stock has lower priority than preferred
stock and debt securities. Because convertible securities may be exchanged for common stock, they are subject to the risks affecting both equity and fixed income securities, including market, credit and interest rate risk.
Although the Fund maintains a diversified portfolio, from time to time the Fund may favor investments in one or more particular industries or sectors. To the extent that the Fund emphasizes a particular industry or sector, the value of the relevant portion of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate in response to events
affecting that industry or sector (such as government regulations, resource availability or economic developments) to a greater degree than securities within other industries or sectors.
In addition to the risks of overall market movements and risks that are specific to an individual security, the principal risks you assume when investing in the Fund are described below. The Fund attempts to manage these risks through careful security selection, portfolio diversification, and continual portfolio review and
analysis, but there can be no assurance or guarantee that these strategies will be
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
110
successful in reducing risk. Please see the SAI for a further discussion of strategies employed by the Fund and the risks associated with an investment in the Fund.
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Portfolio Management Risk:
The strategies used and securities selected by the Fund’s portfolio management may fail to produce the intended result and the Fund may not achieve its objective. The securities selected for the Fund may not perform as well as other securities that were not selected for the Fund. As a
result, the Fund may suffer losses or underperform other funds with the same investment objective or strategies, even in a rising market.
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Micro-Cap Company Risk:
Investing in micro-cap companies generally involves greater risks than investing in the stocks of larger companies. Micro-cap companies may be less able to weather economic shifts or other adverse developments than larger, more established companies. They may have less experienced
management and unproven track records. They may rely on limited product lines and have more limited financial resources. These factors may make them more susceptible to setbacks or economic downturns. In addition, micro-cap company stocks tend to have fewer shares outstanding and trade less frequently than
the stocks of larger companies. In addition, there may be less liquidity in micro-cap company stocks, subjecting them to greater price fluctuations than larger company stocks.
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Growth Investing Risk:
Growth stocks tend to be more volatile than slower-growing value stocks. The prices of growth stocks may fall dramatically if, for example, the company fails to meet earnings or revenue projections.
(This risk applies to Micro Cap Growth Fund.)
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Value Investing Risk:
The prices of value stocks may lag the stock market for long periods of time if the market fails to recognize the company’s intrinsic worth.
(This risk applies to Micro Cap Value Fund.)
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Foreign Company Risk:
The Fund’s investment exposure to foreign (which may include emerging market) companies generally is subject to the risk that the value of securities issued by foreign companies may be adversely affected by political, economic and social volatility, lack of transparency, or inadequate
regulatory and accounting standards, inadequate exchange control regulations, foreign taxes, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement. A change in the value of a foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar will change the value of securities held by the Fund that are denominated in that foreign
currency, including the value of any income distributions payable to the Fund as a holder of such securities. In addition, foreign company securities may be subject to less trading volume and liquidity, which may lead to greater price fluctuation. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers whose economic fortunes are
linked to non-U.S. markets, but which principally are traded on a U.S. securities market or
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
111
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exchange and denominated in U.S. dollars. To the extent that the Fund invests in this manner, the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is exposed to the risks associated with foreign companies may exceed the percentage of the Fund’s assets that is invested in foreign securities that principally are traded outside of the
U.S. The Fund’s investments in companies tied to emerging markets generally are subject to more risks than investments in developed market companies because they tend to have less liquidity, greater price volatility, smaller market capitalizations, less government regulation, and less extensive and frequent accounting,
financial and other reporting requirements.
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Portfolio Turnover.
The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading in seeking to achieve its investment objective, and may have a portfolio turnover rate of over 100% annually. Increased portfolio turnover may result in higher brokerage fees or other transaction costs. These costs are not reflected in the Fund’s
annual operating expenses or in the expense example, but such costs can reduce the Fund’s investment performance. If the Fund realizes capital gains when it sells investments, it generally must pay those gains to shareholders, resulting in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Financial Highlights
table at the end of this prospectus shows the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate during past fiscal years.
Temporary or Defensive Investments.
The Fund seeks to remain fully invested in accordance with its investment objective. To respond to adverse economic, market, political or other conditions that are unfavorable for investors, however, the Fund may invest its assets in a temporary defensive manner by holding all or a
substantial portion of its assets in cash, cash equivalents or other high quality short-term investments, money market fund shares, and other money market instruments. The Fund also may invest in these types of securities or hold cash while looking for suitable investment opportunities or to maintain liquidity. When
investing in this manner, the Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective.
As used in the remaining portion of this prospectus, the terms “a Fund,” “each Fund,” and “the Fund” refer to each Fund individually or the Funds collectively, as the context may require, unless reference to a specific Fund is provided.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures regarding the disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings is available in the SAI. Further information is available at www.lordabbett.com.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE FUNDS
Board of Trustees.
The Board oversees the management of the business and affairs of the Fund. The Board meets regularly to review the Fund’s portfolio investments, performance, expenses, and operations. The Board appoints officers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund and who execute
policies authorized by the Board. At least 75 percent of the Board members are independent of Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (“Lord Abbett”).
Investment Adviser.
The Fund’s investment adviser is Lord Abbett, which is located at 90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302-3973. Founded in 1929, Lord Abbett manages one of the nation’s oldest mutual fund complexes, and manages approximately [$110.3 billion] in assets across a full range of mutual funds,
institutional accounts and separately managed accounts, including [$2.9 billion] for which Lord Abbett provides investment models to managed account sponsors, as of [December 31, 2012].
Portfolio Managers.
Each Fund is managed by an experienced portfolio manager or a team of experienced portfolio managers responsible for investment decisions together with a team of investment professionals who provide issuer, industry, sector and macroeconomic research and analysis. The SAI contains additional
information about portfolio manager compensation, other accounts managed, and ownership of Fund shares.
Alpha Strategy Fund.
Robert I. Gerber, Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Lord Abbett, is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Gerber joined Lord Abbett in 1997 and has been a member of the team since 2005. Mr. Gerber is supported by a team of investment professionals who
provide asset allocation analysis and research.
Fundamental Equity Fund.
Robert P. Fetch, Partner and Director heads the team. Mr. Fetch joined Lord Abbett in 1995 and established Lord Abbett’s micro cap, small cap, small-mid cap and multi cap value investment strategies. Mr. Fetch has been a portfolio manager for the Fund since 2001. Assisting Mr. Fetch is
Deepak Khanna, Partner and Portfolio Manager. Mr. Khanna returned to Lord Abbett and joined the team in 2007. Messrs. Fetch and Khanna are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.
Growth Leaders Fund.
The team is headed by F. Thomas O’Halloran, Partner and Director, who joined Lord Abbett in 2001. Assisting Mr. O’Halloran are Paul J. Volovich, Partner and Director, who joined Lord Abbett in 1997; and Arthur K. Weise, Partner and Portfolio Manager, who joined Lord Abbett in 2007.
Messrs. O’Halloran, Volovich, and Weise are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and have been members of the team since the Fund’s inception.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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International Core Equity Fund.
Harold E. Sharon, Partner and Director, and Vincent J. McBride, Partner and Director, head the team and are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Sharon joined Lord Abbett in 2003 and has been a member of the team since the Fund’s
inception. Mr. McBride joined Lord Abbett in 2003 and has been a member of the team since the Fund’s inception.
International Dividend Income Fund.
Vincent J. McBride, Partner and Director, and Harold E. Sharon, Partner and Director, head the team and are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. McBride joined Lord Abbett in 2003 and has been a member of the team since the
Fund’s inception. Mr. Sharon joined Lord Abbett in 2003 and has been a member of the team since the Fund’s inception.
International Opportunities Fund.
Todd D. Jacobson, Portfolio Manager, heads the team. Mr. Jacobson joined Lord Abbett in 2003 and has been a member of the team since that time. Assisting Mr. Jacobson is A. Edward Allinson, Portfolio Manager. Mr. Allinson joined Lord Abbett and has been a member of the team
since 2005. Messrs. Jacobson and Allinson are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.
Micro Cap Growth Fund.
F. Thomas O’Halloran, Partner and Director heads the team. Mr. O’Halloran joined Lord Abbett in 2001 and has been a member of the team since 2006. Assisting Mr. O’Halloran is Anthony W. Hipple, Portfolio Manager. Mr. Hipple joined Lord Abbett in 2002 and has been a member of the
team since 2006. Messrs. O’Halloran and Hipple are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.
Micro Cap Value Fund.
Gerard S.E. Heffernan, Jr., Partner and Director, heads the Fund’s team. Mr. Heffernan is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund and has been a member of the team since 1999. Mr. Heffernan joined Lord Abbett in 1998.
Value Opportunities Fund.
Thomas B. Maher, Partner and Portfolio Manager, and Justin C. Maurer, Partner and Portfolio Manager, are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. Mr. Maher joined Lord Abbett in 2003 and has been a member of the team since 2005. Mr. Maurer joined
Lord Abbett in 2001 and has been a member of the team since 2007.
Management Fee.
Lord Abbett is entitled to a management fee based on each Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is accrued daily and payable monthly.
Lord Abbett is entitled to an annual management fee based on Alpha Strategy Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is accrued daily and payable monthly. The management fee is calculated at 0.10% on the Fund’s average daily net assets.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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For the fiscal year ended [October 31, 2012] Lord Abbett waived its entire fee for Alpha Strategy Fund. For more information about the services Lord Abbett provides to the Fund, see the statement of additional information.
Lord Abbett is entitled to the following management fee for Fundamental Equity Fund as calculated at the following annual rate:
0.75% on the first $200 million of average daily net assets;
0.65% on the next $300 million of average daily net assets; and
0.50% on average daily net assets over $500 million.
For the fiscal year ended [October 31, 2012], the effective annual rate of the fee paid to Lord Abbett was [0.52%] for Fundamental Equity Fund.
Lord Abbett is entitled to a management fee for Growth Leaders Fund based on the Fund’s average daily net assets. The management fee is accrued daily and payable monthly at the following rate:
0.55% on the first $2 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.50% on average daily net assets over $2 billion.
For the fiscal period ended [October 31, 2012], the effective annual rate of the fee paid to Lord Abbett, net of any applicable waivers or reimbursements, was [0.00%] for Growth Leaders Fund.
Lord Abbett is entitled to the following management fee for International Core Equity Fund, International Dividend Income Fund, International Opportunities Fund, and Value Opportunities Fund as calculated at the following annual rate:
0.75% on the first $1 billion of average daily net assets;
0.70% on the next $1 billion of average daily net assets; and
0.65% on average daily net assets over $2 billion.
For the fiscal year ended [October 31, 2012], the effective annual rate of the fee paid to Lord Abbett, net of any applicable waivers or reimbursements, was [0.45%], [0.43%], and [0.75%] for International Core Equity Fund, International Dividend Income Fund, and International Opportunities Fund, respectively.
For the fiscal year ended [October 31, 2012], the effective annual rate of the fee paid to Lord Abbett was [0.73%] for Value Opportunities Fund.
Lord Abbett is entitled to a management fee of 1.50% of the average daily net assets of each of Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund.
For the fiscal year ended [October 31, 2012], the effective annual rate of the fee paid to Lord Abbett was [1.50%] for both Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
115
In addition, Lord Abbett provides certain administrative services to each Fund pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement in return for a fee at an annual rate of 0.04% of each Fund’s average daily net assets, with the exception of the Alpha Strategy Fund, which pays no such fee. Each Fund pays all of its expenses
not expressly assumed by Lord Abbett.
Each year the Board considers whether to approve the continuation of the existing management and administrative services agreements between the Funds and Lord Abbett. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval generally is available in the Funds’ semiannual report to shareholders for the six-month
period ended April 30.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND AND MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund are not available for purchase other than as described below. Please contact Lord Abbett Distributor LLC (“Lord Abbett Distributor”) at 800-201-6984, ext. 2936 with any questions about eligibility of investing in the Fund.
Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund Class A Shares
The Funds offer Class A shares only to: employees and partners of Lord Abbett; officers, directors or trustees of Lord Abbett-sponsored funds; the spouses and children under the age of 21 of such persons; retired persons who formerly held such positions; and trusts and foundations established by any of such persons.
These are the only individuals who are eligible Purchasers (as defined below) with respect to Class A shares of the Fund.
Micro Cap Growth Fund and Micro Cap Value Fund Class I Shares
The Funds offer Class I shares only to: the Lord Abbett 401(k) plan; or each registered investment company within the Lord Abbett Family of Funds that operates as a fund of funds; and institutional investors otherwise eligible to purchase Class I shares.
CHOOSING A SHARE CLASS
Each class of shares represents an investment in the same portfolio of securities, but each has different availability and eligibility criteria, sales charges, expenses, and dividends, allowing you to choose the available class that best meets your needs. You should read this section carefully to determine which class of shares is
best for you and discuss your selection with your financial intermediary. Factors you should consider in choosing a class of shares include:
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the amount you plan to invest;
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the length of time you expect to hold your investment;
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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the total costs associated with your investment, including any sales charges that you pay when you buy or sell your Fund shares and expenses that are paid out of Fund assets over time;
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whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges;
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whether you plan to take any distributions in the near future;
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the availability of the share class;
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the services that will be available to you depending on the share class you choose; and
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the amount of compensation that your financial intermediary will receive depending on the share class you choose.
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If you plan to invest a large amount and your investment horizon is five years or more, Class A shares may be more advantageous than Class C shares. The higher ongoing annual expenses of Class C shares may cost you more over the long term than the front-end sales charge you would pay on larger purchases of Class A
shares.
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Retirement and Benefit Plans and Fee-Based Programs
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The availability of share classes and certain features of share classes may depend on the type of financial intermediary through which you invest, including retirement and benefit plans and fee-based programs. As used in this prospectus, the term “retirement and benefit plans” refers to qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation plans and other employer-sponsored retirement, savings or benefit plans,
such as defined benefit plans, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, 403(b) plans, profit-sharing plans, and money purchase pension plans, but does not include IRAs, unless explicitly stated elsewhere in the prospectus. As used in this prospectus, the term “fee-based programs” refers to programs sponsored by financial intermediaries that provide fee-based investment advisory programs or services (including mutual fund wrap programs) or a
bundled suite of services, such as brokerage, investment advice, research, and account management, for which the client pays a fee based on the total asset value of the client’s account for all or a specified number of transactions, including mutual fund purchases, in the account during a certain period.
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Key Features of Share Classes.
The following table compares key features of each share class. You should review the fee table and example at the front of this prospectus carefully before choosing your share class. As a general matter, share classes with relatively lower expenses tend to have relatively higher dividends.
Your financial intermediary can help you decide which class meets your goals. Not all share classes may be available through your financial intermediary. Your financial intermediary may receive different compensation depending upon which class you choose.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Class A Shares
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Availability
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Available through financial intermediaries to individual investors, certain retirement and benefit plans, and fee-based advisory programs
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Front-End Sales Charge
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Up to 5.75%; reduced or waived for large purchases and certain investors; eliminated for purchases of $1 million or more
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CDSC
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1.00% on redemptions made within one year following purchases of $1 million or more; waived under certain circumstances
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
(for each Fund other than Alpha
Strategy Fund, Micro Cap Growth
Fund, and Micro Cap Value Fund)
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0.35% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: 0.10%
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
(for Alpha Strategy Fund)
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0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: None
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
(for Micro Cap Growth Fund and
Micro Cap Value Fund)
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0.00%
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class A shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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Class B Shares
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Availability
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Class B shares are no longer available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution.
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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Up to 5.00% on redemptions; reduced over time and eliminated after sixth anniversary of purchase; waived under certain circumstances
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: 0.75%
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Conversion
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Automatic conversion to Class A shares after approximately the eighth anniversary of purchase
(3)
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class B shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Class C Shares
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Availability
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Available through financial intermediaries to individual investors and certain retirement and benefit plans; purchases generally must be under $500,000
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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1.00% on redemptions made before the first anniversary of purchase; waived under certain circumstances
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: 0.75%
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class C shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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Class F Shares
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Availability
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Available only to eligible fee-based advisory programs and certain registered investment advisers
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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None
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: None
Distribution Fee: 0.10%
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class F shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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Class I Shares
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Availability
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Available only to eligible investors
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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None
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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None
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class I shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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Class P Shares
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Availability
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Available on a limited basis through certain financial intermediaries and retirement and benefit plans
(4)
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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None
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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0.45% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: 0.20%
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class P shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Class R2 Shares
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Availability
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Available only to eligible retirement and benefit plans
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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None
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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0.60% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: 0.35%
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class R2 shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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Class R3 Shares
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Availability
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Available only to eligible retirement and benefit plans
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Front-End Sales Charge
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None
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CDSC
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None
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fee
(1)
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0.50% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, comprised of:
Service Fee: 0.25%
Distribution Fee: 0.25%
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Conversion
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None
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Exchange Privilege
(2)
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Class R3 shares of most Lord Abbett Funds
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(1)
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The 12b-1 plan provides that the maximum payments that may be authorized by the Board are: for Class A shares, 0.50%; for Class P shares, 0.75%; and for Class B, C, F, R2, and R3 shares, 1.00%. The rates shown in the table above are the 12b-1 rates currently authorized by the Board for each share class and may be changed only upon authorization of the Board. The 12b-1 plan does not permit any payments for Class I shares.
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(2)
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Ask your financial intermediary about the Lord Abbett Funds available for exchange.
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(3)
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Class B shares automatically will convert to Class A shares on the 25th day of the month (or, if the 25th is not a business day, the next business day thereafter) following the eighth anniversary of the day on which the purchase order was accepted.
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(4)
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Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors.
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Investment Minimums.
The minimum initial and additional amounts shown below vary depending on the class of shares you buy and the type of account. Certain financial intermediaries may impose different restrictions than those described below. Consult your financial intermediary for more information. Class B shares
no longer are available for purchase by new or existing investors and only will be issued in connection with (i) an exchange of Class B shares from another Lord Abbett Fund or (ii) a reinvestment of a dividend and/or capital gain distribution. For Class I shares, the minimum investment shown below applies to certain types
of institutional investors. Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Investment Minimums — Initial/Additional Investments
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Class
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A and C
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F, P, R2, and R3
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I
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General and IRAs without Invest-A-Matic Investments
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$1,500/No minimum
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No minimum
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See below
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Invest-A-Matic Accounts
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$250/$50
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N/A
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N/A
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IRAs, SIMPLE and SEP Accounts with Payroll Deductions
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No minimum
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N/A
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N/A
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Fee-Based Advisory Programs and Retirement and Benefit Plans
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No minimum
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No minimum
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No minimum
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Class I Share Minimum Investment.
Unless otherwise provided, the minimum amount of an initial investment in Class I shares is $1 million. There is no minimum initial investment for (i) purchases through or by registered investment advisers, bank trust departments, and other financial intermediaries otherwise eligible to
purchase Class I shares that charge a fee for services that include investment advisory or management services or (ii) purchases by retirement and benefit plans meeting the Class I eligibility requirements described below. These investment minimums may be suspended, changed, or withdrawn by Lord Abbett Distributor.
Additional Information About the Availability of Share Classes
Class B Shares.
The Fund no longer offers Class B shares for new or additional investments. Existing shareholders of Class B shares may reinvest dividends into Class B shares and exchange their Class B shares for Class B shares of other Lord Abbett Funds as permitted by the current exchange privileges. The 12b-1 fee,
CDSC, and conversion features will continue to apply to Class B shares held by shareholders. Any purchase request for Class B shares will be deemed to be a purchase request for Class A shares and will be subject to any applicable sales charge.
Class C Shares.
The Fund will not accept purchases of Class C shares of $500,000 or more, or in any amount that, when combined with the value of all shares of Eligible Funds (as defined below) under the terms of rights of accumulation, would result in the investor holding more than $500,000 of shares of Eligible Funds
at the time of such purchase, unless an appropriate representative of the investor’s broker-dealer firm (or other financial intermediary, as applicable) provides written authorization for the transaction. Please contact Lord Abbett Distributor with any questions regarding eligibility to purchase Class C shares based on the
prior written authorization from the investor’s broker-dealer firm or other financial intermediary.
With respect to qualified retirement plans, the Fund will not reject a purchase of Class C shares by such a plan in the event that a purchase amount, when combined with the value of all shares of Eligible Funds under the terms of rights of accumulation, would result in the plan holding more than $500,000 of shares
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
121
of Eligible Funds at the time of the purchase. Any subsequent purchase orders submitted by the plan, however, would be subject to the Class C share purchase limit policy described above. Such subsequent purchases would be considered purchase orders for Class R3 shares.
Class F Shares.
Class F shares generally are available to investors participating in fee-based advisory programs that have (or whose trading agents have) an agreement with Lord Abbett Distributor and to investors that are clients of certain registered investment advisers that have an agreement with Lord Abbett Distributor,
if it so deems appropriate.
Class I Shares.
Class I shares are available for purchase by the following entities:
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Institutional investors, including companies, foundations, trusts and endowments, and other entities determined by Lord Abbett Distributor to be institutional investors, making an initial minimum investment of at least $1 million;
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Retirement and benefit plans investing directly or through an intermediary,
provided that
in the case of an intermediary, the intermediary has entered into a special arrangement with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor specifically for such purchases;
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•
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Registered investment advisers investing on behalf of their advisory clients,
provided that
in the case of a registered investment adviser that is also a registered broker-dealer, the firm has not entered into any agreement or arrangement whereby Lord Abbett makes payments to the firm out of its own resources for
various services, such as marketing support, training and education activities, and other services for which Lord Abbett may make such revenue sharing payments to the firm; and
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•
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Bank trust departments and trust companies purchasing shares for their clients,
provided that
the bank or trust company (and its trading agent, if any) has entered into a special arrangement with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor specifically for such purchases.
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Class I shares also are available for purchase by each registered investment company within the Lord Abbett Family of Funds that operates as a fund of funds and, at the discretion of Lord Abbett Distributor, other registered investment companies that are not affiliated with Lord Abbett and operate as funds of funds.
Shareholders who held Class I shares on July 9, 2010 may continue to hold, purchase, exchange, and redeem Class I shares, provided that there has been no change in the registration of the account since that date.
Financial intermediaries should contact Lord Abbett Distributor to determine whether the financial intermediary may be eligible for such purchases.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
122
Class P Shares.
Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors. Existing shareholders holding Class P shares may continue to hold their Class P shares and make additional purchases, redemptions, and exchanges. Class P shares also are available for orders made by or on behalf of a financial intermediary for clients
participating in an IRA rollover program sponsored by the financial intermediary that operates the program in an omnibus recordkeeping environment and has entered into special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor specifically for such orders.
Class R2 and R3 (collectively referred to as “Class R”) Shares.
Class R shares generally are available through:
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employer-sponsored retirement and benefit plans where the employer, administrator, recordkeeper, sponsor, related person, financial intermediary, or other appropriate party has entered into an agreement with the Fund or Lord Abbett Distributor to make Class R shares available to plan participants; or
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dealers that have entered into certain approved agreements with Lord Abbett Distributor.
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Class R shares also are available for orders made by or on behalf of a financial intermediary for clients participating in an IRA rollover program sponsored by the financial intermediary that operates the program in an omnibus recordkeeping environment and has entered into special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord
Abbett Distributor specifically for such orders.
Class R shares generally are not available to retail non-retirement accounts, traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs, individual 403(b) plans, or 529 college savings plans.
SALES CHARGES
As an investor in the Fund, you may pay one of two types of sales charges: a front-end sales charge that is deducted from your investment when you buy Fund shares or a CDSC that applies when you sell Fund shares.
Class A Share Front-End Sales Charge.
Front-end sales charges are applied only to Class A shares. You buy Class A shares at the offering price, which is the net asset value (“NAV”) plus a sales charge. You pay a lower rate as the size of your investment increases to certain levels called breakpoints. You do not pay a sales
charge on the Fund’s distributions or dividends you reinvest in additional Class A shares. The table below shows the rate of sales charge you pay (expressed as a percentage of the offering price and the net amount you invest), depending on the amount you purchase.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
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Front-End Sales Charge — Class A Shares
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Your
Investment
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Front-End Sales
Charge as a % of
Offering Price
|
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Front-End Sales
Charge as a % of Your
Investment
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To Compute Offering
Price Divide NAV by
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Maximum Dealer’s
Concession as a % of
Offering Price
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Less than $50,000
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5.75%
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6.10%
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.9425
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5.00%
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$50,000 to $99,999
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4.75%
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4.99%
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.9525
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4.00%
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$100,000 to $249,999
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3.95%
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4.11%
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.9605
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3.25%
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$250,000 to $499,999
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2.75%
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2.83%
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.9725
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2.25%
|
|
$500,000 to $999,999
|
|
1.95%
|
|
1.99%
|
|
.9805
|
|
1.75%
|
|
$1,000,000 and over
|
|
No Sales Charge
|
|
No Sales Charge
|
|
1.0000
|
|
†
|
|
†
|
|
See “Dealer Concessions on Class A Share Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge.”
Note: The above percentages may vary for particular investors due to rounding.
|
CDSC.
Regardless of share class, the CDSC is not charged on shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions and is charged on the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares at the time they are redeemed, whichever is lower. In addition, repayment of loans under
certain retirement and benefit plans will constitute new sales for purposes of assessing the CDSC. To minimize the amount of any CDSC, the Fund redeems shares in the following order:
|
1.
|
|
|
|
shares acquired by reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions (always free of a CDSC);
|
|
|
2.
|
|
|
|
shares held for six years or more (Class B), or one year or more (Class A and Class C); and
|
|
3.
|
|
|
|
shares held the longest before the sixth anniversary of their purchase (Class B), or before the first anniversary of their purchase (Class A and Class C).
|
If you buy Class A shares of the Fund under certain purchases with a front-end sales charge waiver or if you acquire Class A shares of the Fund in exchange for Class A shares of another Lord Abbett Fund subject to a CDSC, and you redeem any of the Class A shares before the first day of the month in which the one-year
anniversary of your purchase falls, a CDSC of 1% normally will be collected. Class F, I, P, R2, and R3 shares are not subject to a CDSC.
If you acquire Fund shares through an exchange from another Lord Abbett Fund that originally were purchased subject to a CDSC and you redeem before the applicable CDSC period has expired, you will be charged the CDSC (unless a CDSC waiver applies). The CDSC will be remitted to the appropriate party.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
124
Class B Share CDSC.
The CDSC for Class B shares normally applies if you redeem your shares before the sixth anniversary of the day on which the purchase order was accepted. The CDSC will be remitted to Lord Abbett Distributor. The CDSC declines the longer you own your shares, according to the following
schedule:
|
|
|
|
|
CDSC — Class B Shares
|
|
Anniversary of the Day on
Which the Purchase
Order was Accepted
(1)
|
|
CDSC on Redemptions
(as a % of Amount
Subject to CDSC)
|
|
Before the 1st
|
|
5.0%
|
|
On the 1st, before the 2nd
|
|
4.0%
|
|
On the 2nd, before the 3rd
|
|
3.0%
|
|
On the 3rd, before the 4th
|
|
3.0%
|
|
On the 4th, before the 5th
|
|
2.0%
|
|
On the 5th, before the 6th
|
|
1.0%
|
|
On or after the 6th anniversary
(2)
|
|
None
|
|
(1)
|
|
The anniversary is the same calendar day in each respective year after the date of purchase. For example, the anniversary for shares purchased on May 1
st
will be May 1
st
of each succeeding year.
|
(2)
|
|
Class B shares automatically will convert to Class A shares on the 25
th
day of the month (or, if the 25
th
is not a business day, the next business day thereafter) following the eighth anniversary of the day on which the purchase order was accepted.
|
Class C Share CDSC.
The 1% CDSC for Class C shares normally applies if you redeem your shares before the first anniversary of your purchase. The CDSC will be remitted to Lord Abbett Distributor.
SALES CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND WAIVERS
Please inform the Fund or your financial intermediary at the time of your purchase of Fund shares if you believe you qualify for a reduced front-end sales charge. More information about sales charge reductions and waivers is available free of charge at www.lordabbett.com/flyers/breakpoints_info.pdf.
Reducing Your Class A Share Front-End Sales Charge.
You may purchase Class A shares at a discount if you qualify under the circumstances outlined below. To receive a reduced front-end sales charge, you must let the Fund or your financial intermediary know at the time of your purchase of Fund shares that you
believe you qualify for a discount. If you or a related party have holdings of Eligible Funds (as defined below) in other accounts with your financial intermediary or with other financial intermediaries that may be combined with your current purchases in determining the sales charge as described below, you must let the
Fund or your financial intermediary know. You may be asked to provide supporting account statements or other
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
125
information to allow us or your financial intermediary to verify your eligibility for a discount. If you or your financial intermediary do not notify the Fund or provide the requested information, you may not receive the reduced sales charge for which you otherwise qualify. Class A shares may be purchased at a discount if
you qualify under any of the following conditions:
|
•
|
|
|
|
Larger Purchases
– You may reduce or eliminate your Class A front-end sales charge by purchasing Class A shares in greater quantities. The breakpoint discounts offered by the Fund are indicated in the table under “Sales Charges – Class A Share Front-End Sales Charge.”
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Rights of Accumulation
– A Purchaser (as defined below) may combine the value of Class A, B, C, F, and P shares of any Eligible Fund currently owned with a new purchase of Class A shares of any Eligible Fund in order to reduce the sales charge on the new purchase. Class I, R2, and R3 share holdings may not be
combined for these purposes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
To the extent that your financial intermediary is able to do so, the value of Class A, B, C, F, and P shares of Eligible Funds determined for the purpose of reducing the sales charge of a new purchase under the Rights of Accumulation will be calculated at the higher of: (1) the aggregate current maximum offering price of your
existing Class A, B, C, F, and P shares of Eligible Funds; or (2) the aggregate amount you invested in such shares (including dividend reinvestments but excluding capital appreciation) less any redemptions. You should retain any information and account records necessary to substantiate the historical amounts you and any
related Purchasers have invested in Eligible Funds. You must inform the Fund and/or your financial intermediary at the time of purchase if you believe your purchase qualifies for a reduced sales charge and you may be requested to provide documentation of your holdings in order to verify your eligibility. If you do not do
so, you may not receive all sales charge reductions for which you are eligible.
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
Letter of Intention
– In order to reduce your Class A front-end sales charge, a Purchaser may combine purchases of Class A, C, F, and P shares of any Eligible Fund the Purchaser intends to make over the next 13 months in determining the applicable sales charge. The 13-month Letter of Intention period commences on
the day that the Letter of Intention is received by the Fund, and the Purchaser must tell the Fund that later purchases are subject to the Letter of Intention. Purchases submitted prior to the date the Letter of Intention is received by the Fund are not counted toward the sales charge reduction. Current holdings under
Rights of Accumulation may be included in a Letter of Intention in order to reduce the sales charge for purchases during the 13-month period covered by the Letter of Intention. Shares purchased through reinvestment of dividends or distributions are not included. Class I, R2, and R3 share holdings may not be
combined for these purposes. Class A shares valued at 5% of the amount of intended purchases
|
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
126
|
|
|
|
are escrowed and may be redeemed to cover the additional sales charges payable if the intended purchases under the Letter of Intention are not completed. The Letter of Intention is neither a binding obligation on you to buy, nor on the Fund to sell, any or all of the intended purchase amount.
|
|
Purchaser
|
|
A Purchaser includes: (1) an individual; (2) an individual, his or her spouse, and children under the age of 21; (3) retirement and benefit plans including a 401(k) plan, profit-sharing plan, money purchase plan, defined benefit plan, and 457(b) plan sponsored by a governmental entity, non-profit organization, school district or church to which employer contributions are made, as well as SIMPLE IRA plans and SEP-IRA plans; or (4) a
trustee or other fiduciary purchasing shares for a single trust, estate or single fiduciary account. An individual may include under item (1) his or her holdings in Eligible Funds as described above in IRAs, as a sole participant of a retirement and benefit plan sponsored by the individual’s business, and as a participant in a 403(b) plan to which only pre-tax salary deferrals are made. An individual and his or her spouse may include
under item (2) their holdings in IRAs, and as the sole participants in retirement and benefit plans sponsored by a business owned by either or both of them. A retirement and benefit plan under item (3) includes all qualified retirement and benefit plans of a single employer and its consolidated subsidiaries, and all qualified retirement and benefit plans of multiple employers registered in the name of a single bank trustee.
|
|
Eligible Fund
|
|
An Eligible Fund is any Lord Abbett Fund except for (1) Lord Abbett Series Fund, Inc.; (2) Lord Abbett U.S. Government & Government Sponsored Enterprises Money Market Fund, Inc. (“Money Market Fund”) (except for holdings in Money Market Fund which are attributable to any shares exchanged from the Lord Abbett Funds); and (3) any other fund the shares of which are not available to the investor at the time of the
transaction due to a limitation on the offering of the fund’s shares.
|
Front-End Sales Charge Waivers.
Class A shares may be purchased without a front-end sales charge under any of the following conditions:
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases of $1 million or more (may be subject to a CDSC);
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases by retirement and benefit plans with at least 100 eligible employees (may be subject to a CDSC);
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases for retirement and benefit plans made through financial intermediaries that perform participant recordkeeping or other administrative services for the plans and that have entered into special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor specifically for such purchases (may be subject to a
CDSC);
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases made by or on behalf of financial intermediaries for clients that pay the financial intermediaries fees in connection with a fee-based advisory program, provided that the financial intermediaries or their trading agents have entered into special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor
specifically for such purchases;
|
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
127
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases by insurance companies and/or their separate accounts to fund variable insurance contracts, provided that the insurance company provides recordkeeping and related administrative services to the contract owners and has entered into special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor
specifically for such purchases;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases made with dividends and distributions on Class A shares of another Eligible Fund;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases representing repayment under the loan feature of the Lord Abbett prototype 403(b) plan for Class A shares;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases by employees of any consenting securities dealer having a sales agreement with Lord Abbett Distributor;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases by trustees or custodians of any pension or profit sharing plan, or payroll deduction IRA for the employees of any consenting securities dealer having a sales agreement with Lord Abbett Distributor;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases involving the concurrent sale of Class B or C shares of the Fund related to the requirements of a settlement agreement that the broker-dealer entered into with a regulatory body relating to share class suitability. These sales transactions will be subject to the assessment of any applicable CDSCs (although the
broker-dealer may pay on behalf of the investor or reimburse the investor for any such CDSC), and any investor purchases subsequent to the original concurrent transactions will be at the applicable public offering price, which may include a sales charge; and
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
certain other types of investors may qualify to purchase Class A shares without a front-end sales charge as described in the SAI.
|
CDSC Waivers.
The CDSC generally will not be assessed on Class A, B, or C shares under the circumstances listed in the table below. Certain other types of redemptions may qualify for a CDSC waiver. Documentation may be required and some limitations may apply.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
128
|
|
|
CDSC Waivers
|
|
Share Class(es)
|
|
Benefit payments under retirement and benefit plans in connection with loans, hardship withdrawals, death, disability, retirement, separation from service, or any excess distribution under retirement and benefit plans
|
|
A, B, C
|
|
Eligible mandatory distributions under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
|
|
A, B, C
|
|
Redemptions by retirement and benefit plans made through financial intermediaries that have special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor, provided the plan has not redeemed all, or substantially all, of its assets from the Lord Abbett Funds
|
|
A
|
|
Redemptions by retirement and benefit plans made through financial intermediaries that have special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett Distributor that include the waiver of CDSCs and that initially were entered into prior to December 2002
|
|
A
|
|
Class A and Class C shares that are subject to a CDSC and held by certain 401(k) plans for which the Fund’s transfer agent provides plan administration and recordkeeping services and which offer Lord Abbett Funds as the only investment options to the plan’s participants no longer will be subject to the CDSC upon the 401(k) plan’s transition to a financial intermediary that: (1) provides recordkeeping services to the plan; (2) offers other mutual funds in addition to the Lord Abbett Funds as investment options
for the plan’s participants; and (3) has entered into a special arrangement with Lord Abbett to facilitate the 401(k) plan’s transition to the financial intermediary
|
|
A, C
|
|
Death of the shareholder
|
|
B, C
|
|
Redemptions under Div-Move and Systematic Withdrawal Plans (up to 12% per year)
|
|
B, C
|
Concurrent Sales.
A broker-dealer may pay on behalf of an investor or reimburse an investor for a CDSC otherwise applicable in the case of transactions involving purchases through such broker-dealer where the investor concurrently is selling his or her holdings in Class B or C shares of the Fund and buying Class A
shares of the Fund, provided that the purchases are related to the requirements of a settlement agreement that the broker-dealer entered into with a regulatory body relating to share class suitability.
Reinvestment Privilege.
If you redeem Class A or B shares of the Fund, you may reinvest some or all of the proceeds in the same class of any Eligible Fund on or before the 60th day after the redemption without a sales charge unless the reinvestment would be prohibited by the Fund’s frequent trading policy. Special tax
rules may apply. Please see the SAI for more information. If you paid a CDSC when you redeemed your shares, you will be credited with the amount of the CDSC. All accounts involved must have the same registration. This privilege does not apply to purchases made through Invest-A-Matic or other automatic
investment services.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION
As part of a plan for distributing shares, authorized financial intermediaries that sell the Fund’s shares and service its shareholder accounts receive sales and service compensation. Additionally, authorized financial intermediaries may charge a fee to effect transactions in Fund shares.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
129
Sales compensation originates from sales charges that are paid directly by shareholders and 12b-1 distribution fees that are paid by the Fund out of share class assets. Service compensation originates from 12b-1 service fees. Because 12b-1 fees are paid on an ongoing basis, over time the payment of such fees will increase the
cost of an investment in the Fund, which may be more than the cost of other types of sales charges. The Fund accrues 12b-1 fees daily at annual rates shown in the “Fees and Expenses” table above based upon average daily net assets. The portion of the distribution and service (12b-1) fees that are paid to financial
intermediaries for each share class is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class
|
|
|
|
A
(2)
|
|
A
|
|
B
(2)
|
|
C
(2)
|
|
F
|
|
I
|
|
P
|
|
R2
|
|
R3
|
Fee
(1)
|
|
All Funds
except
Micro Cap
Growth Fund
and Micro Cap
Value Fund
|
|
Micro Cap
Growth Fund
and Micro Cap
Value Fund
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
0.25%
|
|
—
|
|
0.25%
|
|
0.25%
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
0.25%
|
|
0.25%
|
|
0.25%
|
|
Distribution
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
0.75%
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
0.20%
|
|
0.35%
|
|
0.25%
|
|
(1)
|
|
The Fund may designate a portion of the aggregate fee as attributable to service activities for purposes of calculating Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. sales charge limitations.
|
(2)
|
|
For purchases of Class A shares without a front-end sales charge and for which Lord Abbett Distributor pays distribution-related compensation, and for all purchases of Class B and Class C shares, the 12b-1 payments shall commence 13 months after purchase.
|
Lord Abbett Distributor may pay 12b-1 fees to authorized financial intermediaries or use the fees for other distribution purposes, including revenue sharing. The amounts paid by the Fund need not be directly related to expenses. If Lord Abbett Distributor’s actual expenses exceed the fee paid to it, the Fund will not have
to pay more than that fee. Conversely, if Lord Abbett Distributor’s expenses are less than the fee it receives, Lord Abbett Distributor will keep the excess amount of the fee.
Sales Activities.
The Fund may use 12b-1 distribution fees to pay authorized financial intermediaries to finance any activity that primarily is intended to result in the sale of shares. Lord Abbett Distributor uses its portion of the distribution fees attributable to the shares of a particular class for activities that primarily are
intended to result in the sale of shares of such class. These activities include, but are not limited to, printing of prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports for anyone other than existing shareholders, preparation and distribution of advertising and sales material, expenses of organizing and conducting
sales seminars, additional payments to authorized financial intermediaries, maintenance of shareholder accounts, the cost necessary to provide distribution-related services or personnel, travel, office expenses, equipment and other allocable overhead.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
130
Service Activities.
Lord Abbett Distributor may pay 12b-1 service fees to authorized financial intermediaries for any activity that primarily is intended to result in personal service and/or the maintenance of shareholder accounts or certain retirement and benefit plans. Any portion of the service fees paid to Lord Abbett
Distributor will be used to service and maintain shareholder accounts.
Dealer Concessions on Class A Share Purchases With a Front-End Sales Charge.
See “Sales Charges – Class A Share Front-End Sales Charge” for more information.
Dealer Concessions on Class A Share Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge.
Except as otherwise set forth in the following paragraphs, Lord Abbett Distributor may pay Dealers distribution-related compensation (i.e., concessions) according to the schedule set forth below under the following circumstances:
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases of $1 million or more;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases by certain retirement and benefit plans with at least 100 eligible employees; or
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
purchases for certain retirement and benefit plans made through financial intermediaries that perform participant recordkeeping or other administrative services for the plans in connection with multiple fund family recordkeeping platforms and have entered into special arrangements with the Fund and/or Lord Abbett
Distributor specifically for such purchases (“Alliance Arrangements”).
|
Dealers receive concessions described below on purchases made within a 12-month period beginning with the first NAV purchase of Class A shares for the account. The concession rate resets on each anniversary date of the initial NAV purchase, provided that the account continues to qualify for treatment at NAV.
Current holdings of Class B, C, and P shares of Eligible Funds will be included for purposes of calculating the breakpoints in the schedule below and the amount of the concessions payable with respect to the Class A share investment. Concessions may not be paid with respect to Alliance Arrangements unless Lord Abbett
Distributor can monitor the applicability of the CDSC.
Financial intermediaries should contact Lord Abbett Distributor for more complete information on the commission structure.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dealer Concession Schedule —
Class A Shares for Certain Purchases Without a Front-End Sales Charge
|
|
The dealer concession received is based on the amount of the Class A share investment as follows:
|
Class A Investments
|
|
Front-End Sales Charge*
|
|
Dealer’s Concession
|
|
$1 million to $5 million
|
|
None
|
|
1.00%
|
|
Next $5 million above that
|
|
None
|
|
0.55%
|
|
Next $40 million above that
|
|
None
|
|
0.50%
|
|
Over $50 million
|
|
None
|
|
0.25%
|
|
*
|
|
Class A shares purchased without a sales charge will be subject to a 1% CDSC if they are redeemed before the first day of the month in which the one-year anniversary of the purchase falls. For Alliance Arrangements involving financial intermediaries offering multiple fund families to retirement and benefit plans, the CDSC normally will be collected only when a plan effects a complete redemption of all or substantially all shares of all Lord Abbett Funds in which the plan is invested.
|
Dealer Concessions on Class B Shares.
The Fund no longer offers Class B shares for purchase by new or existing investors (other than through an exchange or reinvestment of a distribution). Accordingly, sales concessions on Class B shares no longer are available.
Dealer Concessions on Class C Shares.
Lord Abbett Distributor may pay financial intermediaries selling Class C shares a sales concession of up to 1.00% of the purchase price of the Class C shares and Lord Abbett Distributor will collect and retain any applicable CDSC.
Dealer Concessions on Class F, I, P, R2, and R3 Shares.
Class F, I, P, R2, and R3 shares are purchased at NAV with no front-end sales charge and no CDSC when redeemed. Accordingly, there are no dealer concessions on these shares.
Revenue Sharing and Other Payments to Dealers and Financial Intermediaries.
Lord Abbett (the term “Lord Abbett” in this section also refers to Lord Abbett Distributor unless the context requires otherwise) may make payments to certain financial intermediaries for marketing and distribution support activities.
Lord Abbett makes these payments, at its own expense, out of its own resources (including revenues from advisory fees and 12b-1 fees), and without any additional costs to the Fund or the Fund’s shareholders.
These payments, which may include amounts that sometimes are referred to as “revenue sharing” payments, are in addition to the Fund’s fees and expenses described in this prospectus. In general, these payments are intended to compensate or reimburse financial intermediary firms for certain activities, including:
promotion of sales of Fund shares, such as placing the Lord Abbett Family of Funds on a preferred list of fund families; making Fund shares available on certain platforms, programs, or trading venues; educating a financial intermediary firm’s sales force about the Lord Abbett Funds; providing services to shareholders; and
various other promotional efforts and/or costs. The
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
132
payments made to financial intermediaries may be used to cover costs and expenses related to these promotional efforts, including travel, lodging, entertainment, and meals, among other things. In addition, Lord Abbett may provide payments to a financial intermediary in connection with Lord Abbett’s participation in or
support of conferences and other events sponsored, hosted, or organized by the financial intermediary. The aggregate amount of these payments may be substantial and may exceed the actual costs incurred by the financial intermediary in engaging in these promotional activities or services and the financial intermediary
firm may realize a profit in connection with such activities or services.
Lord Abbett may make such payments on a fixed or variable basis based on Fund sales, assets, transactions processed, and/or accounts attributable to a financial intermediary, among other factors. Lord Abbett determines the amount of these payments in its sole discretion. In doing so, Lord Abbett may consider a number
of factors, including: a financial intermediary’s sales, assets, and redemption rates; the nature and quality of any shareholder services provided by the financial intermediary; the quality and depth of the financial intermediary’s existing business relationships with Lord Abbett; the expected potential to expand such
relationships; and the financial intermediary’s anticipated growth prospects. Not all financial intermediaries receive revenue sharing payments and the amount of revenue sharing payments may vary for different financial intermediaries. Lord Abbett may choose not to make payments in relation to certain of the Lord Abbett
Funds or certain classes of shares of any particular Fund.
In some circumstances, these payments may create an incentive for a broker-dealer or its investment professionals to recommend or sell Fund shares to you. Lord Abbett may benefit from these payments to the extent the broker-dealers sell more Fund shares or retain more Fund shares in their clients’ accounts because
Lord Abbett receives greater management and other fees as Fund assets increase. For more specific information about these payments, including revenue sharing arrangements, made to your broker-dealer or other financial intermediary and the conflicts of interest that may arise from such arrangements, please contact your
investment professional. In addition, please see the SAI for more information regarding Lord Abbett’s revenue sharing arrangements with financial intermediaries.
Payments for Recordkeeping, Networking, and Other Services.
In addition to the payments from Lord Abbett or Lord Abbett Distributor described above, from time to time, Lord Abbett and Lord Abbett Distributor may have other relationships with financial intermediaries relating to the provision of services to the
Fund, such as providing omnibus account services or executing portfolio transactions for the Fund. The Fund generally may pay recordkeeping fees for services provided to plans where the account is a plan-level or fund-level
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
133
omnibus account and plan participants have the ability to determine their investments in particular mutual funds. If your financial intermediary provides these services, Lord Abbett or the Fund may compensate the financial intermediary for these services. In addition, your financial intermediary may have other
relationships with Lord Abbett or Lord Abbett Distributor that are not related to the Fund.
For example, the Lord Abbett Funds may enter into arrangements with and pay fees to financial intermediaries that provide recordkeeping or other subadministrative services to certain groups of investors in the Lord Abbett Funds, including participants in retirement and benefit plans, investors in mutual fund advisory
programs, investors in variable insurance products and clients of financial intermediaries that operate in an omnibus environment (collectively, “Investors”). The recordkeeping services typically include: (a) establishing and maintaining Investor accounts and records; (b) recording Investor account balances and changes
thereto; (c) arranging for the wiring of funds; (d) providing statements to Investors; (e) furnishing proxy materials, periodic Lord Abbett Fund reports, prospectuses and other communications to Investors as required; (f) transmitting Investor transaction information; and (g) providing information in order to assist the Lord
Abbett Funds in their compliance with state securities laws. The fees that the Lord Abbett Funds pay are designed to compensate financial intermediaries for such services.
The Lord Abbett Funds also may pay fees to broker-dealers for networking services. Networking services may include but are not limited to:
|
•
|
|
|
|
establishing and maintaining individual accounts and records;
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
providing client account statements; and
|
|
•
|
|
|
|
providing 1099 forms and other tax statements.
|
The networking fees that the Lord Abbett Funds pay to broker-dealers normally result in reduced fees paid by the Fund to the transfer agent, which otherwise would provide these services.
Financial intermediaries may charge additional fees or commissions other than those disclosed in this prospectus, such as a transaction based fee or other fee for its service, and may categorize and disclose these arrangements differently than described in the discussion above and in the SAI. You may ask your financial
intermediary about any payments it receives from Lord Abbett or the Fund, as well as about fees and/or commissions it charges.
PURCHASES
Initial Purchases.
Lord Abbett Distributor acts as an agent for the Fund to work with financial intermediaries that buy and sell shares of the Fund on behalf of their clients. Generally, Lord Abbett Distributor does not sell Fund shares
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
134
directly to investors. Initial purchases of Fund shares may be made through any financial intermediary that has a sales agreement with Lord Abbett Distributor. Unless you are investing in the Fund through a retirement and benefit plan, fee-based program or other financial intermediary, you and your investment
professional may fill out the application and send it to the Fund at the address below. To open an account through a retirement and benefit plan, fee-based program or other type of financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary for instructions on opening an account.
[Name of Fund]
P.O. Box 219336
Kansas City, MO 64121
Please do not send account applications, purchase, exchange or redemption orders to Lord Abbett’s offices in Jersey City, NJ.
Additional Purchases.
You may make additional purchases of Fund shares by contacting your investment professional or financial intermediary. If you have direct account privileges with the Fund, you may make additional purchases by:
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Telephone.
If you have established a bank account of record, you may purchase Fund shares by telephone. You or your investment professional should call the Fund at 888-522-2388.
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Online.
If you have established a bank account of record, you may submit a request online to purchase Fund shares by accessing your account online. Please log onto www.lordabbett.com and enter your account information and personal identification data.
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Mail.
You may submit a written request to purchase Fund shares by indicating the name(s) in which the account is registered, the Fund’s name, the class of shares, your account number, and the dollar amount you wish to purchase. Please include a check for the amount of the purchase, which may be subject to a sales
charge. If purchasing Fund shares by mail, your purchase order will not be accepted or processed until such orders are received by the Fund at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121.
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Wire.
You may purchase Fund shares via wire by sending your purchase amount to: UMB, N.A., Kansas City, routing number: 101000695, bank account number: 987800033-3, FBO: (your account name) and (your Lord Abbett account number). Specify the complete name of the Fund and the class of shares you wish
to purchase.
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Proper Form.
An initial purchase order submitted directly to the Fund, or the Fund’s authorized agent (or the agent’s designee), must contain: (1) an application completed in good order with all applicable requested information;
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and (2) payment by check or instructions to debit your checking account along with a canceled check containing account information. Additional purchase requests must include all required information and proper form of payment.
See “Account Services and Policies – Procedures Required by the USA PATRIOT Act” for more information.
Initial and additional purchases of Fund shares are executed at the NAV next determined after the Fund or the Fund’s authorized agent receives your purchase order in proper form. The Fund reserves the right to modify, restrict or reject any purchase order (including exchanges). All purchase orders are subject to
acceptance by the Fund.
Insufficient Funds.
If you request a purchase and your bank account does not have sufficient funds to complete the transaction at the time it is presented to your bank, your requested transaction will be reversed and you will be subject to any and all losses, fees and expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with
processing the insufficient funds transaction. The Fund reserves the right to liquidate all or a portion of your Fund shares to cover such losses, fees and expenses.
EXCHANGES
You or your investment professional may instruct the Fund to exchange shares of any class for shares of the same class of any other Lord Abbett Fund, provided that the fund shares to be acquired in the exchange are available to new investors in such other fund. For investors investing through retirement and benefit
plans or fee-based programs, you should contact the financial intermediary that administers your plan or sponsors the fee-based program to request an exchange.
If you have direct account privileges with the Fund, you may request an exchange transaction by:
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Telephone.
You or your investment professional should call the Fund at 888-522-2388.
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Online.
You may submit a request online to exchange your Fund shares by accessing your account online. Please log onto www.lordabbett.com and enter your account information and personal identification data.
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Mail.
You may submit a written request to exchange your Fund shares by indicating the name(s) in which the account is registered, the Fund’s name, the class of shares, your account number, the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to exchange, and the name(s) of the Eligible Fund(s) into which you wish to
exchange your Fund shares. If submitting a written
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request to exchange Fund shares, your exchange request will not be processed until the Fund receives the request in good order at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121.
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The Fund may revoke the exchange privilege for all shareholders upon 60 days’ written notice. In addition, there are limitations on exchanging Fund shares for a different class of shares, and moving shares held in certain types of accounts to a different type of account or to a new account maintained by a financial
intermediary. Please speak with your financial intermediary if you have any questions.
An exchange of Fund shares for shares of another Lord Abbett Fund will be treated as a sale of Fund shares and any gain on the transaction may be subject to federal income tax. You should read the current prospectus for any Lord Abbett Fund into which you are exchanging.
REDEMPTIONS
You may redeem your Fund shares by contacting your investment professional or financial intermediary. For shareholders investing through retirement and benefit plans or fee-based programs, you should contact the financial intermediary that administers your plan or sponsors the fee-based program to redeem your
shares. If you are redeeming shares held through a retirement and benefit plan, you may be required to provide the Fund with certain documents completed in good order before your redemption request will be processed.
If you have direct account privileges with the Fund, you may redeem your Fund shares by:
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Telephone.
You may redeem $100,000 or less from your account by telephone. You or your representative should call the Fund at 888-522-2388.
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Online.
You may submit a request online to redeem your Fund shares by accessing your account online. Please log onto www.lordabbett.com and enter your account information and personal identification data.
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Mail.
You may submit a written request to redeem your Fund shares by indicating the name(s) in which the account is registered, the Fund’s name, your account number, and the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem. If submitting a written request to redeem your shares, your redemption will not be
processed until the Fund receives the request in good order at P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121.
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Insufficient Account Value.
If you request a redemption transaction for a specific amount and your account value at the time the transaction is processed is less than the requested redemption amount, the Fund will deem your request as a request to liquidate your entire account.
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Redemption Payments.
Redemptions of Fund shares are executed at the NAV next determined after the Fund or your financial intermediary receives your order in proper form. Normally, redemption proceeds are paid within three (but no more than seven) days after your redemption request is received in good order. If
you redeem shares that were recently purchased, the Fund may delay the payment of the redemption proceeds until your check, bank draft, electronic funds transfer or wire transfer has cleared, which may take several days. This process may take up to 15 calendar days for purchases by check to clear. Under unusual
circumstances, the Fund may postpone payment for more than seven days or suspend redemptions, to the extent permitted by law.
If you have direct account access privileges, the redemption proceeds will be paid by electronic transfer via an automated clearing house deposit to your bank account on record with the Fund. If there is no bank account on record, your redemption proceeds normally will be paid by check payable to the registered account
owner(s) and mailed to the address to which the account is registered. You may request that your redemption proceeds of at least $1,000 be disbursed by wire to your bank account of record by contacting the Fund and requesting the redemption and wire transfer and providing the proper wiring instructions for your bank
account of record.
You may request that redemption proceeds be made payable and disbursed to a person or account other than the shareholder(s) of record, provided that you provide a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor, including a broker or bank that is a member of the medallion stamp program. Please note that a notary public
is not an eligible guarantor.
A guaranteed signature by an eligible guarantor is designed to protect you from fraud. The Fund will require a guaranteed signature by an eligible guarantor on requests for redemption that:
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Are signed by you in your legal capacity to sign on behalf of another person or entity (i.e., on behalf of an estate or on behalf of a corporation);
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Request a redemption check to be payable to anyone other than the shareholder(s) of record;
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Request a redemption check to be mailed to an address other than the address of record;
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Request redemption proceeds to be payable to a bank other than the bank account of record; or
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Total more than $100,000.
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Redemptions in Kind.
The Fund reserves the right to pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part by distributing liquid securities from the Fund’s portfolio. It is not expected that the Fund would pay redemptions by an in kind distribution
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except in unusual circumstances. If the Fund pays redemption proceeds by distributing securities in kind, you could incur brokerage or other charges, and tax liability, and you will bear market risks until the distributed securities are converted into cash.
You should note that your purchase, exchange, and redemption requests may be subject to review and verification on an ongoing basis.
ACCOUNT SERVICES AND POLICIES
Certain of the services and policies described below may not be available through certain financial intermediaries. Contact your financial intermediary for services and policies applicable to you.
Account Services
Automatic Services for Fund Investors.
You may buy or sell shares automatically with the services described below. With each service, you select a schedule and amount, subject to certain restrictions. You may set up most of these services when filling out the application or by calling 888-522-2388.
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For investing
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Invest-A-Matic*
(Dollar-cost averaging)
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You can make fixed, periodic investments ($250 initial and $50 subsequent minimum) into your Fund account by means of automatic money transfers from your bank checking account. See the application for instructions.
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Div-Move*
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You may automatically reinvest the dividends and distributions from your account into another account in any Eligible Fund ($50 minimum).
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In the case of financial intermediaries maintaining accounts in omnibus recordkeeping environments or in nominee name that aggregate the underlying accounts’ purchase orders for Fund shares, the minimum subsequent investment requirements described above will not apply to such underlying accounts.
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For selling shares
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Systematic Withdrawal Plan
(“SWP”)
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You can make regular withdrawals from most Lord Abbett Funds. Automatic cash withdrawals will be paid to you from your account in fixed or variable amounts. To establish an SWP, the value of your shares for Class A or C must be at least $10,000, and for Class B the value of your shares must be at least $25,000, except in the case of an SWP established for certain retirement and benefit plans, for which there is no minimum. Your shares must be in non-certificate
form.
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Class B and C Shares
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The CDSC will be waived on redemptions of up to 12% of the current value of your account at the time of your SWP request. For SWP redemptions over 12% per year, the CDSC will apply to the entire redemption. Please contact the Fund for assistance in minimizing the CDSC in this situation. Redemption proceeds due to an SWP for Class B and C shares will be redeemed in the order described under “CDSC” under “Sales Charges.”
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Telephone and Online Purchases and Redemptions.
Submitting transactions by telephone or online may be difficult during times of drastic economic or market changes or during other times when communications may be under unusual stress. When initiating a transaction by telephone or online, shareholders should be
aware of the following considerations:
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Security.
The Fund and its service providers employ verification and security measures for your protection. For your security, telephone and online transaction requests are recorded. You should note, however, that any person with access to your account and other personal information (including personal
identification number) may be able to submit instructions by telephone or online. The Fund will not be liable for relying on instructions submitted by telephone or online that the Fund reasonably believes to be genuine.
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Online Confirmation.
The Fund is not responsible for online transaction requests that may have been sent but not received in good order. Requested transactions received by the Fund in good order are confirmed at the completion of the order and your requested transaction will not be processed unless you receive
the confirmation message.
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No Cancellations.
You will be asked to verify the requested transaction and may cancel the request before it is submitted to the Fund. The Fund will not cancel a submitted transaction once it has been received (in good order) and is confirmed at the end of the telephonic or online transaction.
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Householding.
We have adopted a policy that allows us to send only one copy of the prospectus, proxy material, annual report and semiannual report to certain shareholders residing at the same “household.” This reduces Fund expenses, which benefits you and other shareholders. If you need additional copies or do not
want your mailings to be “householded,” please call us at 888-522-2388 or send a written request with your name, the name of your fund or funds, and your account number or numbers to Lord Abbett Family of Funds, P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121.
Account Statements.
Every investor automatically receives quarterly account statements.
Account Changes.
For any changes you need to make to your account, consult your investment professional or call the Fund at 888-522-2388.
Systematic Exchange.
You or your investment professional can establish a schedule of exchanges between the same classes of any other Lord Abbett Fund, provided that the fund shares to be acquired in the exchange are available to new investors in such other fund.
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Account Policies
Pricing of Fund Shares.
Under normal circumstances, NAV per share is calculated each business day at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Purchases and sales (including exchanges) of Fund shares are executed at the NAV (subject to any applicable
sales charges) next determined after the Fund or the Fund’s authorized agent receives your order in proper form. Purchase and sale orders must be placed by the close of trading on the NYSE in order to receive that day’s NAV; orders placed after the close of trading on the NYSE will receive the next business day’s NAV.
Fund shares will not be priced on holidays or other days when the NYSE is closed for trading. In the case of purchase, redemption, or exchange orders placed through your financial intermediary, when acting as the Fund’s authorized agent (or the agent’s designee), the Fund will be deemed to have received the order when
the agent or designee receives the order in proper form.
In calculating NAV, securities listed on any recognized U.S. or non-U.S. exchange (including NASDAQ) are valued at the market closing price on the exchange or system on which they are principally traded. Unlisted equity securities are valued at the last transaction price, or, if there were no transactions that day, at the
mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices. Unlisted fixed income securities (other than those with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) are valued at prices supplied by independent pricing services, which prices reflect broker/dealer-supplied valuations and electronic data processing techniques, and
reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices. Unlisted fixed income securities (other than senior loans) having remaining maturities of 60 days or less are valued at their amortized cost. The principal markets for non-U.S. securities and U.S. fixed income securities also generally close prior to the close of the NYSE.
Consequently, values of non-U.S. investments and U.S. fixed income securities will be determined as of the earlier closing of such exchanges and markets unless the Fund prices such a security at its fair value.
Securities for which prices or market quotations are not readily available, do not accurately reflect fair value in Lord Abbett’s opinion, or have been materially affected by events occurring after the close of the market on which the security is principally traded but before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time are valued by Lord Abbett under fair value procedures approved by and administered under the supervision of the Fund’s Board. These circumstances may arise, for instance, when trading in a security is suspended, the market on which a security is traded closes early, or demand for a security (as reflected by its trading volume) is insufficient and
thus calls into question the reliability of the quoted or computed price, or the security is relatively illiquid. The Fund may use fair value pricing more frequently for securities primarily traded on foreign exchanges. Because many
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foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its foreign portfolio holdings, significant events, including broad market moves, may occur in the interim potentially affecting the values of foreign securities held by the Fund. The Fund determines fair value in a manner that fairly reflects the market value of the security
on the valuation date based on consideration of any information or factors it deems appropriate. These may include recent transactions in comparable securities, information relating to the specific security, developments in the markets and their performance, and current valuations of foreign or U.S. indices. The Fund’s use
of fair value pricing may cause the NAV of Fund shares to differ from the NAV that would be calculated using market quotations. Fair value pricing involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may be materially different from the value that could be realized upon the sale of
that security.
Certain securities that are traded primarily on foreign exchanges may trade on weekends or days when the NAV is not calculated. As a result, the value of securities may change on days when shareholders are not able to purchase or sell Fund shares.
Excessive Trading and Market Timing.
The Fund is designed for long-term investors and is not intended to serve as a vehicle for frequent trading in response to short-term swings in the market. Excessive, short-term or market timing trading practices (“frequent trading”) may disrupt management of the Fund, raise its
expenses, and harm long-term shareholders in a variety of ways. For example, volatility resulting from frequent trading may cause the Fund difficulty in implementing long-term investment strategies because it cannot anticipate the amount of cash it will have to invest. The Fund may find it necessary to sell portfolio
securities at disadvantageous times to raise cash to meet the redemption demands resulting from such frequent trading. Each of these, in turn, could increase tax, administrative, and other costs, and reduce the Fund’s investment return.
To the extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, the Fund may be particularly susceptible to frequent trading because many foreign markets close hours before the Fund values its portfolio holdings. This may allow significant events, including broad market moves that occur in the interim, to affect the values of foreign
securities held by the Fund. The time zone differences among foreign markets may allow a shareholder to exploit differences in the Fund’s share prices that are based on closing prices of foreign securities determined before the Fund calculates its NAV per share (known as “time zone arbitrage”). To the extent the Fund
invests in securities that are thinly traded or relatively illiquid, the Fund also may be particularly susceptible to frequent trading because the current market price for such securities may not accurately reflect current market values. A shareholder may attempt to engage in frequent trading to take advantage of these pricing
differences (known as “price arbitrage”). The Fund has adopted fair
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value procedures that allow the Fund to use values other than the closing market prices of these types of securities to reflect what the Fund reasonably believes to be their fair value at the time it calculates its NAV per share. The Fund expects that the use of fair value pricing will reduce a shareholder’s ability to engage
successfully in time zone arbitrage and price arbitrage to the detriment of other Fund shareholders, although there is no assurance that fair value pricing will do so. For more information about these procedures, see “Pricing of Fund Shares” above.
The Fund’s Board has adopted additional policies and procedures that are designed to prevent or stop frequent trading. We recognize, however, that it may not be possible to identify and stop or avoid every instance of frequent trading in Fund shares. For this reason, the Fund’s policies and procedures are intended to
identify and stop frequent trading that we believe may be harmful to the Fund. For this purpose, we consider frequent trading to be harmful if, in general, it is likely to cause the Fund to incur additional expenses or to sell portfolio holdings for other than investment-strategy-related reasons. Toward this end, we have
procedures in place to monitor the purchase, sale and exchange activity in Fund shares by investors and financial intermediaries that place orders on behalf of their clients, which procedures are described below. The Fund may modify its frequent trading policy and monitoring procedures from time to time without notice
as and when deemed appropriate to enhance protection of the Fund and its shareholders.
Frequent Trading Policy and Procedures.
Under the frequent trading policy, any Lord Abbett Fund shareholder redeeming shares valued at $5,000 or more from a Lord Abbett Fund will be prohibited from investing in the same Lord Abbett Fund for 30 calendar days after the redemption date (the “Policy”). The Policy
applies to all redemptions and purchases for an account that are part of an exchange transaction or transfer of assets, but does not apply to the following types of transactions unless Lord Abbett Distributor determines in its sole discretion that the transaction may be harmful to the Fund: (1) systematic purchases and
redemptions, such as purchases made through reinvestment of dividends or other distributions, or certain automatic or systematic investment, exchange or withdrawal plans (such as payroll deduction plans, and the Fund’s Invest-A-Matic and Systematic Withdrawal Plans); (2) retirement and benefit plan payroll and/or
employer contributions, loans and distributions; (3) purchases or redemptions by a “fund-of-funds” or similar investment vehicle that Lord Abbett Distributor in its sole discretion has determined is not designed to and/or is not serving as a vehicle for frequent trading; (4) purchases by an account that is part of a fee-based
program or mutual fund separate account program; and (5) purchases involving certain transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; provided that the financial intermediary maintaining the account is able to identify the transaction in its records as one of these transactions. The Policy
does not apply to the Money
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Market Fund, Lord Abbett Floating Rate Fund, Lord Abbett Short Duration Income Fund, Lord Abbett Intermediate Tax Free Fund, and Lord Abbett Short Duration Tax Free Fund, provided that your financial intermediary is able to implement such exclusions.
In addition to the Policy, we have procedures in place designed to enable us to monitor the purchase, sale and exchange activity in Fund shares by investors and financial intermediaries that place orders on behalf of their clients in order to attempt to identify activity that is inconsistent with the Policy. If, based on these
monitoring procedures, we believe that an investor is engaging in, or has engaged in, frequent trading that may be harmful to the Fund, normally, we will notify the investor (and/or the investor’s financial professional) to cease all such activity in the account. If the activity occurs again, we will place a block on all further
purchases or exchanges of the Fund’s shares in the investor’s account and inform the investor (and/or the investor’s financial professional) to cease all such activity in the account. The investor then has the option of maintaining any existing investment in the Fund, exchanging Fund shares for shares of Money Market Fund,
or redeeming the account. Investors electing to exchange or redeem Fund shares under these circumstances should consider that the transaction may be subject to a CDSC or result in tax consequences. As stated above, although we generally notify the investor (and/or the investor’s financial professional) to cease all
activity indicative of frequent trading prior to placing a block on further purchases or exchanges, we reserve the right to immediately place a block on an account or take other action without prior notification when we deem such action appropriate in our sole discretion. While we attempt to apply the Policy and
procedures uniformly to detect frequent trading practices, there can be no assurance that we will succeed in identifying all such practices or that some investors will not employ tactics that evade our detection.
We recognize that financial intermediaries that maintain accounts in omnibus recordkeeping environments or in nominee name may not be able reasonably to apply the Policy due to systems limitations or other reasons. In these instances, Lord Abbett Distributor may review the frequent trading policies and procedures
that an individual financial intermediary is able to put in place to determine whether its policies and procedures are consistent with the protection of the Fund and its investors, as described above. Lord Abbett Distributor also will seek the financial intermediary’s agreement to cooperate with Lord Abbett Distributor’s
efforts to (1) monitor the financial intermediary’s adherence to its policies and procedures and/or receive an amount and level of information regarding trading activity that Lord Abbett Distributor in its sole discretion deems adequate, and (2) stop any trading activity Lord Abbett Distributor identifies as frequent trading.
Nevertheless, these circumstances may result in a financial intermediary’s application of policies and procedures that are less effective at detecting and preventing frequent trading than the policies and procedures adopted by Lord Abbett Distributor and by certain other financial
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intermediaries. If an investor would like more information concerning the policies, procedures and restrictions that may be applicable to his or her account, the investor should contact the financial intermediary placing purchase orders on his or her behalf. A substantial portion of the Fund’s shares may be held by financial
intermediaries through omnibus accounts or in nominee name.
With respect to monitoring of accounts maintained by a financial intermediary, to our knowledge, in an omnibus environment or in nominee name, Lord Abbett Distributor will seek to receive sufficient information from the financial intermediary to enable it to review the ratio of purchase versus redemption activity of
each underlying sub-account or, if such information is not readily obtainable, in the overall omnibus account(s) or nominee name account(s). If we identify activity that we believe may be indicative of frequent trading activity, we normally will notify the financial intermediary and request it to provide Lord Abbett
Distributor with additional transaction information so that Lord Abbett Distributor may determine if any investors appear to have engaged in frequent trading activity. Lord Abbett Distributor’s monitoring activity normally is limited to review of historic account activity. This may result in procedures that may be less
effective at detecting and preventing frequent trading than the procedures Lord Abbett Distributor uses in connection with accounts not maintained in an omnibus environment or in nominee name.
If an investor related to an account maintained in an omnibus environment or in nominee name is identified as engaging in frequent trading activity, we normally will request that the financial intermediary take appropriate action to curtail the activity and will work with the relevant party to do so. Such action may include
actions similar to those that Lord Abbett Distributor would take, such as issuing warnings to cease frequent trading activity, placing blocks on accounts to prohibit future purchases and exchanges of Fund shares, or requiring that the investor place trades through the mail only, in each case either indefinitely or for a period
of time. Again, we reserve the right to immediately attempt to place a block on an account or take other action without prior notification when we deem such action appropriate in our sole discretion. If we determine that the financial intermediary has not demonstrated adequately that it has taken appropriate action to
curtail the frequent trading, we may consider seeking to prohibit the account or sub-account from investing in the Fund and/or also may terminate our relationship with the financial intermediary. As noted above, these efforts may be less effective at detecting and preventing frequent trading than the policies and
procedures Lord Abbett Distributor uses in connection with accounts not maintained in an omnibus environment or in nominee name. The nature of these relationships also may inhibit or prevent Lord Abbett Distributor or the Fund from assuring the uniform assessment of CDSCs on investors, even though financial
intermediaries operating in omnibus environments typically have agreed to assess the CDSCs or assist Lord Abbett Distributor or the Fund in assessing them.
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Procedures Required by the USA PATRIOT Act.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions, including the Fund, to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means for you –
when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date and place of organization or date of birth, taxpayer identification number or Social Security number, and we may ask for other information that will allow us to identify you. We will ask for this information in the case of persons who will be signing on
behalf of certain entities that will own the account. We also may ask for copies of documents. If we are unable to obtain the required information within a short period of time after you try to open an account, we will return your purchase order or account application. Your monies will not be invested until we have all
required information. You also should know that we may verify your identity through the use of a database maintained by a third party or through other means. If we are unable to verify your identity, we may liquidate and close the account. This may result in adverse tax consequences. In addition, the Fund reserves the
right to reject purchase orders or account applications accompanied by cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, bank drafts, traveler’s checks, and third party or double-endorsed checks, among others.
Small Account Closing Policy.
The Fund has established a minimum account balance of $1,500. Subject to the approval of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Fund may redeem your account (without charging a CDSC) if the net asset value of your account falls below $1,500. The Fund will provide you with at least 60
days’ prior written notice before doing so, during which time you may avoid involuntary redemption by making additional investments to satisfy the minimum account balance.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES
The following discussion is general. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the effect that an investment in the Fund may have on your particular tax situation, including the treatment of distributions under the federal, state, local, and foreign tax rules that apply to you, as
well as the tax consequences of gains or losses from the sale, redemption, or exchange of your shares.
Alpha Strategy Fund, Fundamental Equity Fund, Growth Leaders Fund, International Core Equity Fund, International Opportunities Fund, Micro Cap Growth Fund, Micro Cap Value Fund, and Value Opportunities Fund expect to pay dividends from their net investment income at least annually. International Dividend
Income Fund expects to pay dividends from its net investment income quarterly. Each Fund expects to distribute any of its net capital gains annually.
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All distributions, including dividends from net investment income, will be reinvested in Fund shares unless you instruct the Fund to pay them to you in cash. Your election to receive distributions in cash and payable by check will apply only to distributions totaling $10.00 or more. Accordingly, any distribution totaling
less than $10.00 will be reinvested in Fund shares and will not be paid to you by check. This policy does not apply to you if you have elected to receive distributions that are directly deposited into your bank account. Retirement and benefit plan accounts may not receive distributions in cash. There are no sales charges on
reinvestments.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Fund’s distributions generally are taxable to shareholders, other than tax-exempt shareholders (including certain retirement and benefit plan shareholders, as discussed below), regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares. Distributions of net investment
income and short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary income; however, for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, certain qualified dividends that the Fund receives and distributes may be subject to a reduced tax rate if you meet holding period and certain other requirements. Distributions of net long-term
capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of how long you have owned Fund shares. Any sale, redemption, or exchange of Fund shares may be taxable.
[The reduced U.S. federal income tax rates currently applicable to qualified dividend income and long-term capital gains are scheduled to rise for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013 unless legislation is enacted providing otherwise. Also, effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, a new
3.8% Medicare contribution tax generally will be imposed on the net investment income of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts. For this purpose, net investment income generally will include distributions from the Fund and capital gains attributable to the sale, redemption or
exchange of Fund shares.]
If you buy shares after the Fund has realized income or capital gains but prior to the record date for the distribution of such income or capital gains, you will be “buying a dividend” by paying the full price for shares and then receiving a portion of the price back in the form of a potentially taxable dividend.
Shareholders that are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, such as retirement and benefit plans that are qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on Fund dividends or distributions or on sales or exchanges of Fund shares. However, in the case of Fund
shares held through a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, Fund dividends and distributions received by the plan and sales and exchanges of Fund shares by the plan generally will be taxable to the employer sponsoring such plan in accordance with U.S. federal income tax laws governing deferred compensation plans.
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A plan participant whose retirement and benefit plan invests in the Fund generally is not taxed on Fund dividends or distributions received by the plan or on sales or exchanges of Fund shares by the plan for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, distributions to plan participants from a retirement and benefit plan
generally are taxable to plan participants as ordinary income.
You must provide your Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number to the Fund along with certifications required by the Internal Revenue Service when you open an account. If you do not or it is otherwise legally required to do so, the Fund will withhold “backup withholding” tax from your
distributions, sale proceeds, and any other payments to you. [The current backup withholding rate is 28% for amounts paid by the Funds on or before December 31, 2012 but is scheduled to rise to 31% for amounts paid by the Funds after such date, unless tax legislation is enacted providing otherwise.]
Certain tax reporting information concerning the tax treatment of Fund distributions, including the source of dividends and distributions of capital gains by the Fund, will be provided to shareholders each year.
Legislation passed by Congress in 2008 requires mutual funds to report to the Internal Revenue Service the “cost basis” of shares acquired by a shareholder on or after January 1, 2012 that are subsequently redeemed. These requirements generally do not apply to investments through a tax-deferred arrangement or to
certain types of entities (such as C corporations). Also, if you hold Fund shares through a broker (or another nominee), please contact that broker (nominee) with respect to the reporting of cost basis and available elections for your account.
If you are a direct shareholder, you may request that your cost basis reported on Form 1099-B be calculated using any one of the alternative methods offered by the Fund. Please contact the Fund to make, revoke, or change your election. If you do not affirmatively elect a cost basis method then the Fund will use the
average cost basis method.
Please note that you will continue to be responsible for calculating and reporting gains and losses on redemptions of shares purchased prior to January 1, 2012. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor regarding the application of the new cost basis reporting rules and, in particular, which cost basis calculation
method you should elect.
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
148
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
These tables describe the Funds’ performance for the fiscal periods indicated. “Total Return” shows how much your investment in the Funds would have increased or decreased during each period without considering the effects of sales loads and assuming you had reinvested all dividends and distributions.
[To Be Updated]
PROSPECTUS – THE FUNDS
149
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
150
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
151
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
152
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
153
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
154
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
155
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – ALPHA STRATEGY FUND
156
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
157
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
158
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
159
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
160
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
161
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
162
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
163
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY FUND
164
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
165
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
166
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
167
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
168
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
169
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – GROWTH LEADERS FUND
170
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
171
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
172
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
173
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
174
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
175
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
176
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
177
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY FUND
178
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
179
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
180
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
181
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
182
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
183
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
184
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
185
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
186
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
187
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
188
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
189
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
190
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
191
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
192
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
193
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP GROWTH FUND
194
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
195
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – MICRO CAP VALUE FUND
196
Financial Highlights
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
197
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
198
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
199
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
200
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
201
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
202
Financial Highlights (continued)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
203
Financial Highlights (concluded)
[To come]
PROSPECTUS – VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
204