Lazard Retirement Series Prospectus
Equity Lazard Retirement Developing Markets Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio Lazard Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio Lazard Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Equity Select Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Equity Value Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Small Cap Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Strategic Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio Lazard Retirement US Equity Concentrated Portfolio Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio Lazard Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio |
Multi-Asset Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio Lazard Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio Lazard Retirement Real Assets Portfolio Alternatives Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio Service Shares and Investor Shares |
The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission have not approved or disapproved the shares described in this Prospectus or determined whether this Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. |
Lazard Retirement Series Table of Contents
1
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
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Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
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Management Fees |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses1 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US companies of any market capitalization. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 15 to 35 companies with market capitalizations generally greater than $350 million. The Portfolio seeks to outperform broad-based securities market indices, such as the S&P 500® Index, the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 3000® Index. The philosophy of Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) employed for the Portfolio is based on value creation through its process of bottom-up stock selection, and the Investment Manager implements a
2
disciplined portfolio construction process. The Investment Manager’s fundamental research seeks to identify investments typically featuring robust organic cash flow, balance sheet strength and operational flexibility.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of US companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of non-US companies.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. In addition, implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
3
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. In addition, investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Sector Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector, such as information technology companies, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by developments in that sector. Information technology companies generally operate in intensely competitive markets on a worldwide basis. Also, because technological development in many areas increases at a rapid rate, these companies often produce products with very short life cycles and face the risk of product obsolescence.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Concentration Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to concentrate its investments may be limited by applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for qualification as a regulated investment company.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Christopher H. Blake, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Martin Flood, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
4
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
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Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
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Management Fees |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses1 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
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1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement described above. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
5
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US companies selected using the Investment Manager’s process employed in implementing the Portfolio’s investment strategy, described below. The market capitalization of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions, but typically the Portfolio invests in companies with market capitalizations over $1 billion.
The Investment Manager’s process first identifies companies within the investable universe, which are companies that the Investment Manager believes are capable of (1) generating and maintaining high financial productivity (i.e., the return a company generates) for periods in excess of market expectations, or (2) capable of improving financial productivity to a greater extent or more expeditiously than the market expects (i.e., are undervalued) and which exhibit good expectations for future cash flows and profitability. Next, the Investment Manager reduces the investable universe using fundamental analysis and research on the companies identified.
In further narrowing the investable universe to select companies for investment by the Portfolio, the Investment Manager considers both (a) the financial sustainability of the company as a business—a company whose financial productivity is likely to be supported or enhanced in the future as a result of the move toward a more sustainable world (such as by considering the nature of the products and/or services that the company provides, from the perspective of environmental and social factors that impact financial productivity)—and (b) how the company counters potential risks arising as a result of environmental and social concerns that may be material to the particular companies or the industries or sectors in which they operate (collectively, “Sustainable Companies”). The Investment Manager uses its proprietary sustainability analysis methodology to assess each company considered for investment, to the extent relevant to the company or its industry or sector, against the specific sustainability factors listed below (and other factors that may be considered relevant to the company or its industry), divided into the three categories of Human Capital, Natural Capital and Corporate Governance.
Human Capital: the extent to which the company
· follows best practices in managing its workforce in a responsible manner, such as health and safety considerations and diversity and inclusion policies;
· acts responsibly in terms of the impact its business operations, products and services have on the broader community;
· aims to ensure its suppliers act responsibly; and
· endeavors to treat its customers fairly and responsibly, for example by having appropriate product safety and data privacy and security standards.
Natural Capital: the extent to which the company, and its supply chains,
· are reliant on using resources which generate significant environmental impact; and
· actively seek to reduce the impact they have on the environment.
Corporate Governance: the extent to which the company’s board composition and policies, executive management composition and compensation, and the exercise of shareholder rights and voting powers are in line with current best practices.
Companies considered by the Investment Manager to be significantly involved in the manufacture of products or the provision of services that are broadly recognized as unsustainable by society (e.g., the production of tobacco, the generation, extraction and/or refining of certain fossil fuels or the production of unconventional weapons) generally will not fall within the investable universe for the Portfolio. However, it is possible that the Investment Manager may determine, after a combined consideration of its assessment of such a company’s financial productivity potential as described above and the results of the Investment Manager’s sustainability analysis
6
methodology, that such a company is an appropriate investment for the Portfolio. The Portfolio may, however, invest in companies that provide equipment and services to the energy and mining sectors.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of US Sustainable Companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of non-US companies, including those in emerging markets.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
7
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Sustainable Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s performance is dependent upon, among other things, the success of its investment strategy as implemented by the Investment Manager (i.e., the performance of the investments purchased pursuant to the investment strategy). The Portfolio’s investment strategy focuses on investing in companies that satisfy the criteria for being considered a Sustainable Company (as described above), which may cause the Investment Manager to forgo investments for the Portfolio that the Investment Manager otherwise believes may be attractive but that are not considered to be Sustainable Companies.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Andrew D. Lacey, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams, will serve from inception.
8
H. Ross Seiden, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Martin Flood, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Jessica Kittay, a member of various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Ronald Temple, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
9
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
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Service Shares |
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Investor Shares |
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Management Fees |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
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1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During
the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was
10
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of small to mid cap US companies. The Investment Manager considers “small-mid cap companies” to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase by the Portfolio, have market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2500® Index (ranging from approximately $26.1 million to $25.4 billion as of March 31, 2021).
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small-mid cap US companies. The Investment Manager focuses on relative value in seeking to construct a diversified portfolio of investments for the Portfolio that maintains sector and industry balance, using investment opportunities identified through bottom-up fundamental research conducted by the Investment Manager’s small cap, mid cap and global research analysts.
The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in the securities of larger or smaller US or non-US companies.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
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Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. In addition, investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Emerging market countries can generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Calendar Years ended December 31
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The Russell 2000/2500 Linked Index shown in the table is an unmanaged index created by the Investment Manager, which links the performance of the Russell 2000® Index for all periods through May 31, 2009 (when the Portfolio’s investment focus was changed from small cap companies to small-mid cap companies) and the Russell 2500 Index for all periods thereafter.
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Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Daniel Breslin, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s US Small-Mid Cap Equity team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2007.
Janice Davies, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s US Small-Mid Cap Equity team, has been with the Portfolio since April 2021.
Michael DeBernardis, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s US Small-Mid Cap Equity and Global Small Cap Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since October 2010.
Martin Flood, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since December 2014.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
13
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
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Service Shares |
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Investor Shares |
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Management Fees |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses |
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Fees and Expenses Related to Filing Foreign Tax Reclaims |
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Remainder of Other Expenses |
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Total Other Expenses |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement3 |
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1
2
3
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
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1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
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Service Shares |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
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Investor Shares |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
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14
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating
expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year,
the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of relatively large non-US companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies included in the MSCI® Europe, Australasia and Far East (“EAFE®”) Index (ranging from approximately $1.3 billion to $322.5 billion as of March 31, 2021) that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values.
In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for established companies in economically developed countries and may invest up to 15% of the Portfolio’s assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries
15
with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
16
Calendar Years ended December 31
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Inception
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1 Year |
5 Years |
10 Years |
Life of
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Service Shares |
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Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Michael G. Fry, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since November 2005.
Michael A. Bennett, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since May 2003.
Kevin J. Matthews, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since May 2013.
Michael Powers, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since May 2003.
Giles Edwards, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International teams, has been with the Portfolio since May 2019.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since September 1998.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
17
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
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Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
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Management Fees |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses1 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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|
1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
1 Year |
3 Years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, of relatively large non-US companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies included in the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US (ranging from approximately $108.9 million to $506.8 billion as of March 31, 2021) that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values.
18
In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for established companies in economically developed countries, although the Portfolio may invest in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries in an amount up to the current emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US plus 15%. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
19
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Michael G. Fry, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Michael A. Bennett, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
James M. Donald, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team and Head of the Emerging Markets Group, will serve from inception.
20
Kevin J. Matthews, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Michael Powers, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Giles Edwards, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International teams, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
21
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
1 Year |
3 Years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US and non-US companies. In managing the Portfolio, Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. The Portfolio management team selects investments for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of non-US stocks and depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team
22
involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Portfolio will typically invest the majority of its assets in securities of non-US developed market companies, using an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions will vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country.
The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies, as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign
23
currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends largely upon the effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
REIT Risk. REITs are subject to similar risks as an investment in a realty-related company. Consequently, investments in REITs could lead to investment results that may be significantly different from investments in the broader securities markets. The risks related to investments in realty-related companies include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing. Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of securities of other types of companies, which may affect the Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in a REIT may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including failing to quality as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. The Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, including qualification as a REIT.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the ETFs’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by Section 12 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
24
“1940 Act”), in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more ETFs unless the relevant ETF(s) have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Other Equity Securities Risk. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of the Portfolio’s entire investment.
Country Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country, such as Japan, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments affecting that country. Over the last few decades, Japan’s economic growth rate had remained relatively low compared to that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies mainly due to deflation. Japan has few natural resources and limited land area and is reliant on imports for its commodity needs. Fluctuations or shortages in relevant commodity markets could have a negative impact on Japan’s economy. The Japanese economy also can be adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies, and the economic conditions of its trading partners. Japan has a growing economic relationship with China and other Southeast Asian countries, and economic, political or social instability in those countries could have an adverse effect on Japan’s economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times, and any increase in the yen’s value may cause a decline in Japan’s exports.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
25
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Paul Moghtader, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Taras Ivanenko, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Ciprian Marin, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Craig Scholl, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Susanne Willumsen, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Alex Lai, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
26
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
Lazard Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
1 Year |
3 Years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
27
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 20 to 30 securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily through stock selection, investing in companies believed to have sustainably high or improving returns and trading at attractive valuations. In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager generally looks for established companies in economically developed countries that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager also may invest the Portfolio’s assets in securities of companies domiciled in emerging market countries in an amount up to the current percentage of securities in the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US issued by companies domiciled in emerging market countries (30.85% as of March 31, 2021) plus 15%. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
28
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Concentration Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to concentrate its investments may be limited by applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for qualification as a regulated investment company.
29
market
performance. After the Portfolio commences investment operations, performance information will be available
at
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Kevin J. Matthews, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Michael A. Bennett, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Michael G. Fry, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Michael Powers, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Giles Edwards, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International teams, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
30
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
31
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries.
The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily by investing in companies that the Investment Manager considers to be quality growth businesses. By “quality” the Investment Manager means businesses that it believes can generate, and sustain, high levels of financial productivity (i.e., return on equity, return on capital and cash flow return on investment). The Investment Manager considers, among other factors deemed appropriate and relevant to a particular company, whether the company has a competitive advantage in its industry and if the Investment Manager believes the company can sustain its competitive advantage. The Investment Manager also looks for “growth” businesses that it believes can grow profits and cash flows by investing back into their business at similarly high rates of financial productivity.
The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum, but generally focuses on companies with a market capitalization of $3 billion or more.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
32
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Growth Investing Risk. Growth investments are believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such securities may be more volatile than other securities because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
33
available
at
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Louis Florentin-Lee, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity Select team, will serve from inception.
Barnaby Wilson, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity team, will serve from inception.
Mark Little, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Robin O. Jones, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Robert Failla, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International Quality Growth team, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
34
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
35
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 20 to 30 securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries.
The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily by investing in companies that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued and whose valuations will benefit from potential company-specific catalysts identified by the Investment Manager. For example, the Investment Manager may seek to invest in companies engaging in activities that the Investment Manager believes will improve the companies’ fundamentals, resolve circumstances that may be negatively affecting valuation and/or improve market and investor perceptions of the companies. The Investment Manager divides these catalysts into three main categories: self-help, positive changes in capital allocation and business simplifications.
· Self-Help – Many companies undertake self-directed initiatives intended to drive improvement in fundamentals regardless of macroeconomic conditions. These initiatives may range from large-scale corporate restructurings to smaller-scale cost-cutting programs. In many cases, new corporate management teams, changes to the board of directors and/or shifts in a company’s ownership structure are the impetus for self-help plans.
· Positive Changes in Capital Allocation – The Investment Manager believes companies seeking to address inefficient balance sheets often offer opportunities to add value to shareholders. The Portfolio seeks to invest in companies undertaking special capital returns, deleveraging programs and/or value-enhancing reinvestment or mergers and acquisitions. In-depth analysis of balance sheet and cash flow potential, as well as interviews with corporate management teams, helps the Investment Manager identify potential positive capital allocation change opportunities before they are reflected in equity prices.
· Business Simplifications – The simplification of organizational and ownership structures often enables corporate management to increase returns through more effective resource allocation and less operational distraction. Furthermore, monetization of hidden value within a company may occur as a result of asset sales, spin-offs or wind-downs.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum. At times, the Portfolio may engage in active and frequent trading, which will increase portfolio turnover.
The Investment Manager may seek to hedge some or all foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, but the Investment Manager may determine not to hedge some or all of the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure from time-to-time or at any time.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio.
36
Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Forward Currency Contracts and Currency Hedging Risk. Forward currency contracts, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since forward currency contracts, like most derivative instruments, have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Forward currency contracts are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all of a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Forward currency contracts also may be illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the value of such contracts. Forward currency contracts are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currencies. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Forward currency contracts incur costs, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of forward currency contracts, whether for hedging or for other
37
investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to accurately predict movements in currency exchange rates and, for hedging transactions, there may be imperfect correlations between movements in exchange rates that could cause the Portfolio to incur significant losses. Use of forward currency contracts, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Concentration Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to concentrate its investments may be limited by applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for qualification as a regulated investment company.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Mark Rooney, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International Equity Value team, will serve from inception.
38
Erik Van Der Sande, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International Equity Value team, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
39
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in countries represented by the MSCI EAFE Index that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Portfolio also may invest up to 15% of its assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time.
40
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
The countries represented by the MSCI EAFE Index currently include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
41
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Mark Little, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
42
Michael A. Bennett, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Robin O. Jones, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
43
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of relatively small non-US companies that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager considers “small non-US companies” to be those non-US companies with market capitalizations, at the time of initial purchase by the Portfolio, below $5 billion and above $300 million or in the range of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (based on
44
market capitalization of the Index as a whole, which ranged from approximately $100.4 million to $7.9 billion as of March 31, 2021).
In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for smaller, well-managed non-US companies that the Investment Manager believes have the potential for growth. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small cap companies.
The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries
45
with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Country Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country, such as Japan, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments affecting that country. Over the last few decades, Japan’s economic growth rate had remained relatively low compared to that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies mainly due to deflation. Japan has few natural resources and limited land area and is reliant on imports for its commodity needs. Fluctuations or shortages in relevant commodity markets could have a negative impact on Japan’s economy. The Japanese economy also can be adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies, and the economic conditions of its trading partners. Japan has a growing economic relationship with China and other Southeast Asian countries, and economic, political or social instability in those countries could have an adverse effect on Japan’s economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times, and any increase in the yen’s value may cause a decline in Japan’s exports.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
46
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Edward Rosenfeld, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global, International and European Small Cap Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Alex Ingham, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets, International and Global Small Cap Equity teams, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
47
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
48
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US and non-US companies. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. A principal component of the Investment Manager’s investment process for the Portfolio is volatility management. Volatility, a risk measurement, measures the magnitude of fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index over time. The Investment Manager seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted equity returns (returns after accounting for the risk taken to achieve those returns) while lowering portfolio volatility (up and down movements in the fund’s returns). The Investment Manager’s investment process is benchmark-unaware, which means that the Portfolio’s assets are not managed by reference to a benchmark index. The Investment Manager examines fundamental company information (such as financial statements) and seeks to identify high quality companies with sustainable operating performance in order to build a well-diversified global portfolio of common stocks. The Investment Manager performs an independent assessment of stock risk and also seeks to manage risk through diversification.
The Portfolio management team selects investments for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of stocks and depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Portfolio will typically focus on securities of developed market companies, using an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics and create a low volatility portfolio. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
49
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies, as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends largely upon the effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.
Volatility Management Risk. While the Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, the level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance as described above, there can be no guarantee that this will be achieved; actual or realized volatility for any particular period may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. In addition, the Investment Manager’s efforts to manage the Portfolio’s volatility can be expected, in a period of generally positive equity market returns, to reduce the Portfolio’s performance below what could be achieved without seeking to manage volatility and, thus, the Portfolio would generally be expected to underperform market indices that do not seek to achieve a specified level of volatility.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
50
REIT Risk. REITs are subject to similar risks as an investment in a realty-related company. Consequently, investments in REITs could lead to investment results that may be significantly different from investments in the broader securities markets. The risks related to investments in realty-related companies include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing. Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of securities of other types of companies, which may affect the Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in a REIT may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including failing to quality as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. The Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, including qualification as a REIT.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the ETFs’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by Section 12 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more ETFs unless the relevant ETF(s) have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Other Equity Securities Risk. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of the Portfolio’s entire investment.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs.
51
available
at
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Paul Moghtader, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Taras Ivanenko, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Ciprian Marin, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Craig Scholl, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Susanne Willumsen, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Alex Lai, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
52
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of companies that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily through stock selection, investing in companies believed to have sustainably high or improving returns and trading at attractive valuations. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in
53
emerging market countries, and the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in non-US companies. The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries). The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may
54
be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
55
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Robin O. Jones, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Mark Little, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Jimmie Bork, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity Income and Global Strategic Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
56
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks total return consisting of appreciation and income.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses2 |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US and non-US companies, including those in emerging markets. The Portfolio normally invests in equity securities listed on a national or other recognized securities exchange of companies that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment
57
Manager”) considers to have an “economic franchise,” meaning companies that have historically shown an ability to generate unleveraged returns, at or above their cost of capital, for long periods of time. The Investment Manager considers that strong business franchises are often able to accomplish this performance and status because of competitive advantages such as an established or recognized brand, proprietary intellectual property or other intangible assets or industry economics such as relatively high customer switching costs. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The Portfolio may invest in the equity securities of any size company.
The Investment Manager may seek to hedge some or all foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, but the Investment Manager may determine not to hedge some or all of the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure from time-to-time or at any time.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Franchise Companies Risk. Changes in the worldwide economy, consumer spending, competition, demographics and consumer preferences, government regulation and economic conditions may adversely affect franchise companies individually or across an industry and may negatively impact the Portfolio to a greater extent than if the Portfolio’s assets were invested more broadly in a number of types of companies.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information,
58
differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. In addition, investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Forward Currency Contracts and Currency Hedging Risk. Forward currency contracts, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since forward currency contracts, like most derivative instruments, have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Forward currency contracts are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all of a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Forward currency contracts also may be illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the value of such contracts. Forward currency contracts are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currencies. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Forward currency contracts incur costs, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of forward currency contracts, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to accurately predict movements in currency exchange rates and, for hedging transactions, there may be imperfect correlations between movements in exchange rates that could cause the Portfolio to incur significant losses. Use of forward currency contracts, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions.
Growth Investing Risk. Growth investments are believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such securities may be more volatile than other securities because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
59
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Bertrand Cliquet, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
Matthew Landy, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
John Mulquiney, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
Warryn Robertson, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
60
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
|
Service Shares |
|
Investor Shares |
|
||||
Management Fees |
|
|
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
|
|
Other Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
|
|
|
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During
the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries and that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values.
Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India,
61
Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts. In addition, implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
62
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Sector Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector, such as companies in the financials sector, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by developments in that sector. Companies in the financials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things: government regulation; changes in interest rates and/or monetary policy and general economic conditions; the availability and cost of capital; capital requirements; decreased liquidity in credit markets; and the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
63
is
available at
Calendar Years ended December 31
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Inception
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1 Year |
5 Years |
10 Years |
Life of
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Service Shares |
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Investor Shares |
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(Service) |
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(Investor) |
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Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
James M. Donald, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team and Head of the Emerging Markets Group, has been with the Portfolio since November 2001.
Rohit Chopra, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2007.
Monika Shrestha, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team, has been with the Portfolio since December 2014.
Ganesh Ramachandran, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Income and Emerging Markets Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since July 2020.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, has been with the Portfolio since November 1997.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
64
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.(the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service |
Investor |
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Shares |
Shares |
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|
||
Management Fees1 |
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|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses2 |
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement3 |
|
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
|
1
2
3
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
65
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of emerging markets companies. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. The Portfolio management team selects investments for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of emerging market stocks and depositary receipts, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Investment Manager uses an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions will vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country.
The Portfolio considers a company to be “economically tied to emerging markets countries” if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or domiciled in an emerging markets country or maintains its principal place of business in an emerging markets country; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally in emerging markets countries; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in emerging markets countries or that has at least 50% of its assets in emerging markets countries. The Portfolio considers emerging markets countries to be all countries: (i) included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; or (ii) not included in the MSCI World Index.
The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
66
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
Quantitative Model Risk. The success of the Portfolio’s investment strategy depends largely upon the effectiveness of the Investment Manager’s quantitative model. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive
67
challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
REIT Risk. REITs are subject to similar risks as an investment in a realty-related company. Consequently, investments in REITs could lead to investment results that may be significantly different from investments in the broader securities markets. The risks related to investments in realty-related companies include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing. Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of securities of other types of companies, which may affect the Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in a REIT may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including failing to quality as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. The Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, including qualification as a REIT.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the ETFs’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by Section 12 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more ETFs unless the relevant ETF(s) have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Other Equity Securities Risk. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks, including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of the Portfolio’s entire investment.
Country Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country, such as China, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments affecting that country. Specific risks associated with investments in China include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage), trading halts, imposition of tariffs, limitations on repatriation and differing legal standards.
The Portfolio may invest in eligible renminbi-denominated class A shares of equity securities that are listed and traded on certain Chinese stock exchanges (“China A-Shares”) through Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (“Stock Connect”). While Stock Connect is not subject to individual investment quotas, daily and aggregate investment quotas apply to all Stock Connect participants, which may restrict or preclude the Portfolio’s ability to invest in China A-Shares (although the Portfolio would be permitted to sell China A-Shares regardless of the quota balance). Stock Connect is also subject to trading, clearance, settlement and operational risks.
68
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Paul Moghtader, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Taras Ivanenko, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Ciprian Marin, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Craig Scholl, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Susanne Willumsen, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Alex Lai, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
69
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
70
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries (also known as “developing markets”).
Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
The Investment Manager employs a relative growth investment philosophy that is based on value creation through the process of bottom-up stock selection. The Investment Manager’s approach consists of an analytical framework, accounting validation, fundamental analysis and portfolio construction parameters. The Investment Manager’s selection process focuses on growth and considers the sustainability of growth and the trade off between valuation and growth. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector and/or a particular country.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks,
71
such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Growth Investing Risk. Growth investments are believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such securities may be more volatile than other securities because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Sector Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector, such as companies in the financials sector, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by developments in that sector. Companies in the financials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things: government regulation; changes in interest rates and/or monetary policy and general economic conditions; the availability and cost of capital; capital
72
requirements; decreased liquidity in credit markets; and the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt.
Country Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country, such as China, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments affecting that country. Specific risks associated with investments in China include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage), trading halts, imposition of tariffs, limitations on repatriation and differing legal standards.
The Portfolio may invest in eligible renminbi-denominated class A shares of equity securities that are listed and traded on certain Chinese stock exchanges (“China A-Shares”) through Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (“Stock Connect”). While Stock Connect is not subject to individual investment quotas, daily and aggregate investment quotas apply to all Stock Connect participants, which may restrict or preclude the Portfolio’s ability to invest in China A-Shares (although the Portfolio would be permitted to sell China A-Shares regardless of the quota balance). Stock Connect is also subject to trading, clearance, settlement and operational risks.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Kevin O’Hare, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Developing Markets Equity team, will serve from inception.
Peter Gillespie, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Developing Markets Equity team, will serve from inception.
James M. Donald, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team and Head of the Emerging Markets Group, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
73
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses2 |
|
|
1
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
1 Year |
3 Years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries and that Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies of any size, and the market capitalizations of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions. The Investment Manager seeks to opportunistically invest in companies with strong and/or improving financial productivity at attractive valuations. The Investment
74
Manager focuses on a company’s ability to sustain “value creation” against current and future valuations. Criteria includes return on invested capital and return on equity as well as valuation relative to history, peer group, country, sector and economic potential. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts and European Depositary Receipts.
Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
75
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Sector Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector, such as companies in the financials sector, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by developments in that sector. Companies in the financials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things: government regulation; changes in interest rates and/or monetary policy and general economic conditions; the availability and cost of capital; capital requirements; decreased liquidity in credit markets; and the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single
76
corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Rohit Chopra, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team, will serve from inception.
Ganesh Ramachandran, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Income and Emerging Markets Equity teams, will serve from inception.
John R. Reinsberg, portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
77
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks total return.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses2 |
|
|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of infrastructure companies and concentrates its investments in industries represented by infrastructure companies. Lazard Asset Management
78
LLC (the “Investment Manager”) focuses on companies with a minimum market capitalization of $250 million that own physical infrastructure and which the Investment Manager believes are undervalued.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications and other infrastructure companies, with securities listed on a national or other recognized securities exchange.
Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in infrastructure companies organized or located outside the US or doing a substantial amount of business outside the US. The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries). The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of companies with some business activities located in emerging market countries.
The Investment Manager generally seeks to substantially hedge foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, although the Portfolio’s total foreign currency exposure may not be fully hedged at all times.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Infrastructure Companies Risk. Securities and instruments of infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications and other infrastructure companies, are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high
79
interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies also may be affected by or subject to, among other factors, regulation by various government authorities, including rate regulation, and service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Forward Currency Contracts and Currency Hedging Risk. Forward currency contracts, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since forward currency contracts, like most derivative instruments, have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Forward currency contracts are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all of a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Forward currency contracts also may be illiquid. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the value of such contracts. Forward currency contracts are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related currencies. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Forward currency contracts incur costs, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of forward currency contracts, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to accurately predict movements in currency exchange rates and, for hedging transactions, there may be imperfect correlations between movements in exchange rates that could cause the Portfolio to incur significant losses. Use of forward currency contracts, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
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Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Bertrand Cliquet, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
Matthew Landy, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
John Mulquiney, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
Warryn Robertson, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
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Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks total return consisting of appreciation and income.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc., but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees1 |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses (including expenses of the Portfolio’s subsidiary)2 |
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses2 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement3 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement4 |
|
|
1
2
3
4
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
82
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in real assets investments, including instruments providing exposure to such investments (such as derivative instruments).
“Real assets” are considered by the Portfolio to be:
(i) assets that have physical properties, such as:
· natural resources, such as energy and materials (e.g., metals and mining, paper and forestry and chemicals)
· real estate, such as real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and real estate operating companies (“Real Estate Investments”)
· equipment and industrials, such as tools, hardware, machinery and other industrial components
· infrastructure, such as utilities, transport, communications, pipelines, seaports, airports and toll roads
· commodities, such as physical commodities with tangible properties such as gas, oil, metals, livestock or agricultural products; and
(ii) companies that typically derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from, or have at least 50% of their assets committed to, real assets.
Allocation of the Portfolio’s assets by the Investment Manager among these real assets categories will vary, and over time exposures to new categories may be added or exposures to existing categories may be eliminated.
The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of US and non-US companies, including emerging markets companies, as well as commodity-linked and other derivative instruments. In addition, the Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity or credit quality, typically government securities, in connection with the Portfolio’s derivatives exposures (i.e., as a type of margin or collateral). The Portfolio also may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy. The Portfolio may invest in companies of any market capitalization.
The Portfolio may gain exposure to the commodity markets by investing up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in a wholly-owned subsidiary formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Subsidiary”), which invests mainly in commodity-linked derivative instruments (including, but not limited to, futures contracts, options and total return swaps) and fixed income securities, typically government securities, in connection with the Subsidiary’s derivatives exposures (i.e., as a type of margin or collateral).
The Investment Manager’s process for selecting investments for the Portfolio may include a variety of approaches, such a fundamental, bottom-up analysis, qualitative evaluations and quantitative models or a combination of these or other approaches. The process used will usually vary for different types of real assets categories, or category subsets.
In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to (1) enter into futures contracts; forward currency contracts; equity, total return, interest rate, credit default and currency swap agreements; (2) write put and call options on
83
securities (including shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies; and (3) invest in structured notes, in each case for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns, including as a substitute for a direct investment in securities. When the Portfolio or the Subsidiary enters into derivatives transactions, it may be required to segregate liquid assets or enter into offsetting positions, in accordance with applicable regulations.
Allocation Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends in part on the Investment Manager’s skill in determining the Portfolio’s allocation among real assets categories. The Investment Manager’s evaluations and assumptions underlying its allocation decisions may differ from actual market conditions.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Natural Resources Risk. Investments related to natural resources may be affected by numerous factors, including events occurring in nature, inflationary pressures and domestic and international politics. For example, events occurring in nature (such as earthquakes or fires in prime natural resource areas) and political events (such as coups or military confrontations) can affect the overall supply of a natural resource and the value of companies involved in such natural resource. Political risks and other risks to which non-US companies are subject also may affect US companies if they have significant operations or investments in non-US countries. In addition, interest rates, prices of raw materials and other commodities, international economic developments, energy conservation, tax and other government regulations (both US and non-US) may affect the supply of and demand for natural resources, which can affect the profitability and value of securities issued by companies in the natural resources category. Securities of companies within specific natural resources sub-categories can perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions.
Real Estate Investments Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in Real Estate Investments, including REITs, could lose money due to the performance of real estate-related securities even if securities markets generally are experiencing positive results. The performance of Real Estate Investments may be determined to a great extent by
84
the current status of the real estate industry in general, or by other factors that may affect the real estate industry, even if other industries would not be so affected. Consequently, Real Estate Investments could lead to investment results that may be significantly different from investments in other real assets categories or investments in the broader securities markets. The risks related to investments in Real Estate Investments include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing.
Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of securities of other types of companies, which may affect the Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in a REIT may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including failing to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. The Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, including qualification as a REIT.
Infrastructure Companies Risk. Securities and instruments of infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications and other infrastructure companies, are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Infrastructure companies also may be affected by or subject to, among other factors, regulation by various government authorities, including rate regulation, and service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps.
Commodities-Related Investments Risk. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than other types of investments. The values of commodities and commodity-linked derivative instruments are affected by events that may have less impact on the values of equity and fixed income securities. Investments linked to the prices of commodities are considered speculative. Because the value of a commodity-linked derivative instrument, such as a futures contract on a physical commodity, typically is based upon the price movements of the underlying reference asset, index or rate, the value of these instruments will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying reference asset, index or rate. Prices of commodities and commodity-linked investments may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of factors, including: changes in supply and demand relationships; weather; agricultural or livestock markets; agricultural or livestock disease or pestilence; trade relationships; fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs; and embargoes, tariffs, terrorism and international economic, political, military and regulatory developments.
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.
Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices.
85
The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity, and, during a time of declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds of called or redeemed securities in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).
Structured notes are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured notes can have risks of both debt securities and derivatives transactions.
Government Securities Risk. Not all obligations of the US government, its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Treasury. Some obligations are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality, and in some cases there may be some risk of default by the issuer. Any guarantee by the US government or its agencies or instrumentalities of a security held by the Portfolio does not apply to the market value of such security or to shares of the Portfolio itself. A security backed by the US Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
Quantitative Model Risk. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor
86
and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities and other investments at the time and price it would like. The size of certain securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than offerings in more developed markets and, in some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the desired time or price.
Derivatives and Hedging Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements; forward currency contracts; over-the-counter options on securities (including options on shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies; structured notes; and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all or a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives frequently may be illiquid and difficult to value. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of the related reference asset, index or rate. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The SEC recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds and may require the Portfolio to alter, perhaps materially, its use of derivatives. The same risks, as applicable, apply to derivatives transactions by the Subsidiary.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the ETFs’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by Section 12 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more ETFs unless the relevant ETF(s) have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the
87
securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Subsidiary and Tax Status Risk. The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary, which is not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. A regulatory change in the US or the Cayman Islands, under which the Portfolio and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, that impacts the Subsidiary or how the Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary, such as a change in tax law, could adversely affect the Portfolio. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments, which generally include the risks of investing in commodity-related derivative instruments (described elsewhere in this Prospectus). Income and gains from commodities or certain commodity-linked derivative instruments do not constitute “qualifying income” to the Portfolio for purposes of qualification as a “regulated investment company” for federal income tax purposes. Without such qualification, the Portfolio could be subject to tax. The tax treatment of the Portfolio’s investments in the Subsidiary and commodity-linked derivative instruments could affect whether income derived from such investment is “qualifying income” under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or otherwise affect the character, timing and/or amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or any gains and distributions made by the Portfolio.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Jai Jacob, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
Stephen Marra, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
Kim Tilley, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
88
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
89
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks current income and long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
||
Dividend Expenses on Securities Sold Short2 |
|
|
Borrowing Expenses on Securities Sold Short3 |
|
|
Remainder of Other Expenses |
|
|
Total Other Expenses |
|
|
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses1 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
|
|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement4 |
|
|
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement5 |
|
|
1
2
3
4
5
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
90
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective over a full market cycle through a hedged strategy investing primarily in convertible fixed income and preferred securities (including those rated below investment grade (“junk”)). The strategy utilizes a relative value approach, focusing on convertible securities that are considered to have low volatility. It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in small and mid cap companies. The Portfolio also will utilize selective strategy level and position level hedges, primarily through short selling and derivatives, seeking to minimize macro risk (equity and credit) and interest rate risk. The Portfolio may invest in convertible debt and preferred securities of any maturity and any quality. Convertible securities held in the Portfolio generally are expected to have maturities between three and seven years at the time of investment, or between five and seven years if invested at issuance. Preferred securities generally are of perpetual maturities, callable at various points determined by the issuer. The Portfolio management team utilizes bottom up fundamental credit, equity and quantitative analysis in conjunction with top down macroeconomic analysis to identify individual securities believed to offer compelling value versus comparable risk return.
The Portfolio will generally have short positions through selling securities “short” and through investments in derivative instruments, principally swap agreements on individual securities, and may use short positions to seek to increase returns or to reduce risk. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure.
Although the Portfolio’s investment focus is US companies, the Portfolio also may invest in non-US companies, including depositary receipts and shares. At certain times, based on the currently existing market environment, the Investment Manager may not believe it is able to find sufficient opportunities to invest in convertible fixed income and preferred securities and/or take short positions and may determine to tactically shift the Portfolio to invest substantially in money market instruments, such as short-term US Treasury securities and certificates of deposit.
The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to (1) enter into futures and forward currency contracts and equity, interest rate, credit default and currency swap agreements; and (2) write put and call options on securities (including shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies, in each case for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns.
It is expected that the Portfolio will buy and sell securities, and take short positions in securities, frequently in connection with implementing its investment strategy.
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The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Convertible Securities Risk. The market value of convertible securities may perform like that of non-convertible fixed income securities; that is, their prices move inversely with changes in interest rates (i.e., as interest rates go up, prices go down). In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security also is subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.
Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices.
The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal
92
payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity, and, during a time of declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds of called or redeemed securities in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).
Adjustable rate securities provide the Portfolio with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, although adjustable rate securities will participate in any declines in interest rates. Certain adjustable rate securities, such as those with interest rates that fluctuate directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to extreme reductions of yield and possibly loss of principal. Certain fixed-income securities may be issued at a discount from their face value (such as zero coupon securities) or purchased at a price less than their stated face amount or at a price less than their issue price plus the portion of “original issue discount” previously accrued thereon, i.e., purchased at a “market discount.” The amount of original issue discount and/or market discount on certain obligations may be significant, and accretion of market discount together with original issue discount will cause the Portfolio to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities.
Preferred Securities Risk. There are various risks associated with investing in preferred securities. In addition, unlike common stock, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited.
· Credit risk is the risk that a security held by the Portfolio will decline in price or the issuer of the security will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status.
· Interest rate risk is the risk that securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall.
· Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer.
· Preferred securities are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of having priority to corporate income, claims to corporate assets and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior debt instruments.
· During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to call, or redeem its issue at par earlier than the scheduled maturity. If this occurs during a time of lower or declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities (and the Portfolio may not benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).
· Certain preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks or US government securities. Illiquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by the Portfolio or at prices approximating the value at which the Portfolio is carrying the securities on its books.
Short Position Risk. Short positions may involve substantial risks. If a short position appreciates in value during the period of the Portfolio’s investment, there will be a loss to the Portfolio that could be substantial. Short positions involve more risk than long positions because the maximum sustainable loss on a security purchased is
93
limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs. However, the Portfolio’s potential loss on a short position is unlimited because, theoretically, there is no limit to the potential price increase of a security. In addition, the Portfolio’s short sales transactions are dependent on counterparties to its securities borrowing transactions and are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in a loss of Portfolio assets used as collateral or the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty.
Derivatives and Hedging Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements; forward currency contracts; over-the-counter options on securities (including options on shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies; and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all or a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives frequently may be illiquid and difficult to value. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of the related reference asset, index or rate. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The SEC recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds and may require the Portfolio to alter, perhaps materially, its use of derivatives.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage, which the Portfolio’s strategy entails, may magnify the Portfolio’s gains or losses.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Market Direction Risk. Since the Portfolio will typically hold both long and short positions, an investment in the Portfolio will involve market risks associated with different types of investment decisions than those made for a typical “long only” fund. The Portfolio’s results will suffer both when there is a general market advance and the Portfolio holds significant “short” positions, or when there is a general market decline and the Portfolio holds significant “long” positions. In recent years, the markets have shown considerable volatility from day to day and even in intra-day trading.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks,
94
such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies, as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Non-Diversification Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the ETFs’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by Section 12 of the 1940 Act, in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more ETFs unless the relevant ETF(s) have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs.
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Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Sean Reynolds, a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s capital structure and convertibles-based teams, will serve from inception.
Frank Bianco, a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s capital structure and convertibles-based teams, will serve from inception.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
96
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks long-term capital appreciation.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
Service Shares |
Investor Shares |
|
|
||
Management Fees |
|
|
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
|
|
Other Expenses1 |
||
Dividend Expenses on Securities Sold Short2 |
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Borrowing Expenses on Securities Sold Short3 |
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Remainder of Other Expenses |
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Total Other Expenses |
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (Underlying Funds)1 |
|
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement4 |
|
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement5 |
|
|
1
2
3
4
5
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement in year one only. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year |
3 Years |
|
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
97
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus, no portfolio turnover information is presented.
The Portfolio utilizes an asset allocation strategy to invest in a global portfolio of uncorrelated assets that can include exposure, through underlying vehicles, to stocks, bonds, commodities and other investments.
The Portfolio invests primarily in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy, as well as actively managed closed-end management investment companies (“closed-end funds”, and, together with ETFs, “Underlying Funds”). ETFs in which the Portfolio may invest include both ETFs designed to correlate directly with an index and ETFs designed to correlate inversely with an index and may include actively-managed ETFs. The Portfolio, through Underlying Funds in which it invests, may invest in non-US companies (including those in emerging markets), and the Portfolio also may invest directly in equity and debt securities in addition to its investments in Underlying Funds. The Portfolio’s investment portfolio is concentrated in a relatively small number of holdings (generally 10 to 30). Investors can invest directly in Underlying Funds and do not need to invest in Underlying Funds through mutual funds or separately managed accounts.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to (1) enter into equity, total return and currency swap agreements; futures contracts and options on futures contracts (including with respect to index and commodities); and forward currency contracts; and (2) write put and covered call options on securities (including shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies, in each case for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns, including as a substitute for purchasing an Underlying Fund.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, effect short sales of securities. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global
98
events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Underlying Funds Risk. Shares of closed-end funds and ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. Shares of closed-end funds, in particular, frequently trade at persistent discounts to their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in Underlying Funds are subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in Underlying Funds. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more closed-end funds and/or ETFs in the absence of an applicable exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including an Underlying Fund, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will also be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Short Position Risk. Short positions may involve substantial risks. If a short position appreciates in value during the period of the Portfolio’s investment, there will be a loss to the Portfolio that could be substantial. Short positions involve more risk than long positions because the maximum sustainable loss on a security purchased is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs. However, the Portfolio’s potential loss on a short position is unlimited because, theoretically, there is no limit to the potential price increase of a security. In addition, the Portfolio’s short sales transactions are dependent on counterparties to its securities borrowing transactions and are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in a loss of Portfolio assets used as collateral or the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market
99
currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.
Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices.
The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Focused Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s net asset value may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Derivatives and Hedging Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements; forward currency contracts; over-the-counter options on securities (including options on shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies; and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all or a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives frequently may be illiquid and difficult to value. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of the related reference asset, index or rate. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or
100
other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The SEC recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds and may require the Portfolio to alter, perhaps materially, its use of derivatives.
Commodities-Related Investments Risk. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than other types of investments. The values of commodities and commodity-linked derivative instruments are affected by events that may have less impact on the values of equity and fixed income securities. Investments linked to the prices of commodities are considered speculative. Because the value of a commodity-linked derivative instrument, such as a futures contract on a physical commodity, typically is based upon the price movements of the underlying reference asset, index or rate, the value of these instruments will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying reference asset, index or rate. Prices of commodities and commodity-linked investments may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of factors, including: changes in supply and demand relationships; weather; agricultural or livestock markets; agricultural or livestock disease or pestilence; trade relationships; fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs; and embargoes, tariffs, terrorism and international economic, political, military and regulatory developments.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Jai Jacob, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
Stephen Marra, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
Thomas McManus, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
Kim Tilley, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, will serve from inception.
101
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
102
Lazard Retirement Series Summary Section
The Portfolio seeks total return.
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio, a series of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), but does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the separate accounts of certain insurance companies (the “Participating Insurance Companies”) under variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”). If such fees and charges were reflected, the figures in the table would be higher.
|
Service Shares |
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Investor Shares |
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||||
Management Fees |
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
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Other Expenses |
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
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||
Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses |
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|
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|
Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement1 |
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|
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Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement2 |
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|
1
2
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then hold or redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same, giving effect to the expense limitation agreement described above. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
|
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|
|
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
Service Shares |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||
Investor Shares |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|||
The Portfolio 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. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual portfolio operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During
the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was
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The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various US and non-US equity and fixed-income strategies managed by the Investment Manager in proportions consistent with the Investment Manager’s evaluation of various economic and other factors designed to estimate probabilities, including volatility. The Investment Manager makes allocation decisions among the strategies based on quantitative and qualitative analysis using a number of different tools, including proprietary software models and input from the Investment Manager’s research analysts. At any given time the Portfolio’s assets may not be allocated to all strategies.
A principal component of the Investment Manager’s investment process for the Portfolio is volatility management. The Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, a level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance of approximately 10%. Volatility, a risk measurement, measures the magnitude of up and down fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index over time.
As a consequence of allocating its assets among various of the Investment Manager’s investment strategies, the Portfolio may:
· invest in US and non-US equity and debt securities (including those of companies with business activities located in emerging market countries and securities issued by governments of such countries), depositary receipts and shares, currencies and related instruments, and structured notes
· invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy
· invest in securities of companies of any size or market capitalization
· invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration
· invest in securities of any particular quality or investment grade and, as a result, the Portfolio may invest significantly in securities rated below investment grade (e.g., lower than Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or lower than BBB by S&P Global Ratings) (“junk bonds”) or securities that are unrated
· enter into swap agreements (including credit default swap agreements) and forward contracts, and may purchase and write put and covered call options, on securities, indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes (although it is not required to do so) or to seek to increase returns
Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in issuers organized or located outside the US or doing a substantial amount of business outside the US, securities denominated in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward contracts.
Allocation Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends in part on the Investment Manager’s skill in determining the Portfolio’s allocation among the investment strategies. The Investment Manager’s evaluations and assumptions underlying its allocation decisions may differ from actual market conditions.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity,
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credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio. Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting travel and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be a prolonged period of global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Volatility Management Risk. While the Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, the level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance as described above, there can be no guarantee that this will be achieved; actual or realized volatility for any particular period may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. In addition, the Investment Manager’s efforts to manage the Portfolio’s volatility can be expected, in a period of generally positive equity market returns, to reduce the Portfolio’s performance below what could be achieved without seeking to manage volatility and, thus, the Portfolio would generally be expected to underperform market indices that do not seek to achieve a specified level of volatility.
Value Investing and Growth Investing Risks. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. Growth investments are believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such securities may be more volatile than other securities because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. These securities may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of securities.
Quantitative Model Risk. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme debt burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may
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be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Investment Manager does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.
Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices.
The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Some debt securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity, and, during a time of declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds of called or redeemed securities in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).
Structured notes are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured notes can have risks of both debt securities and derivatives transactions.
Sovereign Debt Risk. Investments in non-US sovereign debt obligations create exposure to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic conditions and events in the countries that issue the obligations and involve special risks not present in investments in US government debt or debt of corporate issuers. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of sovereign debt may be more volatile than prices of US government debt or debt of corporate issuers and there may be limited secondary market liquidity. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, and the Portfolio may have limited recourse in the event of a default. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers, and certain emerging market countries have
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experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis, which has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness. Certain emerging market countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on their sovereign debt.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their net asset values, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their net asset value. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of the ETFs’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by Section 12 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), in the amount of its assets that may be invested in one or more ETFs unless the relevant ETF(s) have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities and other investments at the time and price it would like. The size of certain securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than offerings in more developed markets and, in some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the desired time or price.
Derivatives and Hedging Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements; forward currency contracts; over-the-counter options on securities, indexes and currencies; structured notes; and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all or a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives frequently may be illiquid and difficult to value. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of the related reference asset, index or rate. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even if entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses
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greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The SEC recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds and may require the Portfolio to alter, perhaps materially, its use of derivatives.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategy may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Calendar Years ended December 31
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Management
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
Portfolio Managers/Analysts
Jai Jacob, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, has been with the Portfolio since April 2012.
Stephen Marra, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2013.
Kim Tilley, portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, has been with the Portfolio since May 2020.
Additional Information
For important information about the purchase and sale of Portfolio shares, tax information and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Additional Information about the Portfolios” on page 110.
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Lazard Retirement Series Additional Information about the Portfolios
Purchase and Sale of Portfolio Shares
Portfolio shares are currently offered only to Participating Insurance Companies. Portfolio shares may be sold each business day by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies.
Tax Information
Owners of the Policies offered by the separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies should consult the prospectuses or other disclosure documents of the separate accounts regarding the federal tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio through a separate account.
Financial Intermediary Compensation
Payments to Participating
Insurance Companies and Financial Intermediaries
The Portfolios and the Investment Manager and its affiliates may pay Participating Insurance Companies, or their affiliates, for the sale of Portfolio shares and related services. Participating Insurance Companies, or their affiliates, may pay broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries that sell Policies for the sale of shares of a Portfolio and related services. When received by a Participating Insurance Company, such payments may be a factor that the Participating Insurance Company considers in including a Portfolio as an investment option in its Policies. The prospectus or other disclosure document for the Policies may contain additional information about these payments. When received by a financial intermediary, such payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary and salespersons to recommend a Portfolio over other mutual funds available as investment options under a Policy. Ask the salesperson or visit the financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Lazard Retirement Series Investment Strategies and Investment Risks
Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. (the “Fund”) consists of twenty-three separate Portfolios. Only Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio are currently in operation. Shares of the other Portfolios may be offered upon request.
Each Portfolio has its own investment objective, strategies, and risk/return and expense profile. There is no guarantee that any Portfolio will achieve its investment objective. Because you could lose money by investing in a Portfolio, be sure to read all risk disclosures carefully before investing.
Each Portfolio other than Lazard Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio has adopted a policy to invest at least 80% of its assets in specified securities appropriate to its name and to provide its shareholders with at least 60 days’ prior notice of any change with respect to this policy.
The investment objective for Lazard Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Real Assets Portfolio is total return consisting of appreciation and income. The Investment objective for Lazard Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio is total return. The investment objective for Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio is current income and long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective for each of the other Portfolios is long-term capital appreciation. For Lazard Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Equity Value Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Real Assets Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio, each Portfolio’s investment objective may be changed without the approval of the Portfolio’s shareholders upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders; for the other Portfolios, each Portfolio’s investment objective may only be changed with the approval of the Portfolio’s shareholders.
Information on the recent strategies and holdings of each Portfolio that has commenced operations can be found in the current annual/semi-annual report (see back cover).
The Portfolios are intended to be funding vehicles for variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies (the “Policies” and each, a “Policy”) offered by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies. Not all Portfolios or share classes may be available through a particular Policy. Individuals may not purchase Portfolio shares directly from the Fund. The Policies are described in the separate account prospectuses, over which the Fund assumes no responsibility. The investment objective and policies of a Portfolio may be similar to other funds/portfolios managed or advised by the Investment Manager. However, the investment results of a Portfolio may be higher or lower than, and there is no guarantee that the investment results of a Portfolio will be comparable to, any other funds/portfolios managed or advised by the Investment Manager. Portfolio shares may also be offered to certain qualified pension and retirement plans and to accounts permitting accumulation of assets on a tax-deferred basis (“Eligible Plans”). Differences in tax treatment or other considerations may cause the interests of Policy owners and Eligible Plan participants investing in a Portfolio to conflict. The Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) monitors each Portfolio for any material conflicts and determines what action, if any, should be taken. For information about Eligible Plan investing, call (800) 823-6300.
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Lazard Retirement US Equity Concentrated Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US companies of any market capitalization. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 15 to 35 companies with market capitalizations generally greater than $350 million. The Portfolio seeks to outperform broad-based securities market indices, such as the S&P 500® Index, the Russell 1000® Index and the Russell 3000® Index. The philosophy employed by Lazard Asset Management LLC (the “Investment Manager”) for the Portfolio is based on value creation through its process of bottom-up stock selection, and the Investment Manager implements a disciplined portfolio construction process. The Investment Manager’s fundamental research seeks to identify investments typically featuring robust organic cash flow, balance sheet strength and operational flexibility.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of US companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of non-US companies.
The Portfolio considers a company or issuer to be a “US company” if: (i) the company/issuer is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in the US or maintains its principal place of business in the US; (ii) the security, or security of such company/issuer, is traded principally in the US; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company/issuer, the company/issuer derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in the US.
The Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded open-end management investment companies (“ETFs”), generally those which pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund. In addition, implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, principally common stocks, of US companies selected using the Investment Manager’s process employed in implementing the Portfolio’s investment strategy, described
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below. The market capitalization of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions, but typically the Portfolio invests in companies with market capitalizations over $1 billion.
The Investment Manager’s process first identifies companies within the investable universe, which are companies that the Investment Manager believes are capable of (1) generating and maintaining high financial productivity (i.e., the return a company generates) for periods in excess of market expectations, or (2) capable of improving financial productivity to a greater extent or more expeditiously than the market expects (i.e., are undervalued) and which exhibit good expectations for future cash flows and profitability. Next, the Investment Manager reduces the investable universe using fundamental analysis and research on the companies identified.
In further narrowing the investable universe to select companies for investment by the Portfolio, the Investment Manager considers both (a) the financial sustainability of the company as a business—a company whose financial productivity is likely to be supported or enhanced in the future as a result of the move toward a more sustainable world (such as by considering the nature of the products and/or services that the company provides, from the perspective of environmental and social factors that impact financial productivity) and (b) how the company counters potential risks arising as a result of environmental and social concerns that may be material to the particular companies or the industries or sectors in which they operate (collectively, “Sustainable Companies”). The Investment Manager uses its proprietary sustainability analysis methodology to assess each company considered for investment, to the extent relevant to the company or its industry or sector, against the specific sustainability factors listed below (and other factors that may be considered relevant to the company or its industry), divided into the three categories of Human Capital, Natural Capital and Corporate Governance.
Human Capital: the extent to which the company
· follows best practices in managing its workforce in a responsible manner, such as health and safety considerations and diversity and inclusion policies;
· acts responsibly in terms of the impact its business operations, products and services have on the broader community;
· aims to ensure its suppliers act responsibly; and
· endeavors to treat its customers fairly and responsibly, for example by having appropriate product safety and data privacy and security standards.
Natural Capital: the extent to which the company, and its supply chains,
· are reliant on using resources which generate significant environmental impact; and
· actively seek to reduce the impact they have on the environment.
Corporate Governance: the extent to which the company’s board composition and policies, executive management composition and compensation, and the exercise of shareholder rights and voting powers are in line with current best practices.
Companies considered by the Investment Manager to be significantly involved in the manufacture of products or the provision of services that are broadly recognized as unsustainable by society (e.g., the production of tobacco, the generation, extraction and/or refining of certain fossil fuels or the production of unconventional weapons) generally will not fall within the investable universe for the Portfolio. However, it is possible that the Investment Manager may determine, after a combined consideration of its assessment of such a company’s financial productivity potential as described above and the results of the Investment Manager’s sustainability analysis methodology, that such a company is an appropriate investment for the Portfolio. The Portfolio may, however, invest in companies that provide equipment and services to the energy and mining sectors.
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Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of US Sustainable Companies. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities of non-US companies, including those in emerging markets.
The Portfolio considers a company or issuer to be a “US company” if: (i) the company/issuer is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in the US or maintains its principal place of business in the US; (ii) the security, or security of such company/issuer, is traded principally in the US; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company/issuer, the company/issuer derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, services performed in the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in the US.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of small to mid capitalization US companies. The Investment Manager considers “small-mid cap companies” to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase by the Portfolio, have market capitalizations within the range of companies included in the Russell 2500 Index (ranging from approximately $26.1 million to $25.4 billion as of March 31, 2021). Because “small-mid cap companies” are defined in part by reference to an index, the market capitalization of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions. The Investment Manager is not required to sell a company’s securities from the Portfolio’s holdings when the capitalization of that company increases such that the company no longer meets the definition of a “small-mid cap company.”
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small-mid cap US companies. The Investment Manager focuses on relative value in seeking to construct a diversified portfolio of investments for the Portfolio that maintains sector and industry balance, using investment opportunities identified through bottom-up fundamental research conducted by the Investment Manager’s small cap, mid cap and global research analysts.
The Investment Manager believes that contribution of ideas from multiple sources within the firm benefits the generation of investment ideas for consideration by the Portfolio’s portfolio management team. Companies
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selected for investment in the Portfolio generally have, in the Investment Manager’s opinion, one or more of the following characteristics:
· sustainable returns
· strong free cash flow with balance sheet flexibility
· attractive valuation, utilizing peer group and historical comparisons
The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in the securities of larger or smaller US or non-US companies.
The Portfolio considers a company or issuer to be a “US company” if: (i) the company/issuer is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in the US or maintains its principal place of business in the US; (ii) the security, or security of such company/issuer, is traded principally in the US; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company/issuer, the company/issuer derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in the US.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of relatively large non-US companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Index (ranging from approximately $1.3 billion to $322.5 billion as of March 31, 2021) that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors, and between developed and emerging market countries, may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for established companies in economically developed countries and may invest up to 15% of the Portfolio’s assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”).
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
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The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement International Equity Select Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of relatively large non-US companies with market capitalizations in the range of companies included in the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US (ranging from approximately $108.9 million to $506.8 billion as of March 31, 2021) that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for established companies in economically developed countries, although the Portfolio may invest in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries in an amount up to the current emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US plus 15%. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing
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cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of US and non-US companies, including those in emerging markets. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. The Portfolio management team selects stocks for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of non-US stocks and depositary receipts, including ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Portfolio will typically invest the majority of its assets in securities of non-US developed market companies, using an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions will vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio considers a company to be a non-US company if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or domiciled in a country other than the US or maintains its principal place of business in a country other than the US; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally on a non-US market; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in countries other than the US or the company has at least 50% of its assets in countries other than the US.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
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Lazard Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of non-US companies. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in 20 to 30 securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily through stock selection, investing in companies believed to have sustainably high or improving returns and trading at attractive valuations. In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager generally looks for established companies in economically developed countries that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager also may invest the Portfolio’s assets in securities of companies domiciled in emerging market countries in an amount up to the current percentage of securities in the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US issued by companies domiciled in emerging market countries (30.85% as of March 31, 2021) plus 15%. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum, and the market capitalizations of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs.
The Portfolio considers a company to be a non-US company if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in a country other than the US or maintains its principal place of business in a country other than the US; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally on a non-US market; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in countries other than the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in countries other than the US.
A company is considered to be domiciled in an emerging markets country if it is domiciled in a country that is: (i) included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; or (ii) not included in the MSCI World Index.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
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Lazard Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. The fund principally invests in common stocks, but its investments in equity securities also may include preferred stocks and convertible securities.
The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily by investing in companies that the Investment Manager considers to be quality growth businesses. By “quality” the Investment Manager means businesses that it believes can generate, and sustain, high levels of financial productivity (i.e., return on equity, return on capital and cash flow return on investment). The Investment Manager considers, among other factors deemed appropriate and relevant to a particular company, whether the company has a competitive advantage in its industry and if the Investment Manager believes the company can sustain its competitive advantage. The Investment Manager also looks for “growth” businesses that it believes can grow profits and cash flows by investing back into their business at similarly high rates of financial productivity.
Equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum, but generally focuses on companies with a market capitalization of $3 billion or more.
The Portfolio considers a company to be a non-US company if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in a country other than the US or maintains its principal place of business in a country other than the US; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally on a non-US market; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in countries other than the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in countries other than the US. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographical sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement International Equity Value Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of non-US companies. The Portfolio has a concentrated portfolio of investments, typically investing in
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20 to 30 securities of non-US companies, including those whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily by investing in companies that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued and whose valuations will benefit from potential company-specific catalysts identified by the Investment Manager. For example, the Investment Manager may seek to invest in companies engaging in activities that the Investment Manager believes will improve the companies’ fundamentals, resolve circumstances that may be negatively affecting valuation and/or improve market and investor perceptions of the companies. The Investment Manager divides these catalysts into three main categories: self-help, positive changes in capital allocation and business simplifications.
· Self-Help – Many companies undertake self-directed initiatives intended to drive improvement in fundamentals regardless of macroeconomic conditions. These initiatives may range from large-scale corporate restructurings to smaller-scale cost-cutting programs. In many cases, new corporate management teams, changes to the board of directors and/or shifts in a company’s ownership structure are the impetus for self-help plans.
· Positive Changes in Capital Allocation – The Investment Manager believes companies seeking to address inefficient balance sheets often offer opportunities to add value to shareholders. The Portfolio seeks to invest in companies undertaking special capital returns, deleveraging programs, and/or value-enhancing reinvestment or mergers and acquisitions. In-depth analysis of balance sheet and cash flow potential, as well as interviews with corporate management teams, helps the Investment Manager identify potential positive capital allocation change opportunities before they are reflected in equity prices.
· Business Simplifications – The simplification of organizational and ownership structures often enables corporate management to increase returns through more effective resource allocation and less operational distraction. Furthermore, monetization of hidden value within a company may occur as a result of asset sales, spin-offs or wind-downs.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. Equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum. In addition, implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector. At times, the Portfolio may engage in active and frequent trading, which will increase portfolio turnover.
The Portfolio considers a company to be a non-US company if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in a country other than the US or maintains its principal place of business in a country other than the US; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally on a non-US market; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in countries other than the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in countries other than the US. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographical sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Investment Manager may seek to hedge some or all foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, but the Investment Manager may determine not to hedge some or all of the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure from time-to-time or at any time.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to
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meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement International Strategic Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in countries represented by the MSCI EAFE Index that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Portfolio may invest in companies of any size, and the market capitalizations of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions. The Portfolio also may invest up to 15% of its assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs.
The countries represented by the MSCI EAFE Index currently include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in
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money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement International Small Cap Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of relatively small non-US companies that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager considers “small non-US companies” to be those non-US companies with market capitalizations, at the time of initial purchase by the Portfolio, below $5 billion and above $300 million or in the range of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (based on market capitalization of the Index as a whole, which ranged from approximately $100.4 million to $7.9 billion as of March 31, 2021). Because “small non-US companies” are defined in part by reference to an index, the market capitalization of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions. The Investment Manager is not required to sell a company’s securities from the Portfolio’s holdings when the capitalization of the company increases so that the company no longer meets the definition of a “small non-US company.”
Securities selected for investment in the Portfolio generally have, in the Investment Manager’s opinion, one or more of the following characteristics:
· the potential to become a larger factor in the company’s business sector
· significant debt but high levels of free cash flow
· a relatively short corporate history with the expectation that the business may grow
In choosing stocks for the Portfolio, the Investment Manager looks for smaller, well-managed non-US companies that the Investment Manager believes have the potential for growth. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of small cap companies. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs. The Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in equity securities of larger companies.
The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, although the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country.
The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing
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cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of US and non-US companies, including those in emerging markets. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. A principal component of the Investment Manager’s investment process for the Portfolio is volatility management. Volatility, a risk measurement, measures the magnitude of up and down fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index over time. The Investment Manager seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted equity returns (returns after accounting for the risk taken to achieve those returns) while lowering portfolio volatility (up and down movements in the fund’s returns). The Investment Manager’s investment process is benchmark-unaware, which means that the Portfolio’s assets are not managed by reference to a benchmark index. The Investment Manager examines fundamental company information (such as financial statements) and seeks to identify high quality companies with sustainable operating performance in order to build a well-diversified global portfolio of common stocks. The Investment Manager performs an independent assessment of stock risk and also seeks to manage risk through diversification.
The Portfolio management team selects stocks for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of stocks and depositary receipts, including ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, REITs, warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Portfolio will typically focus on securities of developed market companies, using an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics and create a low volatility portfolio. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
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Lazard Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of companies that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Investment Manager seeks to realize the Portfolio’s investment objective primarily through stock selection, investing in companies believed to have sustainably high or improving returns and trading at attractive valuations. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries, and the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to emerging market countries may vary from time to time. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum, and the market capitalizations of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs. In addition, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in non-US companies. The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries). The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
The Portfolio considers a company to be a non-US company if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or is domiciled in a country other than the US or maintains its principal place of business in a country other than the US; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally on a non-US market; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in countries other than the US or that has at least 50% of its assets in countries other than the US.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
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Lazard Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of US and non-US companies, including those in emerging markets. The Portfolio normally invests in equity securities listed on a national or other recognized securities exchange of companies that the Investment Manager considers to have an “economic franchise,” meaning companies that have historically shown an ability to generate unleveraged returns, at or above their cost of capital, for long periods of time. The Investment Manager considers that strong business franchises are often able to accomplish this performance and status because of competitive advantages such as an established or recognized brand, proprietary intellectual property or other intangible assets or industry economics such as relatively high customer switching costs. These companies may have such a strong association with a product or service that their names and their industries are intertwined in the minds of the public. Such companies may not, however, necessarily be in the business of selling “franchises”—an authorization granted by the company to an individual or group enabling it to carry out specified commercial activities, e.g., acting as an agent for delivering a company’s products or services. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities. The Portfolio may invest in the equity securities of any size company and also may invest in IPOs.
The Investment Manager may seek to hedge some or all foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, but the Investment Manager may determine not to hedge some or all of the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure from time-to-time or at any time.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy. The Portfolio also may invest in exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”)
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries and that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among emerging market countries may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies across the capitalization spectrum, and the market capitalizations of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions.
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Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs. In addition, implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of emerging markets companies. In managing the Portfolio, the Investment Manager utilizes a quantitatively driven, bottom up stock selection process. The Portfolio management team selects stocks for the Portfolio from a broad investment universe of emerging market stocks and depositary receipts, including ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, REITs, warrants and rights. The active, quantitative approach utilized by the Portfolio management team involves initial screening, risk assessment and evaluation of each company relative to its global peers. The Investment Manager uses an objective, systematic investment process that blends both risk and stock ranking assessments designed to capture attractive risk-to-return characteristics. In addition to a multidimensional assessment of risk, each company is evaluated daily according to four independent measures: growth, value, sentiment and quality. The Portfolio may invest across the capitalization spectrum.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invest at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies that are economically tied to emerging market countries. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among countries and regions will vary from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country.
The Portfolio considers a company to be “economically tied to emerging markets countries” if: (i) the company is organized under the laws of or domiciled in an emerging markets country or maintains its principal place of business in an emerging markets country; (ii) the securities of such company are traded principally in emerging
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markets countries; or (iii) during the most recent fiscal year of the company, the company derived at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in emerging markets countries or that has at least 50% of its assets in emerging markets countries. The Portfolio considers emerging markets countries to be all countries: (i) included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; or (ii) not included in the MSCI World Index.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Developing Markets Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries (also known as “developing markets”). The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among emerging market countries may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
The Investment Manager employs a relative growth investment philosophy that is based on value creation through the process of bottom-up stock selection. The Investment Manager’s approach consists of an analytical framework, accounting validation, fundamental analysis and portfolio construction parameters. The Investment Manager’s selection process focuses on growth and considers the sustainability of growth and the trade off between valuation and growth. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector and/or a particular country.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
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The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of non-US companies whose principal activities are located in emerging market countries and that the Investment Manager believes are undervalued based on their earnings, cash flow or asset values. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies of any size, and the market capitalizations of companies in which the Portfolio invests may vary with market conditions. The Investment Manager seeks to opportunistically invest in companies with strong and/or improving financial productivity at attractive valuations. The Investment Manager focuses on a company’s ability to sustain “value creation” against current and future valuations. Criteria includes return on invested capital and return on equity as well as valuation relative to history, peer group, country, sector and economic potential. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among emerging markets countries may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector and/or a particular country.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of companies whose principal business activities are located in emerging market countries. In addition to common stocks, such equity securities also may include ADRs, GDRs and EDRs.
Emerging market countries include all countries represented by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which currently includes: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to
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meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio
The Portfolio invests primarily in equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and convertible securities, of infrastructure companies and concentrates its investments in industries represented by infrastructure companies.
Infrastructure companies typically derive at least 50% of their revenues from, or have at least 50% of their assets committed to, the generation, production, transmission, sale or distribution of energy or natural resources used to produce energy; distribution, purification and treatment of water; provision of communications services and media; management, ownership and/or operation of infrastructure assets or construction, development or financing of infrastructure assets, such as pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads or ports. Infrastructure companies also include energy-related companies organized as master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and their affiliates, and the Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its net assets in these energy-related MLPs and their affiliates. The Investment Manager focuses on companies with a minimum market capitalization of $250 million that own physical infrastructure and which the Investment Manager believes are undervalued.
Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in equity securities of infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications and other infrastructure companies, with securities listed on a national or other recognized securities exchange.
Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in infrastructure companies organized or located outside the US or doing a substantial amount of business outside the US. The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various regions and countries, including the United States (but in no less than three different countries). The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of companies with some business activities located in emerging market countries.
The Portfolio seeks to focus its investments in a subset of infrastructure securities that are considered “preferred infrastructure” securities by the Investment Manager. Generally, the Investment Manager considers securities that are more likely to exhibit certain desirable characteristics, such as longevity of the issuer, lower risk of capital loss and revenues linked to inflation, to be “preferred infrastructure” securities.
The Portfolio considers a company or issuer that derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the US or has at least 50% of its assets outside the US as doing a substantial amount of business outside the US. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
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The Investment Manager generally seeks to substantially hedge foreign currency exposure in the Portfolio against movements relative to the US dollar by entering into foreign currency forward contracts, although the Portfolio’s total foreign currency exposure may not be fully hedged at all times.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Real Assets Portfolio
Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests at least 80% of its assets in real assets investments, including instruments providing exposure to such investments (such as derivative instruments).
“Real assets” are considered by the Portfolio to be:
(i) assets that have physical properties, such as:
· natural resources, such as energy and materials (e.g., metals and mining, paper and forestry and chemicals)
· real estate, such as Real Estate Investments
· equipment and industrials, such as tools, hardware, machinery and other industrial components
· infrastructure, such as utilities, transport, communications, pipelines, seaports, airports and toll roads
· commodities, such as physical commodities with tangible properties such as gas, oil, metals, livestock or agricultural products; and
(ii) companies that typically derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from, or have at least 50% of their assets committed to, real assets.
Allocation of the Portfolio’s assets by the Investment Manager among these real assets categories will vary, and over time exposures to new categories may be added or exposures to existing categories may be eliminated.
The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of US and non-US companies, including emerging markets companies, as well as in commodity-linked and other derivative instruments. The Portfolio also may invest in
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inflation-indexed fixed income securities (which may be of any credit quality or maturity). In addition, the Portfolio may invest in fixed income securities of any maturity or credit quality, typically government securities, in connection with the Portfolio’s derivatives exposures (i.e., a type of margin or collateral). The Portfolio may invest in companies of any market capitalization.
The Portfolio may gain exposure to the commodity markets by investing up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in the Subsidiary, Lazard Retirement Real Assets Portfolio, Ltd., which invests mainly in commodity-linked derivative instruments (including, but not limited to, futures contracts, options, and total return swaps) and fixed income securities, typically government securities, in connection with the Subsidiary’s derivatives exposures (i.e., a type of margin or collateral). With respect to its investments, the Subsidiary is subject to the same principal investment restrictions and limitations as the Portfolio, except that the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-related instruments.
The Subsidiary also is subject to the Portfolio’s compliance program, to the extent the Portfolio’s policies and procedures apply to its investments and operations. The Portfolio and the Subsidiary test for compliance with applicable investment restrictions, such as capital structure and leverage requirements, on a consolidated basis and comply with investment policy disclosure requirements under the 1940 Act on a similar basis. Investments in the Subsidiary are intended to provide the Portfolio with exposure to the returns of commodity markets within the limitations of the federal tax requirements that apply to the Portfolio.
The Portfolio may invest in common stock of ETFs and similar products, such as exchange-traded products that hold portfolios of commodities futures and/or physical commodities (“Commodity ETPs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy. The Portfolio also may invest in ETNs.
The Investment Manager’s process for selecting investments for the Portfolio may include a variety of approaches, such a fundamental, bottom-up analysis, qualitative evaluations and quantitative models or a combination of these or other approaches. The process used will usually vary for different types of real assets categories, or category subsets.
In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to (1) enter into futures contracts; forward currency contracts, equity, total return, interest rate, credit default and currency swap agreements; (2) write put and call options on securities (including shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies; and (3) invest in structured notes, in each case for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns, including as a substitute for a direct investment in securities. Derivatives transactions may be entered into on established exchanges or through privately negotiated transactions referred to as over-the-counter derivatives. A derivatives contract will obligate or entitle the Portfolio or the Subsidiary to deliver or receive an asset or cash payment based on the change in value of the reference asset, index or rate. When the Portfolio or the Subsidiary enters into derivatives transactions, it may be required to segregate assets or enter into offsetting positions, in accordance with applicable regulations. In the case of swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts and other derivative instruments that provide for full payment of the value of the underlying asset, in cash or by physical delivery, at the settlement date, for example, the Portfolio or the Subsidiary may be required to set aside liquid assets equal to the full notional amount of the instrument (generally, the total numerical value of the asset underlying the derivatives contract) while the positions are open, to the extent there is not an offsetting position. However, with respect to certain swaps, futures contracts, options, forward contracts and other derivative instruments for which there may be periodic cash settlement during the term of the transaction or cash payment of the gain or loss under the transaction at the settlement date, the Portfolio or the Subsidiary may segregate liquid assets in an amount equal to its daily marked-to-market net obligations (i.e., the Portfolio’s or the Subsidiary’s daily net liability) under the instrument, if any, rather than its full notional amount. By setting aside assets equal to only its net obligations under the instrument, the Portfolio or the Subsidiary will have the ability to employ leverage to a greater extent than if it were required to segregate liquid assets equal to the full notional value of such instruments. If segregated assets represent a large portion of the portfolio, portfolio management may be affected as positions requiring segregation may have to be reduced in order to meet redemptions or other obligations.
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Futures contracts generally are standardized, exchange-traded contracts that provide for the sale or purchase of a specified reference asset, index or rate at a future time at a specified price. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right (and the writer of the option the obligation) to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price within a specified period of time. Futures transactions by be entered into on both US and foreign exchanges. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date at a price set at the time of the contract.
A put option gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to buy, the underlying asset during the option period at a specified price. A call option gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) of the option the obligation to sell, the underlying asset during the option period at a specified price. Options may be traded on either US or foreign exchanges or over-the-counter.
Swap agreements may be used to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market, and can be used to transfer the interest rate or credit risk of a security without actually transferring ownership of the security or to customize exposure to particular securities. Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate or the total return from other underlying assets.
Structured notes are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio
The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective over a full market cycle through a hedged strategy investing primarily in convertible fixed income and preferred securities (including those rated below investment grade (“junk”)). The strategy utilizes a relative value approach, focusing on convertible securities that are considered to have low volatility. It is expected that the Portfolio will invest primarily in small and mid cap companies, but may invest in companies across the capitalization spectrum. The Portfolio also will utilize selective strategy level and position level hedges, primarily through short selling and derivatives, seeking to minimize macro risk (equity and credit) and interest rate risk. The Portfolio may invest in convertible debt and preferred
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securities of any maturity and any quality. Convertible securities held in the Portfolio generally are expected to have maturities between three and seven years at the time of investment, or between five and seven years if invested at issuance. Preferred securities generally are of perpetual maturities, callable at various points determined by the issuer. The Portfolio management team utilizes bottom up fundamental credit, equity and quantitative analysis in conjunction with top down macroeconomic analysis to identify individual securities believed to offer compelling value versus comparable risk return.
The Portfolio will generally have short positions through selling securities “short” and through investments in derivative instruments, principally swap agreements on individual securities, and may use short positions to seek to increase returns or to reduce risk. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure.
The Portfolio’s net exposure to long and short positions may be net short, meaning that the exposure to short positions is greater than the exposure to long positions. In taking a short position in securities through total return swap agreements (which generally entitle the Portfolio to the economic equivalent of gains or losses and dividends on the subject securities during the period of the swap agreements), the Portfolio will incur transaction costs similar to interest or financing charges that will reduce any gains or increase any losses. Short sales of securities also may involve additional transaction-related costs such as those in connection with borrowing the securities sold short.
Although the Portfolio’s investment focus is US companies, the Portfolio also may invest in non-US companies (including those in emerging markets), including depositary receipts and shares. The Portfolio also may invest in cash and cash equivalents. At certain times, based on the currently existing market environment, the Investment Manager may not believe it is able to find sufficient opportunities to invest in convertible fixed income and preferred securities and/or take short positions and may determine to tactically shift the Portfolio to invest substantially in money market instruments, such as short-term US Treasury securities and certificates of deposit.
In addition, the Portfolio may, but is not required to (1) enter into futures and forward currency contracts and equity, interest rate, credit default and currency swap agreements; and (2) write put and call options on securities (including shares of ETFs), indexes and currencies, in each case for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns.
It is expected that the Portfolio will buy and sell securities, and take short positions in securities, frequently in connection with implementing its investment strategy.
The Portfolio may invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
The Portfolio is classified as “non-diversified” under the 1940 Act, which means that it may invest a relatively high percentage of its assets in a limited number of issuers, when compared to a diversified fund.
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A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio
The Portfolio utilizes an asset allocation strategy to invest in a global portfolio of uncorrelated assets that can include exposure, through underlying vehicles, to stocks, bonds, commodities and other investments. The Portfolio may invest in securities of companies with any market capitalization and fixed-income securities of any credit quality or maturity.
The Portfolio invests primarily in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy, as well as actively managed closed-end management investment companies (“closed-end funds,” and, together with ETFs, “Underlying Funds”). ETFs in which the Portfolio may invest include both ETFs designed to correlate directly with an index and ETFs designed to correlate inversely with an index and may include actively-managed ETFs. The Portfolio, through Underlying Funds in which it invests, may invest in non-US companies (including those in emerging markets), and the Portfolio also may invest directly in equity and debt securities in addition to its investments in Underlying Funds. The Portfolio’s investment portfolio is concentrated in a relatively small number of holdings (generally 10 to 30). Investors can invest directly in Underlying Funds and do not need to invest in Underlying Funds through mutual funds or separately managed accounts. The Portfolio also may invest in exchange-traded products that hold portfolios of commodities futures and/or physical commodities (“Commodity ETPs”), generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy, and ETNs.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to (1) enter into equity, total return and currency swap agreements; futures contracts and options on futures contracts (including with respect to index and commodities); and forward currency contracts; and (2) write put and covered call options on securities (including interests in ETFs and ETNs), indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes or to seek to increase returns, including as a substitute for purchasing an Underlying Fund.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, effect short sales of securities. A short sale involves the sale of a security that the Portfolio does not own in the expectation of purchasing the same security (or a security exchangeable therefor) at a later date and at a lower price and profiting from the price decline. Similarly, when taking short positions with respect to securities through investments in derivative instruments, the Investment Manager is expecting the value of such securities to fall during the period of the Portfolio’s investment exposure. Securities will not be sold short if, after effect is given to any such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s net assets. The Portfolio may not make a short-sale which results in the Portfolio having sold short in the aggregate more than 5% of the outstanding securities of any class of an issuer.
The Investment Manager believes that over the long term, and on a risk-adjusted basis, there is no one size fits all approach to asset allocation and that historical relationships coupled with market insights can help develop a global view to identify and anticipate certain secular and cyclical changes. The Investment Manager employs a multi-variable investment strategy incorporating both quantitative and qualitative factors to generate the Portfolio’s asset allocation decisions.
The Portfolio’s investments generally are categorized by the Investment Manager as falling within the following four categories: thematic, diversifying assets, discounted assets and contrarian/opportunistic. The Investment Manager makes allocation changes in the Portfolio’s investments based on a forward looking assessment of capital markets using a risk/reward and probability methodology.
134
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
Although the Portfolio is classified as “diversified” under the 1940 Act, it may invest in a smaller number of issuers than other, more diversified, investment portfolios.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio
The Investment Manager allocates the Portfolio’s assets among various US and non-US equity and fixed-income strategies managed by the Investment Manager in proportions consistent with the Investment Manager’s evaluation of various economic and other factors designed to estimate probabilities, including volatility. The Investment Manager makes allocation decisions among the strategies based on quantitative and qualitative analysis using a number of different tools, including proprietary software models and input from the Investment Manager’s research analysts. At any given time the Portfolio’s assets may not be allocated to all strategies. Quantitative analysis includes statistical analysis of portfolio risks and performance characteristics, factor dependencies and trading tendencies. Qualitative analysis includes analysis of the global economic environment as well as internal and external research on individual securities, portfolio holdings, attribution factors, behavioral patterns and overall market views and scenarios.
A principal component of the Investment Manager’s investment process for the Portfolio is volatility management. The Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, a level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance of approximately 10%. Volatility, a risk measurement, measures the magnitude of up and down fluctuations in the value of a financial instrument or index over time.
The Investment Manager engages in fundamental analysis (including credit analysis) while taking into account macroeconomic and other considerations in selecting investment opportunities. The allocation among the Investment Manager’s strategies may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions, and at any given time the Portfolio’s assets may not be allocated to all strategies. The investment philosophy employed for the Portfolio is based on an understanding that the current economic environment can be coupled with research into the drivers of (and risks to) outperformance in the strategies in which the Portfolio invests to create a blend of strategies aligned with the economic cycle.
As a consequence of allocating its assets among various of the Investment Manager’s investment strategies, the Portfolio may:
· invest in US and non-US equity and debt securities (including those of companies with business activities located in emerging market countries and securities issued by governments of such countries), depositary receipts and shares, currencies and related instruments, and structured notes
135
· invest in ETFs, generally those that pursue a passive index-based strategy
· invest in securities of companies of any size or market capitalization
· invest in debt securities of any maturity or duration
· invest in securities of any particular quality or investment grade and, as a result, the Portfolio may invest significantly in securities rated below investment grade (e.g., lower than Baa by Moody’s or lower than BBB by S&P) (“junk bonds”) or securities that are unrated
· enter into swap agreements (including credit default swap agreements) and forward contracts, and may purchase and write put and covered call options, on securities, indexes and currencies, for hedging purposes (although it is not required to do so) or to seek to increase returns
Debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest (as a consequence of allocating its assets among various of the Investment Manager’s investment strategies) include debt securities issued or guaranteed by governments, government agencies or supranational bodies or US and non-US companies or other private-sector entities, including fixed and/or floating rate investment grade and non-investment grade bonds (“junk bonds”), convertible securities, commercial paper, collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), short- and medium-term obligations and other fixed-income obligations.
Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio invests significantly (at least 40%—unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Investment Manager, in which case the Portfolio would invest at least 30%) in issuers organized or located outside the US or doing a substantial amount of business outside the US, securities denominated in a foreign currency or foreign currency forward contracts.
The Portfolio considers a company or issuer that derives at least 50% of its revenue from business outside the US or has at least 50% of its assets outside the US as doing a substantial amount of business outside the US. The allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among geographic sectors may shift from time to time based on the Investment Manager’s judgment and its analysis of market conditions.
The Portfolio may, but is not required to, enter into futures contracts and/or swap agreements in an effort to protect the Portfolio’s investments against a decline in the value of Portfolio investments that could occur following the effective date of a large redemption order and while the Portfolio is selling securities to meet the redemption request. Since, in this event, the redemption order is priced at the (higher) value of the Portfolio’s investments at the effective date of redemption, these transactions would seek to protect the value of Portfolio shares remaining outstanding from dilution or magnified losses resulting from the Portfolio selling securities to meet the redemption request while the value of such securities is declining. For the most part, this approach is anticipated to be utilized, if at all, if a significant percentage of Portfolio shares is redeemed on a single day, or other similar circumstances.
A certain portion of the Portfolio’s assets may be held in reserves, typically invested in shares of a money market mutual fund. The reserve position provides flexibility in meeting redemptions, paying expenses and managing cash flows into the Portfolio. In addition, when the Investment Manager determines that adverse market conditions exist, the Portfolio may adopt a temporary defensive position and invest some or all of its assets in money market mutual funds and/or money market instruments. In pursuing a temporary defensive strategy, the Portfolio may forgo potentially more profitable investment strategies and, as a result, may not achieve its stated investment objective.
You should be aware that the Portfolios:
· are not bank deposits
136
· are not guaranteed, endorsed or insured by any bank, financial institution or government entity, such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
· are not guaranteed to achieve their stated goals
The Portfolios also are subject to the investment risks listed in the tables below. For a description of the risks listed in the tables, please see “Glossary—Investment Risks” immediately following the tables. See also the Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for information on certain other investments in which the Portfolios may invest and other investment techniques in which the Portfolios may engage from time to time and related risks.
Retirement |
Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio |
Retirement |
||||
Concentration Risk |
ü |
|||||
Cybersecurity Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Depositary Receipts Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Derivatives and Hedging Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Emerging Market Risk |
ü |
|||||
ETF Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Focused Investing Risk |
ü |
|||||
Foreign Currency Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Growth Investing Risk |
ü |
|||||
IPO Shares Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Issuer Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Large Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Non-Diversification Risk |
ü |
|||||
Non-US Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Other Equity Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
Sector Risk |
ü |
|||||
Securities Selection Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Sustainable Investing Risk |
ü |
|||||
Value Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
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Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
|||||||
Concentration Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Country Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Cybersecurity Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Depositary Receipts Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Derivatives and Hedging Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Emerging Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
ETF Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Focused Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
|||||||||
Foreign Currency Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
IPO Shares Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Issuer Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Large Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||||||
Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Non-Diversification Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Non-US Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Other Equity Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Securities Selection Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||||||
Value Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
138
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
|||||||||
Country Risk |
ü |
|||||||||||
Cybersecurity Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Depositary Receipts Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Derivatives and Hedging Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Emerging Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
ETF Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
ETN Risk |
ü |
|||||||||||
Focused Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||||||||
Foreign Currency Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Franchise Companies Risk |
ü |
|||||||||||
Growth Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||||||||
IPO Shares Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Issuer Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Large Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Liquidity Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||||||||
Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Non-Diversification Risk |
ü |
|||||||||||
Non-US Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Other Equity Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Sector Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||||||||
Securities Selection Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Value Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
139
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
Retirement |
|||||||
Concentration Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Country Risk |
ü |
ü |
|||||||||
Cybersecurity Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Depositary Receipts Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Derivatives and Hedging Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Emerging Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
ETF Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Focused Investing Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Foreign Currency Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Growth Investing Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
High Portfolio Turnover Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
IPO Shares Risk |
ü |
ü |
|||||||||
Issuer Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Large Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Non-Diversification Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Non-US Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Other Equity Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Quantitative Model Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Real Estate Investments and REITs Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||||
Sector Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Securities Selection Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
ü |
||||||
Value Investing Risk |
ü |
||||||||||
Volatility Management Risk |
ü |
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Retirement
Global Listed Infrastructure |
Retirement |
Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio |
||||
Allocation Risk |
ü |
|||||
Commodity ETP Risk |
ü |
|||||
Commodities-Related Investments Risk |
ü |
|||||
Convertible Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
Cybersecurity Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Depositary Receipts Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Derivatives and Hedging Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Emerging Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
ETF Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
ETN Risk |
ü |
|||||
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Focused Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Foreign Currency Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Government Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
High Portfolio Turnover Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Inflation-Indexed Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Infrastructure Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
IPO Shares Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Issuer Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Large Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Leverage Risk |
ü |
|||||
Liquidity Risk |
ü |
|||||
Market Direction Risk |
ü |
|||||
Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
MLP Risk |
ü |
|||||
Natural Resources Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Non-Diversification Risk |
ü |
|||||
Non-US Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Other Equity Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
Preferred Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
Quantitative Model Risk |
ü |
|||||
Real Estate Investments and REITs Risk |
ü |
|||||
Securities Selection Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Short Position Risk |
ü |
|||||
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Structured Products Risk |
ü |
|||||
Subsidiary and Tax Status Risk |
ü |
|||||
Value Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
141
Retirement
Emerging Markets Strategic Equity |
Retirement Opportunistic |
Retirement
|
||||
Allocation Risk |
ü |
|||||
CDO Risk |
ü |
|||||
Commodity ETP Risk |
ü |
|||||
Commodities-Related Investments Risk |
ü |
|||||
Contrarian/Opportunistic Strategy Risk |
ü |
|||||
Convertible Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
Country Risk |
ü |
|||||
Cybersecurity Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Depositary Receipts Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Derivatives and Hedging Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Emerging Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
ETF Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
ETN Risk |
ü |
|||||
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Focused Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Foreign Currency Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Growth Investing Risk |
ü |
|||||
High Portfolio Turnover Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
IPO Shares Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Issuer Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Large Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Liquidity Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Market Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Non-US Securities Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Other Equity Securities Risk |
ü |
|||||
Quantitative Model Risk |
ü |
|||||
Sector Risk |
ü |
|||||
Securities Selection Risk |
ü |
ü |
ü |
|||
Short Position Risk |
ü |
|||||
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Sovereign Debt Risk |
ü |
|||||
Structured Products Risk |
ü |
|||||
Underlying Funds Risk |
ü |
|||||
Value Investing Risk |
ü |
ü |
||||
Volatility Management Risk |
ü |
Allocation Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to achieve its investment objective depends in part on the Investment Manager’s skill in determining the Portfolio’s allocation among the investment strategies. The Investment Manager’s evaluations and assumptions underlying its allocation decisions may differ from actual market conditions.
CDO Risk. CDOs are securitized interests in pools of—generally non-mortgage—assets. Assets called collateral usually are comprised of loans or other debt instruments. A CDO may be called a collateralized loan obligation or collateralized bond obligation if it holds only loans or bonds, respectively. Investors bear the credit risk of the collateral. Multiple tranches of securities are issued by the CDO, offering investors various maturity and credit risk
142
characteristics. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine and subordinated/equity, according to their degree of credit risk. If there are defaults or the CDO’s collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over those to subordinated/equity tranches. Senior and mezzanine tranches are typically rated, with the former receiving ratings of A to AAA/Aaa and the latter receiving ratings of B to BBB/Baa. The ratings reflect both the credit quality of underlying collateral as well as how much protection a given tranche is afforded by tranches that are subordinate to it.
Commercial Paper Risk. Commercial paper represents short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued in bearer form by banks or bank holding companies, corporations and finance companies used to finance short-term credit needs and may consist of US dollar-denominated obligations of domestic issuers and foreign currency-denominated obligations of domestic or foreign issuers. Commercial paper may be backed only by the credit of the issuer or may be backed by some form of credit enhancement, typically in the form of a guarantee by a commercial bank. Commercial paper backed by guarantees of foreign banks may involve additional risk due to the difficulty of obtaining and enforcing judgments against such banks and the generally less restrictive regulations to which such banks are subject.
Commodity ETP Risk. Investments in Commodity ETPs involve the same types of risks of investing in an ETF except that the investments made by a Commodity ETP are commodities futures or physical commodities included in the index the Commodity ETP is designed to replicate or invest in and Commodity ETPs are not registered investment companies and are not regulated under the 1940 Act. Interests in Commodity ETPs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. In addition, the performance of a Commodity ETP may diverge from the performance of the relevant index. The Portfolio’s investments in Commodity ETPs are subject to the risks of the investments made by the Commodity ETPs, as well as to the general risks of investing in Commodity ETPs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the fees and operating expenses of the Commodity ETPs in which the Portfolio invests.
Commodity-Related Investments Risk. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than other types of investments. The values of commodities and commodity-linked derivative instruments are affected by events that may have less impact on the values of equity and fixed income securities. Investments linked to the prices of commodities are considered speculative. Because the value of a commodity-linked derivative instrument, such as a futures contract on a physical commodity, typically is based upon the price movements of the underlying reference asset, index or rate, the value of these instruments will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying reference asset, index or rate. Prices of commodities and commodity-linked investments may fluctuate significantly over short periods for a variety of factors, including: changes in supply and demand relationships; weather; agricultural or livestock markets; agricultural or livestock disease or pestilence; trade relationships; fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs; and embargoes, tariffs, terrorism and international economic, political, military and regulatory developments. The commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to a variety of factors, including the lack of liquidity in the markets, the participation of speculators and government regulation and intervention. United States futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in futures contract prices, which may occur during a single business day. These limits are generally referred to as “daily price fluctuation limits” and the maximum or minimum price of a contract on any given day as a result of these limits is referred to as a “limit price.” Once the limit price has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made at a different price. Limit prices have the effect of precluding trading in a particular contract or forcing the liquidation of contracts at disadvantageous times or prices. These circumstances could adversely affect the value of the commodity-linked investments.
Concentration Risk. The Portfolio’s ability to concentrate its investments may be limited by applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for qualification as a regulated investment company.
143
Contrarian/Opportunistic Strategy Risk. A contrarian/opportunistic strategy is susceptible to the risk that the Investment Manager’s determinations of opportunities in market anomalies do not materialize as expected so that investments using this strategy do not increase in value (and may lose value).
Convertible Securities Risk. The market value of convertible securities generally performs like that of nonconvertible fixed income securities; that is, their prices move inversely with changes in interest rates (i.e., as interest rates go up, prices go down). In addition, convertible securities are subject to the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a convertible security, the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. Since it derives a portion of its value from the common stock into which it may be converted, a convertible security also is subject to the same types of market and issuer risks that apply to the underlying common stock.
Country Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular country, such as Japan or China, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by political, regulatory, market, economic and social developments affecting that country.
Over the last few decades, Japan’s economic growth rate had remained relatively low compared to that of its Asian neighbors and other major developed economies mainly due to deflation. The economy is characterized by an aging demographic, a declining population, a large government debt and a highly regulated labor market. Monetary and fiscal policies designed to stimulate economic growth in Japan have had limited success in the past prior to the current government. Overseas trade is important to Japan’s economy, although exports as a percentage of global domestic product is lower than other Asian countries and most developed countries. Japan has few natural resources and limited land area and is reliant on imports for its commodity needs. Fluctuations or shortages in relevant commodity markets could have a negative impact on Japan’s economy. The Japanese economy also can be adversely affected by trade tariffs, other protectionist measures, competition from emerging economies, and the economic conditions of its trading partners. Japan has a growing economic relationship with China and other Southeast Asian countries, and economic, political or social instability in those countries, whether resulting from country, regional or global events, could have an adverse effect on Japan’s economy. The Japanese yen has fluctuated widely at times, and any increase in the yen’s value may cause a decline in Japan’s exports. The Japanese government has, in the past, intervened in the currency markets to attempt to maintain or reduce the value of the yen, and such intervention could cause the value of the yen to fluctuate sharply and unpredictably. The specific risks of investing in Japan, certain of which are summarized in this section, could, individually or in the aggregate, adversely impact investments in Japan.
Specific risks associated with investments in China include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, expropriation, confiscatory taxation, nationalization, exchange control regulations (including currency blockage), trading halts, imposition of tariffs, limitations on repatriation and differing legal standards. Over the last few decades, the Chinese government has undertaken reform of economic and market practices and has expanded the sphere of private ownership in China. However, Chinese markets generally continue to experience inefficiency, volatility and pricing anomalies resulting from governmental influence, a lack of publicly available information and/or political and social instability. Internal social unrest or confrontations with other countries, including military conflicts in response to such events, may also disrupt economic development in China. Reduced spending on Chinese products and services, which may result in substantial price reductions of goods and services and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry; institution of additional tariffs or other trade barriers, including as a result of heightened trade tensions between China and the US or other countries; or a downturn in any of the economies of China’s key trading partners, may have an adverse impact on the Chinese economy. China has experienced security concerns, such as terrorism and strained international relations, and China is alleged to have participated in state-sponsored cyberattacks against foreign companies and foreign governments. Actual and threatened responses to such activity, including
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purchasing restrictions, sanctions, tariffs or cyberattacks on the Chinese government or Chinese companies, may impact China’s economy and Chinese issuers of securities.
The Portfolio may invest in eligible renminbi-denominated class A shares of equity securities that are listed and traded on certain Chinese stock exchanges (“China A-Shares”) through Hong Kong Stock Connect Program (“Stock Connect”). While Stock Connect is not subject to individual investment quotas, daily and aggregate investment quotas apply to all Stock Connect participants, which may restrict or preclude the Portfolio’s ability to invest in China A-Shares (although the Portfolio would be permitted to sell China A-Shares regardless of the quota balance). Stock Connect is also subject to trading, clearance, settlement and operational risks. Stock Connect also is generally available only on business days when both the exchange on which China A-Shares are offered and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong are open and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. Therefore, an investment in China A-Shares through Stock Connect may subject the Portfolio to a risk of price fluctuations on days where the Chinese stock markets are open, but Stock Connect is not operating. The risks of Stock Connect could, among other things, lead to greater market execution risk and costs for the Portfolio with respect to purchasing and/or selling affected securities.
On November 12, 2020, the President of the United States issued an Executive Order (the “Order”) to prohibit, beginning January 11, 2021, US persons (which includes the Portfolio) from transacting in certain securities and derivatives of publicly traded securities of 31 companies designated as a “Communist Chinese military company” (a “CCMC” and such securities collectively with securities of certain subsidiaries of such companies and related depositary receipts that may be covered by the Order, “CCMC Securities”) by the US Department of Defense (the “DOD”) or the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). In the weeks following the issuance of the Order, the DOD designated additional companies as CCMCs. Also subsequent to issuance of the Order, OFAC extended the effective date of the trading ban from January 11, 2021 to January 28, 2021 for publicly-traded securities of companies with a name that “closely matches the name” of a designated CCM but that have not been designated CCMC Securities. In addition, US persons also are prohibited from transacting in newly designated CCMC Securities 60 days after such designation. As clarified by an amendment to the Order dated January 13, 2021, and subsequent guidance from OFAC, US persons may divest their holdings in the 31 initially-designated CCMCs at any time through November 11, 2021 (and have 365 days from date of designation to divest their holdings in other CCMCs).
The Portfolio’s holdings in CCMC Securities may adversely impact the Portfolio’s performance. The extent of any impact will depend on future developments, including the Portfolio’s ability to sell the CCMC Securities, valuation of the CCMC Securities, modifications to the Order, the issuance of additional or different interpretive guidance regarding compliance with the Order, and the duration of the Order, all of which are highly uncertain.
Cybersecurity Risk. The Portfolio and its service providers are susceptible to operational and information security and related risks of cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity attacks include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems (e.g., through “hacking” or malicious software coding) for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity incidents affecting the Investment Manager, transfer agent or custodian or other service providers such as financial intermediaries have the ability to cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, including by impediments to the Portfolio’s investment trading; the inability of Portfolio shareholders to purchase and redeem Portfolio shares; interference with the Portfolio’s ability to calculate its net asset value (“NAV”); violations of applicable privacy, data security or other laws; regulatory fines and penalties; reputational damage; reimbursement or other compensation or remediation costs; legal fees; or additional compliance costs. Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity incidents affecting issuers of securities in which the Portfolio invests; counterparties with which the Portfolio engages in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities, exchange and other financial market operators; and banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies and other financial institutions and other parties. There are inherent limitations in any cybersecurity risk management systems or business continuity plans, including the possibility that certain risks have not been identified.
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Depositary Receipts Risk. ADRs and similar depositary receipts typically will be subject to certain of the risks associated with direct investments in the securities of non-US companies, because their values depend on the performance of the underlying non-US securities. However, currency fluctuations will impact investments in depositary receipts differently than direct investments in non-US dollar-denominated non-US securities, because a depositary receipt will not appreciate in value solely as a result of appreciation in the currency in which the underlying non-US dollar security is denominated. Certain countries may limit the ability to convert depositary receipts into the underlying non-US securities and vice versa, which may cause the securities of the non-US company to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the related depositary receipt. The Portfolio may invest in depositary receipts through an unsponsored facility where the depositary issues the depositary receipts without an agreement with the company that issues the underlying securities. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of such facilities, and the depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through voting rights to the holders of the depositary receipts with respect to the deposited securities. As a result, available information concerning the issuer may not be as current as for sponsored depositary receipts, and the prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than if such instruments were sponsored by the issuer.
Derivatives and Hedging Risk. Derivatives transactions, including those entered into for hedging purposes (i.e., seeking to protect Portfolio investments), may increase volatility, reduce returns, limit gains or magnify losses, perhaps substantially, particularly since most derivatives have a leverage component that provides investment exposure in excess of the amount invested. Swap agreements; forward currency contracts; writing or purchasing over-the-counter options on securities (including options on interests in ETFs and ETNs, indexes and currencies; structured notes; and other over-the-counter derivatives transactions are subject to the risks of the creditworthiness of and default by the counterparty and consequently may lose all or a portion of their value due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the counterparty. Over-the-counter derivatives frequently may be illiquid and difficult to value. Changes in liquidity may result in significant, rapid and unpredictable changes in the prices for derivatives. These derivatives transactions, as well as the exchange-traded futures and options in which the Portfolio may invest, are subject to many of the risks of, and can be highly sensitive to changes in the value of, the related reference asset, security or rate. As such, a small investment could have a potentially large impact on the Portfolio’s performance. Purchasing options will reduce returns by the amount of premiums paid for options that are not exercised. In fact, many derivatives may be subject to greater risks than those associated with investing directly in the underlying or other reference asset. Derivatives transactions incur costs, either explicitly or implicitly, which reduce returns, and costs of engaging in such transactions may outweigh any gains or any losses averted from hedging activities. Successful use of derivatives, whether for hedging or for other investment purposes, is subject to the Investment Manager’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant reference asset or market and, for hedging activities, correlation of the derivative instruments used with the investments seeking to be hedged. Use of derivatives transactions, even when entered into for hedging purposes, may cause the Portfolio to experience losses greater than if the Portfolio had not engaged in such transactions. The SEC recently adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, which will regulate the use of derivatives for certain funds registered under the 1940 Act. Unless the Portfolio qualifies as a “limited derivatives user” as defined in Rule 18f-4, the rule would, among other things, require the Portfolio to establish a comprehensive derivatives risk management program, to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits, to appoint a derivatives risk manager and to provide additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the Portfolio qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 would require the Portfolio to have policies and procedures to manage its aggregate derivatives risk. These requirements could have an impact on the Portfolio, including a potential increase in cost to enter into derivatives transactions and may require the Portfolio to alter, perhaps materially, its use of derivatives.
Emerging Market Risk. Emerging market countries generally have economic structures that are less diverse and mature, and political systems that are less stable, than those of developed countries. The economies of countries with emerging markets may be based predominantly on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from limited reliable access to capital, extreme debt
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burdens or volatile inflation rates. The securities markets of emerging market countries may be subject to manipulation and have historically been extremely volatile and less liquid than more developed markets. These market conditions may continue or worsen. Investments in these countries may be subject to political, economic, legal, market and currency risks. The risks may include the lack of, or limitations on, regulatory oversight by US or even local authorities; limited corporate governance standards; limited investor protections and less protection of property rights, including the limited availability of legal recourse; uncertain political and economic policies; the imposition by a country of foreign investment limitations and/or capital controls; nationalization of businesses; and the imposition of sanctions by other countries, such as the US. Differences in regulatory, accounting, auditing and financial reporting and recordkeeping standards could impede the availability of reliable information for the Investment Manager to evaluate and monitor local companies and impact the Portfolio’s performance. Significant devaluation of emerging market currencies against the US dollar may occur subsequent to acquisition of investments denominated in emerging market currencies.
ETF Risk. Shares of ETFs may trade at prices that vary from their NAVs, sometimes significantly. The shares of ETFs may trade at prices at, below or above their most recent NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in ETFs are subject to the risks of investments made by the ETFs, as well as to the general risks of investing in ETFs. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also their proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs unless an ETF has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Many ETFs have received an exemptive order from the SEC providing an exemption from the 1940 Act limits on the amount of assets that may be invested in ETFs, and the Portfolio’s reliance on an order is conditioned on compliance with certain terms and conditions of the order, including that the Portfolio enter into a purchasing fund agreement with the ETF regarding the terms of the investment. If an exemptive order has not been received and an exemption is not available under the 1940 Act, the Portfolio will be limited in the amount it can invest in ETFs that are registered investment companies to: (1) 3% or less of an ETF’s voting shares, (2) an ETF’s shares in value equal to or less than 5% of the Portfolio’s assets and (3) shares of ETFs in the aggregate in value equal to or less than 10% of the Portfolio’s total assets. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including ETFs, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will also be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio will have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
ETN Risk. ETNs are debt obligations with a return linked to the performance of a reference investment (typically an index). ETNs are not registered investment companies and are not regulated under the 1940 Act. Unlike ETFs, ETNs are not investments in a dedicated pool of the issuer’s assets and instead operate more like unsecured debt of the issuer. Accordingly, investments in ETNs are subject not only to the risks of an investment in the reference investment but also to the risks of a debt investment in the issuer, including the creditworthiness of and default by the issuer. As a result, the Portfolio may lose all or a portion of the value of an investment in an ETN due solely to the creditworthiness of or default by the issuer. In addition, there may be substantial differences between the value of the reference investment and the price at which the ETN may be traded, and the return on an ETN that is tied to a specific index may not replicate precisely the return of the index. ETNs also incur certain expenses not incurred by the reference investment, and the cost of owning an ETN may exceed the cost of investing directly in the reference investment. The secondary trading market price of an ETN (if such a secondary trading market exists) may be more volatile than the value of the reference investment it is designed to track. The Portfolio may not be able to liquidate ETN holdings at the time and price desired, which may impact Portfolio performance.
Fixed-Income and Debt Securities Risk. The market value of a debt security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic
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conditions, changes in the outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. The debt securities market can be susceptible to increases in volatility and decreases in liquidity. Liquidity can decline unpredictably in response to overall economic conditions or credit tightening.
Prices of bonds and other debt securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect debt securities and, accordingly, will cause the value of the Portfolio’s investments in these securities to decline. Interest rate risk is usually greater for fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations. When interest rates fall, the Portfolio’s investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the Portfolio’s income. A rise in interest rates (or the expectation of a rise in interest rates) may result in periods of volatility, decreased liquidity and increased redemptions, and, as a result, the Portfolio may have to liquidate portfolio securities at disadvantageous prices. Interest rate policies of governments and central banks, including the Federal Reserve System, the central bank of the United States (the “Federal Reserve”), may adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of interest paying securities in particular. During periods of very low interest rates, which occur from time to time due to market forces or actions of governments and/or their central banks, the Portfolio may be subject to a greater risk of principal decline from rising interest rates. Very low or negative interest rates may magnify interest rate risk. Interest rates in the United States currently are at or near historic lows due to market forces and actions of the Federal Reserve, primarily in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant market disruptions. Changing interest rates, including rates that fall below zero, may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from Portfolio performance. Other market developments can adversely affect fixed-income securities markets. For example, in the US, regulations and business practices have led some financial institutions to curtail their capacity to engage in trading (i.e., “market making”) activities for certain fixed-income securities, which could have the potential to decrease liquidity and increase volatility in the fixed-income securities markets.
During periods of reduced market liquidity, the Portfolio may not be able to readily sell debt securities at prices at or near their perceived value. An unexpected increase in Portfolio redemption requests, including a single large request for a significant percentage of the Portfolio’s shares, which may be triggered by market turmoil or an increase in interest rates, could cause the Portfolio to sell its holdings at a loss or at undesirable prices and adversely affect the Portfolio’s share price and increase the Portfolio’s liquidity risk and/or Portfolio expenses. Economic and other developments can adversely affect debt securities markets.
The Portfolio’s investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding securities (“junk bonds”) are subject to greater credit risk than its higher rated investments. Credit risk is the risk that the issuer will not make interest or principal payments, or will not make payments on a timely basis. Non-investment grade securities tend to be more volatile, less liquid and are considered speculative. If there is a decline, or perceived decline, in the credit quality of a debt security (or any guarantor of payment on such security), the security’s value could fall, potentially lowering the Portfolio’s share price. The prices of non-investment grade securities, unlike investment grade debt securities, may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. The prices of high yield securities can fall in response to negative news about the issuer or its industry, or the economy in general to a greater extent than those of higher rated securities. The market for these securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.
Some fixed-income securities may give the issuer the option to call, or redeem, the securities before their maturity. If securities held by the Portfolio are called during a time of declining interest rates (which is typically the case when issuers exercise options to call outstanding securities), the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield (and the Portfolio may not fully benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates).
Adjustable rate securities provide the Portfolio with a certain degree of protection against rises in interest rates, although such securities will participate in any declines in interest rates as well. Certain adjustable rate securities,
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such as those with interest rates that fluctuate directly or indirectly based on multiples of a stated index, are designed to be highly sensitive to changes in interest rates and can subject the holders thereof to extreme reductions of yield and possibly loss of principal. Certain fixed-income securities may be issued at a discount from their face value (such as zero coupon securities) or purchased at a price less than their stated face amount or at a price less than their issue price plus the portion of “original issue discount” previously accrued thereon, i.e., purchased at a “market discount.” The amount of original issue discount and/or market discount on certain obligations may be significant, and accretion of market discount together with original issue discount will cause the Portfolio to realize income prior to the receipt of cash payments with respect to these securities.
Structured notes are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured notes can have risks of both debt securities and derivative transactions.
Focused Investing Risk. The NAV of the Portfolio may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Foreign Currency Risk. Investments denominated in currencies other than US dollars may experience a decline in value, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The Portfolio’s investments denominated in such currencies (particularly currencies of emerging markets countries), as well as any investments in currencies themselves, could be adversely affected by delays in, or a refusal to grant, repatriation of funds or conversion of currencies. Irrespective of any foreign currency exposure hedging, the Portfolio may experience a decline in the value of its portfolio securities, in US dollar terms, due solely to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Except as specifically stated for a Portfolio, the Investment Manager generally does not intend to actively hedge the Portfolio’s foreign currency exposure.
Franchise Companies Risk. Changes in the worldwide economy, consumer spending, competition, demographics and consumer preferences, government regulation and economic conditions may adversely affect franchise companies individually or across an industry and may negatively impact the Portfolio to a greater extent than if the Portfolio’s assets were invested more broadly in a number of types of companies.
Government Securities Risk. Not all obligations of the US government, its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Treasury. Some obligations are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality, and in some cases there may be some risk of default by the issuer. Any guarantee by the US government or its agencies or instrumentalities of a security held by the Portfolio does not apply to the market value of such security or to shares of the Portfolio itself. A security backed by the US Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity. In addition, because many types of US government securities trade actively outside the United States, their prices may rise and fall as changes in global economic conditions affect the demand for these securities.
Growth Investing Risk. Growth investments are believed by the Investment Manager to have the potential for growth, but may not realize such perceived potential for extended periods of time or may never realize such perceived growth potential. Such stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they can be more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. These stocks may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks.
High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Portfolio’s investment strategies may involve high portfolio turnover (such as 100% or more). A portfolio turnover rate of 100%, for example, is equivalent to the Portfolio buying and selling all of its securities once during the course of the year. A high portfolio turnover rate could result in high transaction costs, which will reduce returns to shareholders.
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Inflation-Indexed Security Risk. Inflation-indexed securities are indexed to inflation so that principal and interest payments rise and fall with the rate of inflation. The US Treasury has guaranteed that, in the event of a drop in prices, its Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) would repay the adjusted principal or the original principal, whichever is greater, so that investors will not receive less than the originally invested principal. However, the current market value of TIPS is not guaranteed and will fluctuate. Inflation-indexed securities issued by corporations generally do not guarantee repayment of principal. The value of inflation-indexed securities is expected to change in response to changes in real interest rates. Real interest rates in turn are tied to the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. Therefore, if the rate of inflation rises at a faster rate than nominal interest rates, real interest rates might decline, leading to an increase in value of inflation-indexed securities. In contrast, if nominal interest rates increase at a faster rate than inflation, real interest rates might rise, leading to a decrease in value of inflation-indexed securities.
While these securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation, investors in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the security’s inflation measure. In addition, because inflation-indexed securities are intended to provide protection from inflation, they generally have lower expected returns.
Infrastructure Companies Risk. Securities and instruments of infrastructure companies, which consist of utilities, pipelines, toll roads, airports, railroads, ports, telecommunications and other infrastructure companies, are more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting their industries. Infrastructure companies may be subject to a variety of factors that may adversely affect their business or operations, including high interest costs in connection with capital construction programs, high leverage, costs associated with environmental and other regulations, the effects of an economic slowdown, surplus capacity, increased competition from other providers of services, uncertainties concerning the availability of fuel at reasonable prices, the effects of energy conservation policies and other factors. Changes in law or regulations or general changes in market sentiment towards infrastructure assets may be difficult to predict or respond to, which may adversely affect the operations of infrastructure companies. Certain infrastructure companies may operate in limited areas, have few sources of revenue or face intense competition.
Infrastructure companies also may be affected by or subject to:
· regulation by various government authorities, including rate regulation;
· service interruption due to environmental, operational or other mishaps;
· the imposition of special tariffs and changes in tax laws, regulatory policies and accounting standards;
· difficulty in raising capital in adequate amounts on reasonable terms in periods of high inflation and unsettled capital markets;
· inexperience with and potential losses resulting from a developing deregulatory environment; and
· technological innovations that may render existing plants, equipment or products obsolete.
Other factors that may affect the operations of infrastructure companies include significant changes to the number of ultimate end-users of a company's products, increased susceptibility to terrorist acts or political actions, and risks of environmental damage due to a company's operations or an accident.
IPO Shares Risk. The prices of securities purchased in IPOs can be very volatile. The effect of IPOs on the Portfolio’s performance depends on a variety of factors, including the number of IPOs the Portfolio invests in relative to the size of the Portfolio and whether and to what extent a security purchased in an IPO appreciates or depreciates in value. As the Portfolio’s asset base increases, IPOs may have a diminished effect on the Portfolio’s performance.
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Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s goods or services, as well as the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer and the value of its assets or factors unrelated to the issuer’s value, such as investor perception.
Large Cap Companies Risk. Investments in large cap companies may underperform other segments of the market when such other segments are in favor or because such companies may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities and may be unable to attain high growth rates during periods of economic expansion.
Leverage Risk. The use of leverage may magnify the Portfolio’s gains or losses.
Liquidity Risk. The lack of a readily available market may limit the ability of the Portfolio to sell certain securities at the time and price it would like. The size of certain securities offerings of emerging markets issuers may be relatively smaller in size than offerings in more developed markets and, in some cases, the Portfolio, by itself or together with other Portfolios or other accounts managed by the Investment Manager, may hold a position in a security that is large relative to the typical trading volume for that security; these factors can make it difficult for the Portfolio to dispose of the position at the desired time or price.
Market Direction Risk. Since the Portfolio will typically hold both long and short positions, an investment in the Portfolio will involve market risks associated with different types of investment decisions than those made for a typical “long only” fund. The Portfolio’s results will suffer both when there is a general market advance and the Portfolio holds significant “short” positions, or when there is a general market decline and the Portfolio holds significant “long” positions. In recent years, the markets have shown considerable volatility from day to day and even in intra-day trading.
Market Risk. The Portfolio may incur losses due to declines in one or more markets in which it invests. These declines may be the result of, among other things, political, regulatory, market, economic or social developments affecting the relevant market(s). To the extent that such developments impact specific industries, market sectors, countries or geographic regions, the Portfolio’s investments in such industries, market sectors, countries and/or geographic regions can be expected to be particularly affected, especially if such investments are a significant portion of its investment portfolio. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the Portfolio.
Global economies and financial markets are increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. Policies of governments and central banks, such as the Federal Reserve, may impact not only markets in a specific country but also financial markets worldwide. Policy and legislative changes worldwide are affecting many aspects of financial regulation. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies worldwide. As a result, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions or other events could have a significant negative impact on global economic and market conditions. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic and the aggressive responses taken by many governments or voluntarily imposed by private parties, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and imposing prolonged quarantines or similar restrictions, as well as the closure of, or operational changes to, many retail and other businesses, has had negative impacts, and in many cases severe negative impacts, on markets worldwide. It is not known how long such impacts, or any future impacts of other significant events described above, will or would last, but there could be long-term implications for markets and market participants worldwide, including a prolonged global economic slowdown, which may be expected to impact the Portfolio and its investments.
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MLP Risk. An investment in MLP units involves some risks that differ from an investment in the common stock of a corporation. Investing in MLPs involves certain risks related to investing in the underlying assets of the MLPs and risks associated with pooled investment vehicles. MLPs holding credit-related investments are subject to interest rate risk and the risk of default on payment obligations by debt issuers.
Natural Resources Risk. Investments related to natural resources may be affected by numerous factors, including events occurring in nature, inflationary pressures and domestic and international politics. For example, events occurring in nature (such as earthquakes or fires in prime natural resource areas) and political events (such as coups or military confrontations) can affect the overall supply of a natural resource and the value of companies involved in such natural resource. Political risks and other risks to which non-US companies are subject also may affect US companies if they have significant operations or investments in non-US countries. In addition, interest rates, prices of raw materials and other commodities, international economic developments, energy conservation, tax and other government regulations (both US and non-US) may affect the supply of and demand for natural resources, which can affect the profitability and value of securities issued by companies in the natural resources category. Securities of companies within specific natural resources sub-categories can perform differently than the overall market. This may be due to changes in such things as the regulatory or competitive environment or to changes in investor perceptions.
Non-Diversification Risk. The NAV of the Portfolio may be more vulnerable to changes in the market value of a single issuer or group of issuers and may be relatively more susceptible to adverse effects from any single corporate, industry, economic, market, political or regulatory occurrence than if the Portfolio’s investments consisted of securities issued by a larger number of issuers.
Non-US Securities Risk. The Portfolio’s performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting the non-US countries and companies in which the Portfolio invests. Non-US securities carry special risks, such as less developed or less efficient trading markets, political instability, a lack of company information, differing auditing and legal standards, and, potentially, less liquidity. Additionally, certain non-US markets may rely heavily on particular industries and are more vulnerable to diplomatic developments, the imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals, changes in international trading patterns, trade barriers, and other protectionist or retaliatory measures. International trade barriers or economic sanctions against foreign countries, organizations, entities and/or individuals may adversely affect the Portfolio’s foreign holdings or exposures.
There are ongoing concerns regarding the economies of certain European countries and/or their sovereign debt following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (known as “Brexit”). Any additional exits from the EU, or the possibility of such exits, may have a significant impact on European and global economies, which may result in increased volatility and illiquidity, new legal and regulatory uncertainties and potentially lower economic growth.
Other Equity Securities Risk. Preferred stock is subject to credit and interest rate risk and the risk that the dividend on the stock may be changed or omitted by the issuer and, unlike common stock, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited. The market value of a convertible security tends to perform like that of a regular debt security so that, if market interest rates rise, the value of the convertible security falls. Investments in rights and warrants involve certain risks including the possible lack of a liquid market for resale, price fluctuations and the failure of the price of the underlying security to reach a level at which the right or warrant can be prudently exercised, in which case the right or warrant may expire without being exercised and result in a loss of the Portfolio’s entire investment.
Preferred Securities Risk. There are various risks associated with investing in preferred securities, including credit risk; interest rate risk; deferral and omission of distributions; subordination; call and reinvestment risk; limited liquidity; limited voting rights and special issuer redemption rights. In addition, unlike common stock, participation in the growth of an issuer may be limited.
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· Credit risk is the risk that a security held by the Portfolio will decline in price or the issuer of the security will fail to make dividend, interest or principal payments when due because the issuer experiences a decline in its financial status.
· Interest rate risk is the risk that securities will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the market value of such securities generally will fall. Securities with longer periods before maturity or effective durations may be more sensitive to interest rate changes.
· Preferred securities may include provisions that permit the issuer, at its discretion, to defer or omit distributions for a stated period without any adverse consequences to the issuer.
· Preferred securities are generally subordinated to bonds and other debt instruments in an issuer’s capital structure in terms of having priority to corporate income, claims to corporate assets and liquidation payments, and therefore will be subject to greater credit risk than more senior debt instruments.
· During periods of declining interest rates, an issuer may be able to exercise an option to call, or redeem, its issue at par earlier than the scheduled maturity, which is generally known as call risk. If this occurs during a time of lower or declining interest rates, the Portfolio may have to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities (and the Portfolio may not benefit from any increase in the value of its portfolio holdings as a result of declining interest rates). This is known as reinvestment risk.
· Certain preferred securities may be substantially less liquid than many other securities, such as common stocks or US government securities. Illiquid securities involve the risk that the securities will not be able to be sold at the time desired by the Portfolio or at prices approximating the value at which the Portfolio is carrying the securities on its books.
· Generally, traditional preferred securities offer no voting rights with respect to the issuer unless preferred dividends have been in arrears for a specified number of periods, at which time the preferred security holders may elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights. Hybrid-preferred security holders generally have no voting rights.
· In certain varying circumstances, an issuer of preferred securities may redeem the securities prior to a specified date. For instance, for certain types of preferred securities, a redemption may be triggered by a change in US federal income tax or securities laws. As with call provisions, a redemption by the issuer may negatively impact the return of the security held by the Portfolio
Quantitative Model Risk. A quantitative model, such as the risk and other models used by the Investment Manager requires adherence to a systematic, disciplined process. The Investment Manager’s ability to monitor and, if necessary, adjust its quantitative model could be adversely affected by various factors, including incorrect or outdated market and other data inputs. Factors that affect a security’s value can change over time, and these changes may not be reflected in the quantitative model. In addition, the factors used in quantitative analysis and the weight placed on those factors may not be predictive of a security’s value.
Real Estate Investments and REITs Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in Real Estate Investments, including REITs, could lose money due to the performance of real estate-related securities even if securities markets generally are experiencing positive results. The performance of these investments may be determined to a great extent by the current status of the real estate industry in general, or by other factors (such as interest rates and the availability of loan capital) that may affect the real estate industry, even if other industries would not be so affected. Consequently, investments in Real Estate Investments could lead to investment results that may be significantly different from investments in other real assets categories or investments in the broader securities markets. The risks related to investments in Real Estate Investments include, but are not limited to: adverse changes in general economic and local market conditions; adverse developments in employment; changes in supply or demand for similar or competing properties; unfavorable changes in applicable taxes, governmental regulations and interest rates; operating or development expenses; and lack of available financing.
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Due to certain special considerations that apply to REITs, investments in REITs may carry additional risks not necessarily present in investments in other securities. REIT securities (including those trading on national exchanges) typically have trading volumes that are less than those of securities of other types of companies, which may affect the Portfolio’s ability to trade or liquidate those securities. An investment in a REIT may be adversely affected if the REIT fails to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including failing to qualify as a REIT under the Code. Failure to qualify with any of these requirements could jeopardize a company’s status as a REIT. The Portfolio generally will have no control over the operations and policies of a REIT, and the Portfolio generally will have no ability to cause a REIT to take the actions necessary to qualify as a REIT.
Sector Risk. Implementation of the Portfolio’s investment strategy may, during certain periods, result in the investment of a significant portion of the Portfolio’s assets in a particular market sector, such as information technology companies or companies in the financials or consumer discretionary sectors, and the Portfolio would be expected to be affected by developments in that sector.
Information technology companies generally operate in intensely competitive markets on a worldwide basis. This level of competition can put pressure on the prices of their products and services which could adversely affect their profitability. Also, because technological development in many areas increases at a rapid rate, these companies often produce products with very short life cycles and face the risk of product obsolescence. Other risks include changes in consumer preferences, competition for qualified personnel, the effects of economic slowdowns, dependence on intellectual property rights and the impact of government regulation.
Companies in the financials sector can be significantly affected by, among other things: government regulation; changes in interest rates and/or monetary policy and general economic conditions; the availability and cost of capital; capital requirements; decreased liquidity in credit markets; and the rate of defaults on corporate, consumer and government debt. Deterioration of the credit markets generally may cause an adverse impact in a broad range of markets, including the US and international credit and interbank markets generally, which could affect a wide range of financial institutions and markets. In addition, companies in the financials sector are often more highly leveraged than other companies, making them inherently riskier.
The value of companies in the consumer discretionary sector, which manufacture products and provide discretionary services directly to consumers, is tied closely to the performance of the overall US and international economies, interest rates, currency exchange rates and consumer confidence. Success depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. As a result, the consumer discretionary sector encompasses those companies that tend to be the most sensitive to economic cycles. Also, companies in the consumer discretionary sector may be subject to severe competition, which may have an adverse impact on profitability. Changes in demographics, social trends and consumer preferences also can affect the demand for, and success of, consumer discretionary products in the marketplace.
Securities Selection Risk. Securities and other investments selected by the Investment Manager for the Portfolio may not perform to expectations. This could result in the Portfolio’s underperformance compared to other funds with similar investment objectives or strategies.
Short Position Risk. Short sales or positions may involve substantial risks. If a short position appreciates in value during a period of the Portfolio’s investment, there will be a loss to the Portfolio that could be substantial. Short positions involve more risk than long positions because the maximum sustainable loss on a security purchased is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs. However, the Portfolio’s potential loss on a short position is unlimited because, theoretically, there is no limit to the potential price increase of a security.
In taking a short position in securities through total return swap agreements (which generally entitle the Portfolio to the economic equivalent of gains or losses and dividends on the subject securities during the period of the swap agreements), the Portfolio will incur transaction costs similar to interest or financing charges that will
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reduce any gains or increase any losses. Short sales of securities also may involve additional transaction-related costs such as those in connection with borrowing the securities sold short.
There is a risk that the Portfolio may be unable to fully implement its investment strategies due to a lack of available swap arrangements or securities to borrow to effect short sales or for some other reason.
When seeking to effect short sales of securities, the Portfolio may not always be able to borrow a security the Portfolio seeks to sell short at a particular time or at an acceptable price. In addition, the Portfolio may not always be able to close out a short sale position at a particular time or at an acceptable price. If the lender of a borrowed security requires the Portfolio to return the security to it on short notice, and the Portfolio is unable to borrow the security from another lender, the Portfolio may have to buy the borrowed security at an unfavorable price, resulting in a loss. In addition, the Portfolio’s short sales transactions are dependent on counterparties to its securities borrowing transactions and are subject to the risk of default by a counterparty, which could result in a loss of Portfolio assets used as collateral or the loss of monies owed to the Portfolio by a counterparty.
It is possible that the market value of the securities the Portfolio holds in long positions will decline at the same time that the market value of the securities to which the Portfolio has short exposure increases, thereby increasing the Portfolio’s potential volatility.
Small and Mid Cap Companies Risk. Small and mid cap companies carry additional risks because their earnings tend to be less predictable, their share prices more volatile and their securities less liquid than larger, more established companies. The shares of small and mid cap companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the ability to sell these securities when the Investment Manager deems it appropriate.
Sovereign Debt Risk. Investments in non-US sovereign debt obligations create exposure to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic conditions and events in the countries that issue the obligations and involve special risks not present in investments in US government debt or debt of corporate issuers. During periods of economic uncertainty, the market prices of sovereign debt may be more volatile than prices of US government debt or debt of corporate issuers and there may be limited secondary market liquidity. The issuer of the sovereign debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or interest when due, and the Portfolio may have limited recourse in the event of a default. For example, there may be no bankruptcy or similar proceedings through which all or part of the sovereign debt that a governmental entity has not repaid may be collected. Sovereign debt risk is increased for emerging market issuers, and certain emerging market countries have experienced difficulty in servicing their sovereign debt on a timely basis, which has led to defaults and the restructuring of certain indebtedness. Certain emerging markets countries have declared moratoria on the payment of principal and interest on their sovereign debt.
A sovereign debt obligor’s ability or willingness to repay principal and pay interest in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign currency reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange, the size of the debt service burden to its economy as a whole, the political constraints to which the debtor may be subject and other political or diplomatic considerations. Certain issuers of sovereign debt may be dependent on disbursements from governments, multilateral agencies and others to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. Such disbursements may be conditioned upon the debtor’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. A failure on the part of the debtor to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties’ commitments to lend funds to the debtor, which may impair the debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts on a timely basis.
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Structured Products Risk. Structured notes and other structured products are privately negotiated debt instruments where the principal and/or interest is determined by reference to a specified asset, market or rate, or the differential performance of two assets or markets. Structured products can have risks of both fixed income securities and derivatives transactions (described above).
Subsidiary and Tax Status Risk. The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary, which is not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. A regulatory change in the US or the Cayman Islands, under which the Portfolio and the Subsidiary, respectively, are organized, that impacts the Subsidiary or how the Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary, such as a change in tax law, could prevent the Portfolio or the Subsidiary from operating as described in the Prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments, which generally include the risks of investing in commodity-related derivative instruments (described elsewhere in this Prospectus).
Income and gains from commodities or certain commodity-linked derivative instruments do not constitute “qualifying income” to the Portfolio for purposes of qualification as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Without such qualification, the Portfolio could be subject to tax. The Portfolio intends to take the position that income and gains from its investments in the Subsidiary and certain commodity-linked derivatives will constitute “qualifying income.” The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has announced that it will no longer issue private letter rulings regarding this matter; however, the Portfolio anticipates that all income and gains earned by the Subsidiary will constitute “qualifying income,” as the Subsidiary intends to make corresponding distributions of those earnings to the Portfolio at least once during every taxable year, consistent with Section 851(b) of the Code. The tax treatment of the Portfolio’s investments in the Subsidiary and commodity-linked derivative instruments could affect whether income derived from such investment is “qualifying income” under the Code, or otherwise affect the character, timing and/or amount of the Portfolio’s taxable income or any gains and distributions made by the Portfolio. The IRS has recently adopted regulations that generally treat the Portfolio’s inclusion of income with respect to a subsidiary as “qualifying income” if there is a distribution out of the earnings and profits of the Subsidiary that are attributable to such income inclusion. If the IRS were able to successfully assert that the Portfolio’s income from such investments was not “qualifying income,” the Portfolio would fail to qualify as a RIC if over 10% of its gross income was derived from these investments. The Portfolio’s failure to qualify as a RIC would significantly adversely affect the returns to, and could cause losses for, Portfolio shareholders.
Sustainable Investing Risk. The Portfolio’s performance is dependent upon, among other things, the success of its investment strategy as implemented by the Investment Manager (i.e., the performance of the investments purchased pursuant to the investment strategy). The Portfolio’s investment strategy focuses on investing in companies that satisfy the criteria for being considered a Sustainable Company (as described above), which may cause the Investment Manager to forgo investments for the Portfolio that the Investment Manager otherwise believes may be attractive but that are not considered to be Sustainable Companies. Investments in Sustainable Companies may perform differently than investments in other companies. As a result, the Portfolio may underperform funds that pursue a different investment strategy, such as a fund that does not focus on investing in Sustainable Companies.
Underlying Funds Risk. Shares of ETFs and closed-end funds may trade at prices at, below or above their NAV. Shares of closed-end funds, in particular, frequently trade at persistent discounts to their NAV. In addition, the performance of an ETF pursuing a passive index-based strategy may diverge from the performance of the index. The Portfolio’s investments in Underlying Funds are subject to the risks of Underlying Funds’ investments, as well as to the general risks of investing in Underlying Funds. The Portfolio will bear not only the Portfolio’s management fees and operating expenses, but also the Portfolio’s proportional share of the management fees and operating expenses of the ETFs and closed-end funds in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio may be limited by the 1940 Act in the amount of its assets that may be invested in ETFs and closed-end funds unless an ETF or a closed-end fund has received an exemptive order from the SEC on which the Portfolio may rely or an exemption is available. Many ETFs have received an exemptive order from the SEC providing an exemption from the 1940 Act limits on the amount of assets that may be invested in ETFs and closed-end funds, and a Portfolio’s
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reliance on an order is conditioned on compliance with certain conditions of the order. If an exemptive order has not been received and an exemption is not available under the 1940 Act, the Portfolio will be limited in the amount it can invest in Underlying Funds that are registered investment companies to: (1) 3% or less of an Underlying Fund’s voting shares, (2) an Underlying Fund’s shares in value equal to or less than 5% of the Portfolio’s assets and (3) shares of Underlying Funds in the aggregate in value equal to or less than 10% of the Portfolio’s total assets. New Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act will allow the Portfolio to acquire the securities of another investment company, including a closed-end fund or ETF, in excess of the limitations imposed by Section 12 of the 1940 Act without obtaining an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain limitations and conditions. The aforementioned exemptive orders will also be rescinded effective January 19, 2022, and by such date the Portfolio have to comply with the requirements of Rule 12d1-4 in order to rely on its exemptions from the requirements of Section 12.
Value Investing Risk. Value investments are believed by the Investment Manager to be undervalued, but may not realize their perceived value for extended periods of time or may never realize their perceived value. These stocks may respond differently to market and other developments than other types of stocks.
Volatility Management Risk. While the Investment Manager generally will seek to achieve, over a full market cycle, the level of volatility in the Portfolio’s performance as described in the strategy section, there can be no guarantee that this will be achieved; actual or realized volatility for any particular period may be materially higher or lower depending on market conditions. In addition, the Investment Manager’s efforts to manage the Portfolio’s volatility can be expected, in a period of generally positive equity market returns, to reduce the Portfolio’s performance below what could be achieved without seeking to manage volatility and, thus, the Portfolio would generally be expected to underperform market indices that do not seek to achieve a specified level of volatility.
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Lazard Retirement Series Fund Management
Lazard Asset Management LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112-6300, serves as the Investment Manager of each Portfolio. The Investment Manager provides day-to-day management of each Portfolio’s investments and assists in the overall management of the Fund’s affairs. The Investment Manager and its global affiliates provide investment management services to client discretionary accounts with assets totaling approximately $229.7 billion as of December 31, 2020. Its clients are both individuals and institutions, some of whose accounts have investment policies similar to those of several of the Portfolios.
The Fund has agreed to pay the Investment Manager an investment management fee at the annual rate set forth below as a percentage of the relevant Portfolio’s average daily net assets. The investment management fees are accrued daily and paid monthly. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the Investment Manager waived a portion of its management fees with respect to Lazard Retirement Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio, resulting in such Portfolios paying the Investment Manager an investment management fee at the effective annual rate of .57%, .65% and .63%, respectively.
Name of Portfolio |
Investment |
|||
Retirement US Equity Concentrated Portfolio |
.70% |
|||
Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio |
.60% |
|||
Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement International Equity Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio |
.65% |
|||
Retirement International Equity Select Portfolio |
.65% |
|||
Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio |
.80% |
|||
Retirement International Equity Value Portfolio |
.80% |
|||
Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement International Strategic Equity Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement International Small Cap Equity Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio |
.60% |
|||
Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio |
.80% |
|||
Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
1.00% |
|||
Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio |
.75% |
|||
Retirement Developing Markets Equity Portfolio |
1.00% |
|||
Retirement Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio |
1.00% |
|||
Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio |
.90% |
|||
Retirement Real Assets Portfolio |
.60% |
|||
Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio |
.95% |
|||
Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio |
1.00% |
|||
Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio |
.80% |
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the management agreement between the Fund, on behalf of each Portfolio, except Lazard Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio, and the Investment Manager is available in the Fund’s semi-annual reports to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2020.
A discussion regarding the basis for the approval of the management agreement between the Fund, on behalf of Lazard Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio, and the Investment Manager will be available in the Fund’s semi-annual report to shareholders for the period ended June 30, 2021.
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The Investment Manager has a contractual agreement to waive its fee and, if necessary, reimburse each Portfolio until April 30, 2022 (except as otherwise noted), to the extent Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses exceed the amounts shown below (expressed as a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio’s Service Shares and Investor Shares), exclusive of taxes, brokerage, interest on borrowings, dividend, interest and borrowing expenses on securities sold short (Lazard Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio only), fees and expenses of “Acquired Funds,” fees and expenses related to filing foreign tax reclaims and extraordinary expenses. This expense limitation agreement can only be amended by agreement of the Fund, upon approval by the Board, and the Investment Manager to lower the net amount shown and will terminate automatically in the event of termination of the Management Agreement between the Investment Manager and the Fund, on behalf of the Portfolios. The addition of expenses excluded from the expense limitation agreement, particularly Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses and Dividend and Borrowing Expenses on Securities Sold Short, as applicable, will cause Total Annual Portfolio Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement to exceed, for each Class, the maximum amounts agreed to by the Investment Manager.
Name of Portfolio |
Service |
Investor |
||||
Retirement US Equity Concentrated Portfolio |
1.15% |
.90% |
||||
Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio* |
1.00% |
.75% |
||||
Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio |
1.15% |
1.00% |
||||
Retirement International Equity Portfolio |
1.10% |
.85% |
||||
Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio |
1.15% |
.90% |
||||
Retirement International Equity Select Portfolio |
1.15% |
.90% |
||||
Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio |
1.15% |
.90% |
||||
Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio |
1.10% |
.85% |
||||
Retirement International Equity Value Portfolio |
1.20% |
.95% |
||||
Retirement International Strategic Equity Portfolio |
1.30% |
1.05% |
||||
Retirement International Small Cap Equity Portfolio |
1.38% |
1.13% |
||||
Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio |
1.00% |
.75% |
||||
Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio |
1.20% |
.95% |
||||
Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio |
1.20% |
.95% |
||||
Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio |
1.45% |
1.20% |
||||
Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio |
1.15% |
.90% |
||||
Retirement Developing Markets Equity Portfolio |
1.40% |
1.15% |
||||
Retirement Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio |
1.45% |
1.20% |
||||
Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio |
1.45% |
1.20% |
||||
Retirement Real Assets Portfolio |
1.05% |
.80% |
||||
Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio |
1.50% |
1.25% |
||||
Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio |
1.27% |
1.02% |
||||
Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio** |
1.05% |
.90% |
* This agreement will remain in effect until June 30, 2022.
** This agreement will remain in effect until April 30, 2031, for Investor Shares.
The Investment Manager manages the Portfolios on a team basis. The team is involved in all levels of the investment process. This team approach allows for every portfolio manager to benefit from the views of his or her peers. Each portfolio management team is comprised of multiple team members. Although their roles and the contributions they make may differ, each member of the team participates in the management of the respective Portfolio. Members of each portfolio management team discuss the portfolio, including making investment recommendations, overall portfolio composition, and the like. Research analysts perform fundamental research on issuers (based on, for example, sectors or geographic regions) in which the Portfolio may invest.
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The names of the persons on each Portfolio’s management team are as follows (along with the date they joined the Portfolio’s management team):
Retirement US Equity Concentrated Portfolio—Christopher H. Blake and Martin Flood
Retirement US Sustainable Equity Portfolio—Andrew D. Lacey, H. Ross Seiden, Martin Flood, Jessica Kittay* and Ronald Temple
Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio—Daniel Breslin (since May 2007), Janice Davies (since April 2021), Michael DeBernardis (since October 2010) and Martin Flood (since December 2014)
Retirement International Equity Portfolio—Michael G. Fry (since November 2005), Michael A. Bennett (since May 2003), Kevin J. Matthews (since May 2013), Michael Powers (since May 2003), Giles Edwards (since May 2019) and John R. Reinsberg# (since September 1998)
Retirement International Equity Select Portfolio—Michael G. Fry, Michael A. Bennett, James M. Donald, Kevin J. Matthews, Michael Powers, Giles Edwards and John R. Reinsberg**
Retirement International Equity Advantage Portfolio—Paul Moghtader, Taras Ivanenko, Ciprian Marin, Craig Scholl, Susanne Willumsen and Alex Lai
Retirement International Equity Concentrated Portfolio—Kevin J. Matthews, Michael A. Bennett, Michael G. Fry, Michael Powers, Giles Edwards and John R. Reinsberg
Retirement International Quality Growth Portfolio—Louis Florentin-Lee, Barnaby Wilson, Mark Little, Robin O. Jones and Robert Failla
Retirement International Equity Value Portfolio—Mark Rooney and Erik Van Der Sande
Retirement International Strategic Equity Portfolio—Mark Little, Michael A. Bennett, Robin O. Jones and John R. Reinsberg**
Retirement International Small Cap Equity Portfolio—Edward Rosenfeld, Alex Ingham and John R. Reinsberg**
Retirement Managed Equity Volatility Portfolio—Paul Moghtader, Taras Ivanenko, Ciprian Marin, Craig Scholl, Susanne Willumsen and Alex Lai
Retirement Global Strategic Equity Portfolio—Robin O. Jones, Mark Little, John R. Reinsberg and Jimmie Bork
Retirement Equity Franchise Portfolio—Bertrand Cliquet, Matthew Landy, John Mulquiney and Warryn Robertson
Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio—James M. Donald (since November 2001), Rohit Chopra (since May 2007), Monika Shrestha (since December 2014), Ganesh Ramachandran (since July 2020) and John R. Reinsberg** (since November 1997)
Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Advantage Portfolio—Paul Moghtader, Taras Ivanenko, Ciprian Marin, Craig Scholl, Susanne Willumsen and Alex Lai
Retirement Developing Markets Equity Portfolio—Kevin O’Hare, Peter Gillespie, James M. Donald*** and John R. Reinsberg**
160
Retirement Emerging Markets Strategic Equity Portfolio—Rohit Chopra, Ganesh Ramachandran and John R. Reinsberg**
Retirement Global Listed Infrastructure Portfolio—Bertrand Cliquet, Matthew Landy, John Mulquiney and Warryn Robertson
Retirement Real Assets Portfolio—Jai Jacob, Stephen Marra and Kim Tilley
Retirement Enhanced Opportunities Portfolio—Sean Reynolds and Frank Bianco
Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio—Jai Jacob, Stephen Marra, Thomas McManus and Kim Tilley
Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio—Jai Jacob (since April 2012), Stephen Marra (since May 2013) and Kim Tilley (since May 2020)
# In addition to his oversight responsibility as described below, Mr. Donald or Mr. Reinsberg, as the case may be, is a member of the portfolio management team.
* As a client portfolio manager, Ms. Kittay participates in management of this Portfolio and has trade implementation and portfolio construction responsibilities, but is not responsible for its day-to-day management.
** As a Deputy Chairman of the Investment Manager, Mr. Reinsberg is ultimately responsible for overseeing this Portfolio but is not responsible for its day-to-day management.
*** As head of the Emerging Markets Group, Mr. Donald is ultimately responsible for overseeing this Portfolio but is not responsible for its day-to-day management.
For Portfolios that have not yet commenced operations, the listed portfolio managers are anticipated to serve upon commencement of operations.
Biographical Information of Portfolio Management Team
Michael A. Bennett, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1992, Mr. Bennett was with General Electric Investment Corporation, Keith Lippert Associates and Arthur Andersen & Company. Mr. Bennett has been working in the investment field since 1987.
Frank Bianco, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s capital structure and convertibles-based teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2009, Mr. Bianco was a portfolio manager and Head of Credit Research at Argent Funds Group LLC, where he oversaw domestic and international convertible bond, high yield and equity derivative portfolios. Previously, Mr. Bianco had analyst roles at McMahan Securities, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and AIG, where he began his career in the investment field in 1991.
Christopher H. Blake, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity teams. Mr. Blake joined the Investment Manager in 1995, when he began working in the investment field as a research analyst for the Investment Manager.
Jimmie Bork, a Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity Income and Global Strategic Equity teams. He joined the Investment Manager in 2016 and has been working in the investment field since 2011. Prior to joining the Investment Manager, Mr. Bork was an Equity Analyst with Legal & General and Credit Suisse.
Daniel Breslin, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s US Small-Mid Cap Equity team. He began working in the investment field in 1992. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2002, Mr. Breslin was with Guardian Life and New York Life.
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Rohit Chopra, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team, focusing on consumer and telecommunications research and analysis. He began working in the investment field in 1996. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1999, Mr. Chopra was with Financial Resources Group, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley.
Bertrand Cliquet is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2004, Mr. Cliquet was a utility analyst at Goldman Sachs International in London, and a merger and acquisition analyst at Deutsche Bank. He has been working in the investment field since 1999.
Janice Davies, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s US Small-Mid Cap Equity team. She joined the Investment Manager in 2021 and has been working in the investment field since 1999.
Michael DeBernardis, a Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s US Small-Mid Cap Equity and Global Small Cap Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2005, Mr. DeBernardis was a Senior Equity Analyst at Systematic Financial Management L.P. and a Market Data Analyst at Salomon Smith Barney. He began working in the investment field in 1996.
James M. Donald, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team and Head of the Emerging Markets Group. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1996, Mr. Donald was a portfolio manager with Mercury Asset Management. Mr. Donald is a Chartered Financial Analyst (“CFA”) Charterholder.
Giles Edwards, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International teams. Prior to joining the investment teams, he was a research analyst with a background in media, automotive, and services. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2008, Mr. Edwards was a Management Accountant at BSkyB.
Robert Failla, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International Quality Growth team. He joined the Investment Manager in 2003 and has been working in the investment field since 1993.
Martin Flood, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1996, Mr. Flood was a Senior Accountant with Arthur Andersen LLP. He began working in the investment field in 1993.
Louis Florentin-Lee, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity Select team. He joined the Investment Manager in 2004 and has been working in the investment field since 1996.
Michael G. Fry, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2005, Mr. Fry held several positions at UBS Global Asset Management, including Head of Global Equity Portfolio Management, Global Head of Equity Research and Head of Australian Equities. Mr. Fry began working in the investment field in 1981.
Peter Gillespie, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Developing Markets Equity team. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2007, Mr. Gillespie was a portfolio manager at Newgate Capital, LLP and GE Asset Management and an analyst at Sinta Capital Corp. Mr. Gillespie is a CFA Charterholder.
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Alex Ingham, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets, International and Global Small Cap Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2011, Mr. Ingham was with Aviva Investors (formerly Morley Fund Management), Aberdeen Asset Management, Hill Samuel Asset Management and City Financial Partners Limited. He began working in the investment field in 1996.
Taras Ivanenko, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2007, he was a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Active Equity group at State Street Global Advisors (“SSGA”). He began working in the investment field in 1995. He is a CFA Charterholder.
Jai Jacob, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team. Mr. Jacob began working in the investment field in 1998 when he joined the Investment Manager.
Robin O. Jones, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams. Prior to rejoining the Investment Manager in 2007, Mr. Jones was a portfolio manager for Bluecrest Capital Management since 2006. Mr. Jones initially joined the Investment Manager in 2002, when he began working in the investment field.
Jessica Kittay, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a member of various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams. She joined the Investment Manager in 2010 and has been working in the investment field since 2001.
Andrew D. Lacey, a Deputy Chairman of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams. Mr. Lacey joined the Investment Manager in 1996 and has been working in the investment field since 1995.
Alex Lai, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2008, he was a Vice President and Quantitative Portfolio Manager in the Global Active Equity group at SSgA. Mr. Lai began working in the investment field in 2002 and is a CFA Charterholder.
Matthew Landy is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2005, Mr. Landy worked in the private equity industry where he was involved in early stage venture capital in Europe and management buy-out investing in Australia. Previously he was an Equity Analyst with Tyndall Investment Management.
Mark Little, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International and Global Strategic Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1997, Mr. Little was a manager with the Coopers & Lybrand corporate finance practice. He began working in the investment field in 1992.
Ciprian Marin, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2008, Mr. Marin was a Senior Portfolio Manager at SSgA, managing European, UK and Global funds. He began working in the investment field in 1997.
Stephen Marra, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, specializing in strategy research. Prior to joining the Multi-Asset team, Mr. Marra worked in Settlements, Fixed Income Risk and Quantitative Technology. He began working in the investment field in 1999 upon joining the Investment Manager.
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Kevin J. Matthews, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams. Prior to joining the International Equity teams, Mr. Matthews was a research analyst with a background in financial, automotive, aerospace and capital goods sectors. He began working in the investment field in 2001 when he joined the Investment Manager.
Thomas M. McManus, a Senior Advisor of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team, specializing in macroeconomic forecasting and asset allocation. He began working in the investment field in 1980. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2010, Mr. McManus was Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Wells Fargo Advisors. Previously, he was Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at Bank of America Securities LLC. Mr. McManus started his career at Morgan Stanley in 1980 in strategic planning and equity derivatives. From 1983 to 1991, he was a member of the Global Equity Derivatives department at Goldman Sachs.
Paul Moghtader, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2007, he was Head of the Global Active Equity Group and a Senior Portfolio Manager at SSgA. Mr. Moghtader began his career at Dain Bosworth as a research assistant when he began working in the investment field in 1992. He is a CFA Charterholder.
John Mulquiney is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in August 2005, Mr. Mulquiney worked at Tyndall Australia and in the Asset and Infrastructure Group at Macquarie Bank, where he undertook transactions and developed valuation models for airports, electricity generators, rail projects and health infrastructure. Mr. Mulquiney is a CFA Charterholder.
Kevin O’Hare, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Developing Markets Equity team, focusing on the technology, health care, telecommunications and consumer discretionary sectors. He began working in the investment field in 1991. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2001, Mr. O’Hare was with Merrill Lynch and Moore Capital Management. Mr. O’Hare is a CFA Charterholder.
Michael Powers, a Senior Advisor of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s International Equity teams. He began working in the investment field in 1990 when he joined the Investment Manager.
Ganesh Ramachandran, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Income and Emerging Markets Equity teams. Mr. Ramachandran began working in the investment field in 1997 when he joined the Investment Manager.
John R. Reinsberg, a Deputy Chairman of the Investment Manager, is responsible for oversight of International and Global strategies. He also is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity and International Equity teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1992, he served as Executive Vice President of General Electric Investment Corporation and Trustee of the General Electric Pension Trust. Mr. Reinsberg began working in the investment field in 1981.
Sean Reynolds, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s capital structure and convertibles-based teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2007, Mr. Reynolds was a portfolio manager for convertible arbitrage strategies at SAC Capital Management and a senior portfolio manager at Sailfish Capital Partners’ G2 Multistrategy Fund. In addition, he previously had portfolio management and/or trading roles with Clinton Group, Deutsche Bank, UBS and Merrill Lynch. Mr. Reynolds began working in the investment field in 1993.
164
Warryn Robertson is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Listed Infrastructure and Global Equity Franchise teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in April 2001, Mr. Robertson spent three years with Capital Partners, an independent advisory house, where he was an associate director developing business valuations for infrastructure assets and other alternative equity investments including airports, toll roads, timber plantations, power stations and coal mines. Mr. Robertson is a member of the Securities Institute of Australia and the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Mark Rooney, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International Equity Value team. Mr. Rooney began working in the investment field in 1996. Prior to joining Lazard in 2018, Mr. Rooney was a Principal and co-founder of LRV Capital.
Edward Rosenfeld, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global, International and European Small Cap Equity teams. He began working in the investment industry in 1996. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2001, Mr. Rosenfeld was an analyst with J.P. Morgan.
Craig Scholl, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2007, he was a Principal and a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Global Active Equity group of SSgA. Mr. Scholl began working in the investment field in 1984 and is a CFA Charterholder.
H. Ross Seiden, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity teams. Mr. Seiden began working in the investment field in 2006. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2010, Mr. Seiden was an equity research associate covering the financials sector at Credit Suisse.
Monika Shrestha, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Emerging Markets Equity team, responsible for research coverage of companies in the financials sector. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2003, Ms. Shrestha was a principal at Waterview Advisors and a Corporate Finance Analyst with Salomon Smith Barney. Ms. Shrestha began working in the investment field in 1997.
Ronald Temple, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is responsible for oversight of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Multi-Asset Strategies. He is also a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s US Equity and Global Equity teams. Mr. Temple joined the Investment Manager in 2001 and has been working in the investment field since 1991.
Kim Tilley, a Senior Vice President of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Multi-Asset team. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2002, Ms. Tilley worked on the Institutional Equity Sales Desk at Wachovia Securities, Inc.
Erik Van Der Sande, a Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s International Equity Value team. Mr. Van Der Sande began working in the investment field in 2002. Prior to joining Lazard in 2018, Mr. Van Der Sande was a Principal and co-founder of LRV Capital.
Susanne Willumsen, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on various of the Investment Manager’s Global Advantage portfolio management teams. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 2008, she was Managing Director, Head of Active Equities Europe with SSgA. Ms. Willumsen began working in the investment field in 1993.
165
Barnaby Wilson, a Managing Director of the Investment Manager, is a portfolio manager/analyst on the Investment Manager’s Global Equity team. Prior to joining the Investment Manager in 1999, Mr. Wilson worked for Orbitex Investments. He began working in the investment field in 1998, and is a CFA Charterholder.
Additional information about the compensation and other accounts managed by members of the portfolio management team, as well as each team member’s ownership of shares of the relevant Portfolio(s), is contained in the Fund’s SAI.
State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”), located at One Iron Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210, serves as each Portfolio’s administrator and acts as custodian of the Portfolios’ investments.
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc. (“DST”) acts as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.
Lazard Asset Management Securities LLC (the “Distributor”) acts as distributor for the Fund’s shares.
166
Lazard Retirement Series Account Policies
Portfolio shares are currently offered only to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies. Individuals may not purchase shares directly from the Fund. Policy owners should consult the applicable prospectus of the separate account of the Participating Insurance Company for more information about buying Portfolio shares.
Share purchase orders from separate accounts received in proper form by the Participating Insurance Company prior to the time a Portfolio calculates its NAV on a given business day are priced at the Portfolio’s NAV calculated on such day, provided that the order, and Federal Funds in the net amount of such order, are received by the Fund in proper form on the next business day. The Participating Insurance Company is responsible for properly transmitting purchase orders and Federal Funds. The Fund may refuse or restrict purchase requests for Portfolio shares if, in the judgment of the Fund’s management, a Portfolio would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment objective and policies or could otherwise be adversely affected or if the Portfolio receives or anticipates receiving simultaneous orders that may significantly affect the Portfolio (e.g., amounts equal to 1% or more of the Portfolio’s total assets). The Lazard Retirement Real Assets Portfolio’s NAV will be disclosed daily at www.lazardassetmanagement.com or by calling (800) 823-6300.
Market Timing/Excessive Trading
Each Portfolio is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to provide investors with a means of speculating on short-term market movements. Excessive trading, market timing or other abusive trading practices may disrupt investment management strategies and harm performance and may create increased transaction and administrative costs that must be borne by the Portfolios and their investors, including those not engaged in such activity. In addition, such activity may dilute the value of Portfolio shares held by long-term investors. The Board has approved policies and procedures with respect to frequent purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares that are intended to discourage and prevent these practices, including regular monitoring of trading activity in Portfolio shares. The Fund will not knowingly accommodate excessive trading, market timing or other abusive trading practices.
The Fund routinely reviews Portfolio share transactions and seeks to identify and deter abusive trading practices. The Fund monitors for transactions that may be harmful to a Portfolio, either on an individual basis or as part of a pattern of abusive trading practices. Each Portfolio reserves the right to refuse, with or without notice, any purchase request that could adversely affect the Portfolio, its operations or its investors, including those requests from any Participating Insurance Company with respect to any separate account or Policy owner who, in the Fund’s view, is likely to engage in excessive trading, market timing or other abusive trading practices. Where, after consultation with the Participating Insurance Company, a particular Policy owner appears to be engaged in abusive trading practices, the Fund will seek to restrict future purchases of Portfolio shares by that Policy owner. The Fund may deem a Policy owner to be engaged in abusive trading practices without advance notice and based on information unrelated to the specific trades in the account. For instance, the Fund may determine that the Policy owner’s account is linked to another account that was previously restricted or a third party intermediary may provide information to the Fund with respect to a particular Policy owner that is of concern to the Fund. Accounts under common ownership, control or perceived affiliation may be considered together for purposes of determining a pattern of excessive trading practices. Generally, a Policy owner who effects transactions that appear to coincide with a market timing strategy may be deemed to be engaged in excessive trading. In certain cases, the Fund may deem a single “roundtrip” trade or exchange (redeeming or exchanging a Portfolio’s shares followed by purchasing or exchanging into shares of that Portfolio) as a violation of the Fund’s policy against abusive trading practices. The Fund’s actions may not be subject to appeal.
To discourage attempts to arbitrage pricing of international securities (among other reasons), the Board has adopted policies and procedures providing that if events materially affecting the value of securities occur between the close of the exchange or market on which the securities are principally traded and the time when a Portfolio’s NAV is calculated, such securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by, or in accordance with procedures approved by, the Board. See “Account Policies—Calculation of Net Asset Value.” The codes of ethics
167
of the Fund, the Investment Manager and the Distributor in respect of personal trading contain limitations on trading in Portfolio shares.
The Fund may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. This may occur when, among other circumstances, the redeeming account is engaged in excessive trading or if the redemption request otherwise would be disruptive to efficient portfolio management or would otherwise adversely affect the Portfolio.
All of the policies described in this section apply uniformly to all Portfolio investors. However, while the Fund and the Investment Manager will take reasonable steps to prevent trading practices deemed to be harmful to a Portfolio by monitoring Portfolio share trading activity, they may not be able to prevent or identify such trading. If the Fund is not able to prevent abusive trading practices, such trading may disrupt investment strategies, harm performance and increase costs to all Portfolio investors, including those not engaged in such activity.
Securities trading in non-US markets are particularly susceptible to time zone arbitrage. As a result, Portfolios investing in securities trading in non-US markets, including Lazard Retirement Opportunistic Strategies Portfolio, which may invest in Underlying Funds that invest in securities trading in non-US markets, may be at greater risk for market timing than funds that invest in securities trading in US markets.
Calculation of Net Asset Value
The NAV per share for each Class of each Portfolio is determined each day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). The Fund will not treat an intraday unscheduled disruption in NYSE trading as a closure of the NYSE, and will price its shares as of 4:00 p.m., if the particular disruption directly affects only the NYSE. The Fund values securities and other assets for which market quotations are readily available at market value. Securities and other assets for which current market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board.
Calculation of NAV may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of portfolio assets used in such calculation. If a significant event materially affecting the value of securities occurs between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded and the time when NAV is calculated, or when current market quotations otherwise are determined not to be readily available or reliable, such securities will be valued at their fair value as determined by, or in accordance with procedures approved by, the Board. The fair value of non-US securities may be determined with the assistance of an independent pricing service using correlations between the movement of prices of such securities and indices of US securities and other appropriate indicators, such as closing market prices of relevant ADRs and futures contracts. The effect of using fair value pricing is that the NAV will reflect the affected securities’ values as determined in the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined by the market. Using a fair value pricing methodology to price securities may result in a value that is different from the most recent closing price of a security and from the prices used by other investment companies to calculate their portfolios’ NAVs. Non-US securities may trade on days when a Portfolio is not open for business, thus affecting the value of the Portfolio’s assets on days when Portfolio shareholders may not be able to buy or sell Portfolio shares.
Distribution and Servicing Arrangements
Each Portfolio offers Service and Investor Shares. Service and Investor Shares have different investment minimums and different expense ratios. The Fund has adopted a plan under rule 12b-1 (the “12b-1 plan”) that allows each Portfolio to pay the Distributor a fee, at the annual rate of 0.25% of the value of the average daily net assets of each Portfolio’s Service Shares, for distribution and services provided to holders of Service Shares. Because these fees are paid out of each Portfolio’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these recurring fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. Investor Shares do not pay a rule 12b-1 fee.
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Participating Insurance Companies may receive payments from the Investment Manager or the Distributor out of their own resources in connection with the Participating Insurance Companies’ offering of Portfolio shares to Policy owners and/or for providing marketing, shareholder servicing, account administration or other services. Such payments are in addition to any fees paid by the Fund pursuant to rule 12b-1.
The receipt of such payments pursuant to the rule 12b-1 plan or from the Investment Manager or Distributor could create an incentive for the Participating Insurance Companies to offer a Portfolio instead of other mutual funds where such payments are not received. Policy owners should consult the applicable prospectus of the separate account of the Participating Insurance Company for more information about buying and selling Portfolio shares.
Portfolio shares may be sold each business day by the separate accounts of the Participating Insurance Companies. Individuals may not place sell orders directly with the Fund. Redemption orders from separate accounts received in proper form by the Participating Insurance Companies on a given business day are priced at the NAV calculated on such day, provided that the order is received by the Fund in proper form on the next business day. The Participating Insurance Companies are responsible for properly transmitting redemption orders. Policy owners should consult the applicable prospectus of the separate account of the Participating Insurance Company for more information about selling Portfolio shares.
Redemption proceeds normally will be wired to the Participating Insurance Company within one business day after the request is received in proper form. Payment of redemption proceeds may take longer and may take up to seven days after the order is received in proper form, particularly for very large redemptions or during periods of stressed market conditions or high redemption volume.
The processing of redemptions may be suspended, and the delivery of redemption proceeds may be delayed beyond seven days, depending on the circumstances, for any period: (i) during which the NYSE is closed (other than on holidays or weekends), or during which trading on the NYSE is restricted; (ii) when an emergency exists that makes the disposal of securities owned by a Portfolio or the determination of the fair value of the Portfolio’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or (iii) as permitted by order of the SEC for the protection of Portfolio shareholders. For these purposes, the SEC determines the conditions under which trading shall be deemed to be restricted and an emergency is deemed to exist.
Under normal circumstances, each Portfolio expects to meet redemption requests by using cash it holds in its portfolio or selling portfolio securities to generate cash. Redemption requests also may be satisfied, in whole or in part, through a redemption-in-kind (a payment in portfolio securities instead of cash). A Portfolio may make an in-kind redemption under the following circumstances: (1) (i) the Investment Manager determines that an in-kind redemption is more advantageous to the Portfolio ( e.g. , due to advantageous tax consequences or lower transaction costs) than selling/purchasing portfolio securities; or the redeeming shareholder has requested an in-kind redemption, (ii) the Investment Manager determines that an in-kind redemption will not favor the redeeming shareholder to the detriment of any other shareholder or the Portfolio, and (iii) the Investment Manager determines that an in-kind redemption is in the best interests of the Portfolio; (2) to manage liquidity risk; (3) in stressed market conditions; or (4) subject to the approval of the Board of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, in other circumstances identified by the Investment Manager. Any securities distributed in-kind will remain exposed to market risk until sold, and transaction costs may be incurred when selling the securities.
Dividends, Distributions and Taxes
Income dividends and net capital gains, if any, are normally distributed annually but may be distributed more frequently. Dividends and distributions of a Portfolio will be reinvested in additional shares of the same Class of the Portfolio at NAV unless instructed otherwise by the relevant Participating Insurance Company. Each share Class of the Portfolio will generate a different dividend because each has different expenses.
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Since each Portfolio’s shareholders are the Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts, this Prospectus contains no discussion as to the federal income tax consequences to Policy owners. For this information, Policy owners should consult the applicable prospectus of the separate account of the Participating Insurance Company. Participating Insurance Companies should consult their tax advisers about federal, state and local tax consequences.
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Lazard Retirement Series Financial Highlights
The financial highlights tables presented for Lazard Retirement US Small-Mid Cap Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio, Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio are intended to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past five years. No financial highlights are presented for the other Portfolios because they had not commenced investment operations prior to the date of this Prospectus. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Portfolio share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions), if any. The information has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report, along with each Portfolio’s financial statements, is included in the annual report, which is available upon request. Performance information does not reflect the fees or charges imposed by the Participating Insurance Companies under the Policies, and such fees will have the effect of reducing the Portfolio’s total return. As of the date of this Prospectus, only Lazard Retirement Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and Lazard Retirement Global Dynamic Multi-Asset Portfolio had issued Investor Shares.
LAZARD RETIREMENT US SMALL-MID CAP EQUITY PORTFOLIO
|
Selected data for a share of capital |
|
Year Ended |
|
||||||||||||||
|
stock outstanding throughout each period |
|
12/31/20 |
* |
12/31/19 |
* |
12/31/18 |
* |
12/31/17 |
* |
12/31/16 |
* |
|
|||||
Service Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
|
$ |
16.46 |
|
$ |
12.92 |
|
$ |
16.66 |
|
$ |
16.18 |
|
$ |
14.78 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
0.06 |
^ |
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
0.87 |
|
|
3.80 |
|
|
(2.08 |
) |
|
2.14 |
|
|
2.18 |
|
|
|
Total from investment operations |
|
|
0.90 |
|
|
3.84 |
|
|
(2.06 |
) |
|
2.16 |
|
|
2.24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less distribution from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
— |
(a) |
(0.06 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
Net realized gains |
|
|
(1.06 |
) |
|
(0.30 |
) |
|
(1.68 |
) |
|
(1.62 |
) |
|
(0.84 |
) |
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(1.09 |
) |
|
(0.30 |
) |
|
(1.68 |
) |
|
(1.68 |
) |
|
(0.84 |
) |
|
Net asset value, end of period |
|
$ |
16.27 |
|
$ |
16.46 |
|
$ |
12.92 |
|
$ |
16.66 |
|
$ |
16.18 |
|
|
|
Total Return(b) |
|
|
6.76% |
|
|
29.93% |
|
|
-13.24% |
|
|
13.95% |
|
|
15.78% |
^ |
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
|
$ |
51,291 |
|
$ |
59,460 |
|
$ |
51,793 |
|
$ |
66,869 |
|
$ |
65,478 |
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
1.15% |
|
|
1.15% |
|
|
1.15% |
|
|
1.19% |
|
|
1.25% |
^ |
|
|
Gross expenses |
|
|
1.33% |
|
|
1.27% |
|
|
1.23% |
|
|
1.25% |
|
|
1.32% |
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
0.15% |
|
|
0.27% |
|
|
0.14% |
|
|
0.09% |
|
|
0.46% |
^ |
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
71% |
|
|
60% |
|
|
81% |
|
|
79% |
|
|
94% |
|
|
* |
On December 4, 2020, the Portfolio effected a 1:2 reverse share split. All per share data prior to December 4, 2020 has been adjusted to reflect the reverse share split. |
^ |
Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements in the Annual
Report for the year ended December 31, 2017 for discussion of prior period custodian out-of-pocket expenses
that were reimbursed to the Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior
period custodian out- of- pocket expenses that were reimbursed to the Portfolio in the period. The amount
of the reimbursement was on a per share basis less than $0.005 per share. There was no impact on the
total return of the Portfolio. The net expenses and net investment income (loss) ratios of the Portfolio
would be unchanged as the change to the |
(a) |
Amount is less than $0.01 per share. |
(b) |
Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. |
171
LAZARD RETIREMENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
|
Selected data for a share of capital |
|
Year Ended |
|
||||||||||||||
|
stock outstanding throughout each period |
|
12/31/20 |
|
12/31/19 |
|
12/31/18 |
|
12/31/17 |
|
12/31/16 |
|
|
|||||
Service Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
|
$ |
10.37 |
|
$ |
8.60 |
|
$ |
10.83 |
|
$ |
11.57 |
|
$ |
12.28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
0.18 |
|
|
0.31 |
|
|
0.19 |
^ |
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
0.68 |
|
|
1.60 |
|
|
(1.70 |
) |
|
2.24 |
|
|
(0.71 |
) |
|
|
Total from investment operations |
|
|
0.79 |
|
|
1.80 |
|
|
(1.52 |
) |
|
2.55 |
|
|
(0.52 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less distribution from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.22 |
) |
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
(0.17 |
) |
|
(0.33 |
) |
|
(0.16 |
) |
|
|
Net realized gains |
|
|
(0.32 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
(0.54 |
) |
|
(2.96 |
) |
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(0.54 |
) |
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
(0.71 |
) |
|
(3.29 |
) |
|
(0.19 |
) |
|
Net asset value, end of period |
|
$ |
10.62 |
|
$ |
10.37 |
|
$ |
8.60 |
|
$ |
10.83 |
|
$ |
11.57 |
|
|
|
Total Return(a) |
|
|
8.24% |
|
|
21.00% |
|
|
-13.91% |
* |
|
22.33% |
|
|
-4.29% |
^ |
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
|
$ |
145,576 |
|
$ |
152,725 |
|
$ |
169,698 |
|
$ |
221,307 |
|
$ |
653,014 |
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
1.17% |
|
|
1.12% |
|
|
1.12% |
|
|
1.11% |
|
|
1.08% |
^ |
|
|
Gross expenses |
|
|
1.27% |
|
|
1.20% |
|
|
1.14% |
|
|
1.12% |
|
|
1.09% |
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
0.88% |
|
|
1.87% |
|
|
1.62% |
|
|
1.11% |
|
|
1.59% |
^ |
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
33% |
|
|
32% |
|
|
33% |
|
|
44% |
|
|
28% |
|
|
^ |
Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out- of- pocket expenses that were reimbursed to the Portfolio in the period. The amount of the reimbursement was on a per share basis less than $0.005 per share. There was no impact on the total return of the Portfolio. There was a 0.01% impact on the net expenses and net investment income (loss) ratios of the Portfolio. |
* |
The Portfolio received settlement proceeds from a foreign exchange trading class action lawsuit. The proceeds from the settlement represented a realized gain and was recorded in the period received. There was a 0.10% impact on the total return of the Portfolio. |
(a) |
Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. |
172
LAZARD RETIREMENT EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY PORTFOLIO
|
Selected data for a share of capital |
|
Year Ended |
|
||||||||||||||
|
stock outstanding throughout each period |
|
12/31/20 |
|
12/31/19 |
|
12/31/18 |
|
12/31/17 |
|
12/31/16 |
|
|
|||||
Service Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
|
$ |
22.00 |
|
$ |
18.80 |
|
$ |
23.59 |
|
$ |
18.78 |
|
$ |
15.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(a) |
|
|
0.36 |
|
|
0.43 |
|
|
0.42 |
|
|
0.31 |
|
|
0.23 |
^ |
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
(0.75 |
) |
|
2.95 |
|
|
(4.80 |
) |
|
4.89 |
|
|
3.04 |
|
|
|
Total from investment operations |
|
|
(0.39 |
) |
|
3.38 |
|
|
(4.38 |
) |
|
5.20 |
|
|
3.27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less distribution from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.49 |
) |
|
(0.18 |
) |
|
(0.41 |
) |
|
(0.39 |
) |
|
(0.19 |
) |
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(0.49 |
) |
|
(0.18 |
) |
|
(0.41 |
) |
|
(0.39 |
) |
|
(0.19 |
) |
|
Net asset value, end of period |
|
$ |
21.12 |
|
$ |
22.00 |
|
$ |
18.80 |
|
$ |
23.59 |
|
$ |
18.78 |
|
|
|
Total Return(b) |
|
|
-1.32% |
|
|
18.14% |
|
|
-18.56% |
|
|
27.76% |
|
|
20.84% |
^ |
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
|
$ |
364,846 |
|
$ |
410,188 |
|
$ |
403,949 |
|
$ |
942,572 |
|
$ |
880,047 |
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
1.43% |
|
|
1.42% |
|
|
1.36% |
|
|
1.38% |
|
|
1.37% |
^ |
|
|
Gross expenses |
|
|
1.43% |
|
|
1.43% |
|
|
1.36% |
|
|
1.38% |
|
|
1.38% |
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
1.95% |
|
|
2.10% |
|
|
1.89% |
|
|
1.45% |
|
|
1.29% |
^ |
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
27% |
|
|
19% |
|
|
16% |
|
|
10% |
|
|
12% |
|
|
173
|
Selected data for a share of capital |
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|||||||||||||
|
stock outstanding throughout each period |
|
12/31/20 |
|
12/31/19 |
|
12/31/18 |
|
12/31/17 |
|
12/31/16 |
|
|
|||||
Investor Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
|
$ |
21.78 |
|
$ |
18.58 |
|
$ |
23.31 |
|
$ |
18.56 |
|
$ |
15.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(a) |
|
|
0.41 |
|
|
0.47 |
|
|
0.45 |
|
|
0.37 |
|
|
0.26 |
^ |
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
(0.75) |
|
|
2.91 |
|
|
(4.72) |
|
|
4.83 |
|
|
3.02 |
|
|
|
Total from investment operations |
|
|
(0.34 |
|
|
3.38 |
|
|
(4.27 |
|
|
5.20 |
|
|
3.28 |
|
|
Less distribution from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.53) |
|
|
(0.18) |
|
|
(0.46) |
|
|
(0.45) |
|
|
(0.23) |
|
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(0.53) |
|
|
(0.18) |
|
|
(0.46) |
|
|
(0.45) |
|
|
(0.23) |
|
|
Net asset value, end of period |
|
$ |
20.91 |
|
$ |
21.78 |
|
$ |
18.58 |
|
$ |
23.31 |
|
$ |
18.56 |
|
|
|
Total Return(c) |
|
|
-1.03% |
|
|
18.36% |
|
|
-18.32% |
|
|
28.07% |
|
|
21.18% |
^ |
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
|
$ |
125,178 |
|
$ |
174,389 |
|
$ |
165,177 |
|
$ |
238,656 |
|
$ |
187,408 |
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
1.18% |
|
|
1.18% |
|
|
1.11% |
|
|
1.14% |
|
|
1.12% |
^ |
|
|
Gross expenses |
|
|
1.18% |
|
|
1.18% |
|
|
1.11% |
|
|
1.14% |
|
|
1.14% |
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
2.28% |
|
|
2.37% |
|
|
2.09% |
|
|
1.74% |
|
|
1.52% |
^ |
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
27% |
|
|
19% |
|
|
16% |
|
|
10% |
|
|
12% |
|
|
^ |
Refer to Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out- of- pocket expenses that were reimbursed to the Portfolio in the period. The amount of the reimbursement was on a per share basis less than $0.005 per share. There was a 0.06% impact on the total return of the Portfolio. There was a 0.02% impact on the net expenses and net investment income (loss) ratios of the Portfolio. |
(a) |
Net investment income (loss) has been computed using the average shares method. |
(b) |
Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. |
(c) |
Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. |
174
LAZARD RETIREMENT GLOBAL DYNAMIC MULTI-ASSET PORTFOLIO
|
Selected data for a share of capital |
|
Year Ended |
|
||||||||||||||
|
stock outstanding throughout each period |
|
12/31/20 |
|
12/31/19 |
|
12/31/18 |
|
12/31/17 |
|
12/31/16 |
|
|
|||||
Service Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period |
|
$ |
13.65 |
|
$ |
11.61 |
|
$ |
13.49 |
|
$ |
11.82 |
|
$ |
11.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(a) |
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
0.16 |
|
|
0.16 |
|
|
0.17 |
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
— |
(b) |
1.91 |
|
|
(1.06 |
) |
|
2.25 |
|
|
0.24 |
|
|
|
|
Total from investment operations |
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
2.07 |
|
|
(0.90 |
) |
|
2.42 |
|
|
0.38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less distribution from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.08 |
) |
|
(0.01 |
) |
|
(0.18 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
Net realized gains |
|
|
(0.14 |
) |
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
(0.80 |
) |
|
(0.75 |
) |
|
(0.04 |
) |
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(0.22 |
) |
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
(0.98 |
) |
|
(0.75 |
) |
|
(0.07 |
) |
|
|
Redemption fees |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
Net asset value, end of period |
|
$ |
13.53 |
|
$ |
13.65 |
|
$ |
11.61 |
|
$ |
13.49 |
|
$ |
11.82 |
|
|
|
Total Return(c) |
|
|
0.81% |
|
|
17.79% |
|
|
-6.57% |
|
|
20.53% |
|
|
3.30% |
|
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
|
$ |
354,856 |
|
$ |
400,694 |
|
$ |
386,902 |
|
$ |
384,208 |
|
$ |
293,286 |
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
1.05% |
|
|
1.05% |
|
|
1.05% |
|
|
1.05% |
|
|
1.05% |
|
|
|
Gross expenses |
|
|
1.22% |
|
|
1.20% |
|
|
1.17% |
|
|
1.19% |
|
|
1.25% |
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
0.75% |
|
|
1.23% |
|
|
1.22% |
|
|
1.28% |
|
|
1.23% |
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
177% |
|
|
115% |
|
|
110% |
|
|
104% |
|
|
105% |
|
|
175
|
Selected data for a share of capital |
|
|
Year Ended Period Ended |
|
|||||||
|
stock outstanding throughout each period |
|
12/31/20 |
12/31/19 |
|
12/31/18* |
|
|
||||
Investor Shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net asset value, beginning of period |
|
$ |
13.65 |
|
$ |
11.61 |
|
$ |
11.61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from investment operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)(a) |
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
0.14 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
|
|
— |
(b) |
1.93 |
|
|
— |
(b) |
||
|
Total from investment operations |
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
2.07 |
|
|
— |
(b) |
|
Less distribution from: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income |
|
|
(0.10) |
|
|
(0.01) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Net realized gains |
|
|
(0.14) |
|
|
(0.02) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Total distributions |
|
|
(0.24) |
|
|
(0.03) |
|
|
— |
|
|
Net asset value, end of period |
|
$ |
13.53 |
|
$ |
13.65 |
|
$ |
11.61 |
|
|
|
Total Return(c) |
|
|
0.96% |
|
|
17.79% |
|
|
0.00% |
|
|
|
Ratios and Supplemental Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) |
|
$ |
199 |
|
$ |
32 |
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net expenses |
|
|
0.90% |
|
|
0.90% |
|
|
0.00% |
|
|
|
Gross expenses |
|
|
4.14% |
|
|
84.50% |
|
|
0.00% |
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss) |
|
|
0.93% |
|
|
1.05% |
|
|
0.00% |
|
|
Portfolio turnover rate |
|
|
177% |
|
|
115% |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
* |
The inception date for the Investor Shares was December 31, 2018. |
||||||||||||||
(a) |
Net investment income (loss) has been computed using the average shares method. |
||||||||||||||
(b) |
Amount is less than $0.01 per share. |
||||||||||||||
(c) |
Total returns reflect reinvestment of all dividends and distributions, if any. Certain expenses of the Portfolio may have been waived or reimbursed by the Investment Manager, State Street or DST; without such waiver/reimbursement of expenses, the Portfolio’s returns would have been lower. Performance information does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies at the separate account level, and such charges will have the effect of reducing performance. |
176
For more information about the Portfolios, the following documents are available, free of charge, upon request:
Annual
and Semi-Annual Reports (Reports):
The Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders
contain additional information on each Portfolio’s investments. In the annual report, you will find
a broad discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each
Portfolio’s performance during its last fiscal year.
Statement
of Additional Information (SAI):
The SAI provides more detailed information about the Portfolios,
including their operations and investment policies. It is incorporated by reference and is legally considered
a part of this Prospectus.
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings:
Each
Portfolio will publicly disclose its portfolio holdings on a calendar quarter-end basis on its website accessible from
https://www.lazardassetmanagement.com/us/en_us/funds/list/mutual-funds/42, no earlier than 5 business
days after such quarter end. The information will remain accessible at least until the Fund files a report
as an exhibit to Form N-PORT or on Form N-CSR for the period that includes the date as of which the information
was current.
A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the Portfolios’ portfolio holdings is available in the Fund’s SAI.
You can get a free copy of the Reports and the SAI at http://www.lazardassetmanagement.com, or request the Reports and the SAI and other information and discuss your questions about the Portfolios, by contacting the Fund at: Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. |
||
You also can get a free copy of the Reports and the SAI from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Investment Company Act file no. 811-08071
Investment Manager
Lazard Asset Management LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New
York, New York 10112-6300
Telephone: (800) 823-6300
Distributor
Lazard Asset Management Securities LLC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New
York, New York 10112-6300
Custodian
State
Street Bank and Trust Company
One Iron Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Transfer Agent and Dividend Disbursing Agent
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 219441
Kansas
City, Missouri 64121-9441
Telephone:
(800) 986-3455
Legal Counsel
Proskauer Rose LLP
Eleven
Times Square
New York, New York 10036-8299
http://www.proskauer.com
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
30
Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York
10112-0015
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations not contained in this Prospectus, and information or representations not contained herein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Fund or the Distributor. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer of any security other than the registered securities to which it relates or an offer to any person in any jurisdiction where such offer would be unlawful.
Lazard Asset Management LLC • 30 Rockefeller Plaza • New York, NY 10112 • 800-823-6300 • www.lazardassetmanagement.com