N-CSR 1 c94960_ncsr.htm CERTIFIED ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER REPORT

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

Investment Company Act File Number: 811-02145

 

LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

John T. Fitzgerald, Esq., Vice President & Assistant Secretary

90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 522-2388

 

Date of fiscal year end: 12/31

 

Date of reporting period: 12/31/2019

 
Item 1:Report(s) to Shareholders.
 

 

LORD ABBETT
ANNUAL REPORT

 

Lord Abbett

Bond Debenture Fund

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

 

Important Information on Paperless Delivery

Beginning in February 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer, investment advisor or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on Lord Abbett’s website and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

 

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. Shareholders who hold accounts directly with the Fund may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by signing into your Lord Abbett online account at lordabbett.com and selecting “Log In.” For further information, you may also contact the Fund at (800) 821-5129. Shareholders who hold accounts through a financial intermediary should contact them directly.

 

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge by contacting the Fund at (800) 821-5129. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with Lord Abbett. If your fund shares are held through a financial intermediary please contact them directly. Your election applies to all funds held with that intermediary.

 

Table of Contents

 

1   A Letter to Shareholders
     
4   Investment Comparison
     
5   Information About Your Fund’s Expenses and Holdings Presented by Sector
     
8   Schedule of Investments
     
46   Statement of Assets and Liabilities
     
48   Statement of Operations
     
49   Statements of Changes in Net Assets
     
50   Financial Highlights
     
54   Notes to Financial Statements
     
72   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
     
73   Supplemental Information to Shareholders
 

 

 

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund

Annual Report

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

 

 

From left to right: James L.L. Tullis, Independent Chairman of the Lord Abbett Funds and Douglas B. Sieg, Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Lord Abbett Funds.

 

Dear Shareholders: We are pleased to provide you with this overview of the performance of Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. On this page and the following pages, we discuss the major factors that influenced fiscal year performance. For additional information about the Fund, please visit our website at www.lordabbett.com, where you also can access quarterly commentaries that provide updates on the Fund’s performance and other portfolio related updates.

Thank you for investing in Lord Abbett mutual funds. We value the trust that you place in us and look forward to serving your investment needs in the years to come.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Douglas B. Sieg

Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund returned 13.37%, reflecting performance at the net asset value (NAV) of Class A shares with all distributions reinvested, compared to its benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index,1 which returned 8.72% over the same period.

The trailing 12-month period was characterized by several market-moving events. Following a tumultuous fourth quarter of 2018, where trade tensions and monetary policy uncertainty sent many

investors toward safety, the market staged a strong recovery. Trade tensions continued to dominate headlines, as trade negotiations between the U.S. and China remained volatile throughout the period. One of the more notable shifts over the year was the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) transition to a more dovish policy stance, with Chairman Jerome Powell stating that the Fed would act appropriately to sustain economic growth. The combination of a dovish Fed, trade pressures, and slowing economic growth


 

1

 

 

 

resulted in a downward shift in the U.S. Treasury yield curve.

Despite bouts of volatility arising from U.S./China trade, risk assets rallied during the 12-months ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to the dovish comments from central banks around the globe, culminating in the longest U.S. economic expansion on record. Credit sectors performed exceptionally well, with investment grade bonds benefiting from a sizeable decline in spreads along with a sharp downward shift in the yield curve. Additionally, high yield bonds produced strong returns. High yield performance was characterized by a sharp up-in-quality bias, as the CCC segment sharply underperformed. The CCC tier was adversely affected during the year by idiosyncratic weakness in select industries along with overall investor hesitation to enter the space given late cycle concerns and a strong preference for perceived quality and liquidity. The energy sector dragged on high yield performance, which we believe was due largely to idiosyncratic issues within select industries.

The Fund’s exposure to high yield bonds contributed to relative performance, as the high yield market outperformed the

broader fixed income market, as represented by the Fund’s benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1. High yield bonds benefited from a dynamic in which both duration and credit were in favor, as we witnessed a sharp fall in bond yields around the globe which subsequently increased the demand for yield. The Fund’s overweight to and selection within the investment grade bond allocation was also a relative contributor during the period. The Fund’s modest allocation to equities was a relative contributor.

The Fund’s modest allocation to bank loans and CLOs detracted from relative performance during the period. The bank loan asset class was adversely affected by declining rates and a negative technical backdrop during the period, underperforming many duration-sensitive assets. The Fund’s modest allocation to sovereign bonds was also a relative detractor during the year.

The Fund’s portfolio is actively managed and, therefore, its holdings and the weightings of a particular issuer or particular sector as a percentage of portfolio assets are subject to change. Sectors may include many industries.


 

2

 

 

 

1   The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an index of U.S dollar-denominated, investment-grade U.S. government and corporate securities, and mortgage pass-through securities, and asset-backed securities. Indexes are unmanaged, do not reflect the deduction of fees or expenses, and an investor cannot invest directly in an index.

 

Unless otherwise specified, indexes reflect total return, with all dividends reinvested. Indexes are unmanaged, do not reflect the deduction of fees or expenses, and are not available for direct investment.

 

Important Performance and Other Information

Performance data quoted in the following pages reflect past performance and are no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted. The investment return and principal value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate so that shares, on any given day or when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. You can obtain performance data current to the most recent month end by calling Lord Abbett at 888-522-2388 or referring to www.lordabbett.com.

The annual commentary above discusses the views of the Fund’s management and various portfolio holdings of the Fund as of December 31, 2019. These views and portfolio holdings may have changed after this date. Information provided in the commentary is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Because the Fund’s portfolio is actively managed and may change significantly, the Fund may no longer own the securities described above or may have otherwise changed its position in the securities. For more recent information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings, please visit www.lordabbett.com.

 

A Note about Risk: See Notes to Financial Statements for a discussion of investment risks. For a more detailed discussion of the risks associated with the Fund, please see the Fund’s prospectus.

 

Mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, banks, and are subject to investment risks including possible loss of principal amount invested.


 

3

 

 

 

Investment Comparison

 

Below is a comparison of a $10,000 investment in Class A shares with the same investment in the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index and the ICE BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Constrained Index, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The performance of other classes will be greater than or less than the performance shown in the graph below due to different sales loads and expenses applicable to such classes. The graph and performance table below do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns at Maximum Applicable
Sales Charge for the Periods Ended December 31, 2019
    
   1 Year  5 Years  10 Years  Life of Class  
Class A3  10.85%  5.16%  6.76%   
Class C4  11.77%  4.99%  6.35%   
Class F5  13.64%  5.76%  7.18%   
Class F36  13.86%      5.89%  
Class I5  13.80%  5.84%  7.29%   
Class P5  13.16%  5.54%  6.94%   
Class R25  12.93%  5.21%  6.65%   
Class R35  13.20%  5.35%  6.77%   
Class R47  13.46%      5.56%  
Class R57  13.79%      5.83%  
Class R67  13.73%      5.88%  

 

1   Reflects the deduction of the maximum initial sales charge of 2.25%.

2   Performance of each unmanaged index does not reflect any fees or expenses. The performance of each index is not necessarily representative of the Fund’s performance.

3   Total return, which is the percentage change in net asset value, after deduction of the maximum initial sales charge of 2.25% applicable to Class A shares, with all dividends and distributions reinvested for the periods shown ended December 31, 2019 is calculated using the SEC-required uniform method to compute such return.

4   The 1% CDSC for Class C shares normally applies before the first anniversary of the purchase date. Performance for other periods is at net asset value.

5   Performance is at net asset value.

6   Commenced operations and performance for the Class began on April 4, 2017. Performance is at net asset value.

7   Commenced operations and performance for the Class began on June 30, 2015. Performance is at net asset value.


 

4

 

 

 

Expense Example

 

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments (these charges vary among the share classes); and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees (these charges vary among the share classes); and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019).

 

Actual Expenses

For each class of the Fund, the first line of the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading titled “Expenses Paid During Period 7/1/19 – 12/31/19” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

 

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

For each class of the Fund, the second line of the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

 

5

 

 

 

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

   Beginning
Account
Value
  Ending
Account
Value
  Expenses
Paid During
Period
 
   7/1/19  12/31/19  7/1/19 -
12/31/19
 
Class A           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,024.50  $4.03  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,021.22  $4.02  
Class C           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,022.50  $7.24  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,018.05  $7.22  
Class F           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,026.20  $3.52  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,021.73  $3.52  
Class F3           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,027.10  $2.66  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,022.58  $2.65  
Class I           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,026.80  $3.01  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,022.23  $3.01  
Class P           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,024.30  $5.31  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,019.96  $5.30  
Class R2           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,022.40  $6.07  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,019.21  $6.06  
Class R3           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,024.20  $5.56  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,019.71  $5.55  
Class R4           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,025.50  $4.29  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,020.97  $4.28  
Class R5           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,026.80  $3.01  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,022.23  $3.01  
Class R6           
Actual  $1,000.00  $1,025.90  $2.66  
Hypothetical (5% Return Before Expenses)  $1,000.00  $1,022.58  $2.65  

 

For each class of the Fund, net expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio for such class (0.79% for Class A, 1.42% for Class C, 0.69% for Class F, 0.52% for Class F3, 0.59% for Class I, 1.04% for Class P, 1.19% for Class R2, 1.09% for Class R3, 0.84% for Class R4, 0.59% for Class R5 and 0.52% for Class R6) multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect one-half year period).

 

6

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings Presented by Sector

December 31, 2019

 

Sector*   %**  
Aerospace  0.10%  
Asset Backed  1.68%  
Automotive  2.09%  
Banking  6.46%  
Basic Industry  3.47%  
Capital Goods  3.58%  
Chemicals  0.17%  
Consumer Goods  3.80%  
Consumer Staples  0.24%  
Energy  9.40%  
Financial Services  3.73%  
Foreign Government  5.92%  
Healthcare  5.54%  
Industrials  0.12%  
Information Technology  0.18%  
Insurance  1.71%  
Leisure  2.85%  
Manufacturing  0.18%  
Media  5.05%  
Mortgaged-Backed  2.83%  
Municipal  3.10%  
Real Estate  1.76%  
Retail  4.42%  
Services  2.48%  
Technology & Electronics  4.81%  
Telecommunications  2.12%  
Transportation  3.31%  
U.S.Government  11.51%  
Utility  6.02%  
Repurchase Agreement  1.37%  
Total  100.00%  

 

*   A sector may comprise several industries.
**   Represents percent of total investments.

 

7

 

Schedule of Investments

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
 Value
 
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS 106.77%                
                 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 3.07%                
                 
Automobiles 0.13%                
ACC Trust 2018-1 B  4.82%  5/20/2021  $6,637   $6,668,469 
ACC Trust 2018-1 C  6.81%  2/21/2023   5,140    5,253,468 
TCF Auto Receivables Owner Trust 2016-1A B  2.32%  6/15/2022   8,695    8,690,191 
Total              20,612,128 
                 
Credit Cards 0.10%                
Perimeter Master Note Business Trust 2019-2A A  4.23%  5/15/2024   16,717    16,757,121 
                 
Other 2.84%                
AMMC CLO 15 Ltd. 2014-15A DRR    5.401%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.40%
)# 1/15/2032   2,514    2,416,363 
AMMC CLO XII Ltd. 2013-12A DR    4.601%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.70%
)# 11/10/2030   3,859    3,488,729(a)
APEX CREDIT CLO LLC 2017-2A B    3.758%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.85%
)# 9/20/2029   7,197    7,199,510 
Apidos CLO XXXII 2019-32A C†(b)  Zero Coupon(c) 1/20/2033   6,953    6,952,810(a)
Ascentium Equipment Receivables Trust 2016-2A B  2.50%  9/12/2022   1,038    1,037,854 
Atrium XV-15A D  4.934%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%
)# 1/23/2031   7,286    7,122,949 
Battalion CLO VII Ltd. 2014-7A CRR    4.932%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.93%
)# 7/17/2028   1,831    1,830,280 
Battalion CLO XV Ltd. 2019-16A B  Zero Coupon(c) 12/19/2032   23,286    23,288,669 
Benefit Street Partners CLO XIX Ltd. 2019-19A B†(b)  Zero Coupon(c) 1/15/2033   7,922    7,927,353 
Benefit Street Partners CLO XIX Ltd. 2019-19A C†(b)  Zero Coupon(c) 1/15/2033   6,418    6,423,041 
BlueMountain CLO XXIII Ltd. 2018-23A D    4.866%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.90%
)# 10/20/2031   4,348    4,191,564 
Carlyle US CLO Ltd. 2019-4A B†(b)  Zero Coupon(c) 1/15/2033   15,609    15,609,490 
Cedar Funding VI CLO Ltd. 2016-6A BR    3.566%
 (3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.60%
)# 10/20/2028   2,600    2,581,667 
Cedar Funding VI CLO Ltd. 2016-6A DR    4.966%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%
)# 10/20/2028   7,699    7,558,373 
Cent CLO Ltd. 2014-21A CR2    5.136%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.20%
)# 7/27/2030   4,936    4,665,969 
Conn’s Receivables Funding LLC 2017-B C  5.95%  11/15/2022   20,538    20,654,611 
Galaxy XXI CLO Ltd. 2015-21A AR    2.986%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.02%
)# 4/20/2031   5,311    5,253,414 

 

8 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Other (continued)               
                 
Halcyon Loan Advisors Funding Ltd. 2015-2A CR    4.09%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.15%
)# 7/25/2027  $5,476   $5,477,411 
Halcyon Loan Advisors Funding Ltd. 2017-2A A2    3.702%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.70%
)# 1/17/2030   9,320    9,232,158 
Harbor Park CLO Ltd. 2018-1A D    4.866%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.90%
)# 1/20/2031   4,560    4,422,174 
Hardee’s Funding LLC 20181A A2II  4.959%  6/20/2048   37,803    38,743,647 
Jamestown CLO VII Ltd. 2015-7A BR    3.59%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.65%
)# 7/25/2027   12,548    12,327,553 
KKR CLO 9 Ltd. 9 B1R  3.751%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%
)# 7/15/2030   6,340    6,295,541 
KKR CLO Ltd-15 DR  5.153%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.15%
)# 1/18/2032   2,736    2,625,634 
KVK CLO Ltd. 2013-A BR  3.451%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.45%
)# 1/14/2028   3,567    3,551,930 
Madison Park Funding XIV Ltd. 2014-14A DRR    4.903%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.95%
)# 10/22/2030   3,923    3,835,408 
Madison Park Funding XXXVI Ltd. 2019-36A C    2.60%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.60%
)# 1/15/2033   12,488    12,489,042 
Mariner CLO LLC 2015-1A DR    5.616%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.65%
)# 4/20/2029   2,277    2,279,854 
Mariner CLO Ltd. 2017-4A D    4.986%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.05%
)# 10/26/2029   6,254    6,120,902 
Mountain View CLO X Ltd. 2015-10A BR    3.351%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.35%
)# 10/13/2027   13,725    13,609,459 
Northwoods Capital 20 Ltd. 2019-20A C    4.701%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.80%
)# 1/25/2030   14,954    14,982,142 
Octagon Investment Partners 39 Ltd. 2018-3A D    4.916%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.95%
)# 10/20/2030   3,789    3,686,680 
OHA Loan Funding Ltd. 2015-1A CR2    4.501%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.65%
)# 11/15/2032   8,238    8,235,471 
OZLM Funding III Ltd. 2013-3A A2AR    3.82%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.95%
)# 1/22/2029   15,000    15,010,531 
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. 2018-1A A1    2.601%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + .60%
)# 4/15/2026   18,545    18,481,231 
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. 2018-1A A2    3.051%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.05%
)# 4/15/2026   9,660    9,643,243 
Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. 2018-1A B    3.401%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.40%
)# 4/15/2026   5,069    5,040,179 
Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC 2018-1A A2I  4.262%  9/5/2048   17,814    18,155,938 
Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC 2018-1A A2II  4.666%  9/5/2048   22,267    23,208,236 
Planet Fitness Master Issuer LLC 2019-1A A2  3.858%  12/5/2049   15,242    15,043,918 
Regatta VI Funding Ltd. 2016-1A DR    4.666%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.70%
)# 7/20/2028   2,216    2,196,392 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 9
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Other (continued)                
                 
Regatta XVI Funding Ltd. 2019-2A B  3.953%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.05%
)# 1/15/2033  $31,200   $31,274,749 
Sound Point CLO XI Ltd. 2016-1A DR  4.916%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.95%
)# 7/20/2028   6,840    6,822,888 
THL Credit Wind River CLO Ltd. 2018-3A D  4.916%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.95%
)# 1/20/2031   7,164    6,563,043 
Towd Point Mortgage Trust 2019-HY2 A1  2.792%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.00%
)# 5/25/2058   15,918    16,010,717 
West CLO Ltd. 2014-2A BR  3.751%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%
)# 1/16/2027   4,541    4,522,289 
Wingstop Funding LLC 2018-1 A2  4.97%  12/5/2048   19,599    20,198,428 
Total              468,289,434 
Total Asset-Backed Securities (cost $505,243,852)              505,658,683 
                 
         Shares
(000)
      
COMMON STOCKS 5.71%                
                 
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.04%                
Chassix Holdings, Inc.         607    6,070,570 
                 
Banking 0.50%                
First Republic Bank         361    42,430,927 
Northern Trust Corp.         151    16,042,240 
SVB Financial Group*         98    24,628,781 
Total              83,101,948 
                 
Beverages 0.27%                
Brown-Forman Corp. Class B         254    17,199,874 
Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC Ltd.*(d)        HKD 2,877    9,709,564 
Carlsberg A/S Class B(d)        DKK 116    17,328,235 
Total              44,237,673 
                 
Discount Stores 0.10%                
Target Corp.         128    16,401,392 
                 
Diversified Capital Goods 0.30%                
Carlisle Cos., Inc.         99    16,074,920 
Dover Corp.         143    16,534,277 
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.         93    16,705,590 
Total              49,314,787 
                 
Electric: Generation 0.12%                
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (Israel)*(e)         201    19,069,349 

 

10 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Shares
 (000)
   Fair
Value
 
Electric: Integrated 0.00%          
Eneva SA*(d)  BRL33   $363,683 
           
Electronics 0.10%          
Universal Display Corp.   77    15,764,355 
           
Energy: Exploration & Production 0.22%          
Chaparral Energy, Inc. Class A*   541    952,385 
MEG Energy Corp.*(d)  CAD6,241    35,519,275 
Templar Energy LLC Class A Units   417    33,346(a) 
Total        36,505,006 
           
Food & Drug Retailers 0.11%          
Casey’s General Stores, Inc.   113    17,928,825 
           
Food: Wholesale 0.23%          
Beyond Meat, Inc.*   223    16,878,380 
Sanderson Farms, Inc.   115    20,331,735 
Total        37,210,115 
           
Forestry/Paper 0.10%          
Westrock Co.   404    17,335,640 
           
Gas Distribution 0.00%          
Dommo Energia SA*(d)  BRL353    258,194 
           
Media: Content 0.01%          
ION Media Networks, Inc.   4    1,931,885(f) 
           
Medical Products 0.41%          
DexCom, Inc.*   80    17,407,985 
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*   70    16,266,845 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.*   28    16,543,333 
Teleflex, Inc.   45    17,071,554 
Total        67,289,717 
           
Metals/Mining (Excluding Steel) 0.10%          
Arconic, Inc.   525    16,142,896 
           
Oil Field Equipment & Services 0.05%          
Halliburton Co.   336    8,209,685 
           
Personal & Household Products 0.18%          
Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) Class A   80    16,487,056 
Gibson Brands, Inc.   107    12,560,985(a) 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 11
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Shares
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Personal & Household Products (continued)         
Remington Outdoor Co., Inc.*   164   $135,092 
Total        29,183,133 
           
Pharmaceuticals 0.20%          
NextCure, Inc*   595    33,497,141 
           
Rail 0.20%          
Kansas City Southern   216    33,068,776 
           
Restaurants 0.39%          
Shake Shack, Inc. Class A*   1,081    64,414,709 
           
Software/Services 0.96%          
Adyen NV*(d)  EUR 20    16,440,252 
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR*   158    33,420,809 
Alphabet, Inc. Class A*   12    16,122,238 
DocuSign, Inc.*   334    24,776,752 
RingCentral, Inc. Class A*   99    16,708,956 
Shopify, Inc. Class A (Canada)*(e)   83    33,094,559 
Trade Desk, Inc. (The) Class A*(b)   68    17,681,146 
Total        158,244,712 
           
Specialty Retail 0.42%          
Claires Holdings LLC   15    9,856,842 
Lululemon Athletica, Inc. (Canada)*(e)   256    59,389,763 
Total        69,246,605 
           
Support: Services 0.20%          
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.   230    16,357,482 
IHS Markit Ltd. (United Kingdom)*e)   218    16,437,075 
Total        32,794,557 
           
Technology Hardware & Equipment 0.30%          
Apple, Inc.   60    17,670,389 
NVIDIA Corp.   139    32,695,876 
Total        50,366,265 
           
Telecommunications: Wireless 0.10%          
Qorvo, Inc.*   139    16,189,909 
           
Transportation: Infrastructure/Services 0.10%          
XPO Logistics, Inc.*   210    16,739,790 
Total Common Stocks (cost $922,757,524)        940,881,317 

 

12 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
CONVERTIBLE BOND 0.18%                
                 
Automakers                
Tesla, Inc.
(cost $23,159,684)
  2.00%  5/15/2024  $19,183  $29,049,244 
                 
FLOATING RATE LOANS(g) 6.76%                
                 
Advertising 0.12%                
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. Term Loan B   5.299%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%
) 8/21/2026   20,207    20,353,454 
                 
Aerospace/Defense 0.09%                
Doncasters Finance US LLC USD Term Loan   5.445%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.5%
) 4/9/2020   18,015    14,559,993 
                 
Air Transportation 0.22%                
American Airlines, Inc. 2018 Term Loan B   3.542%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%
) 6/27/2025   21,063    21,128,409 
Kestrel Bidco Inc. Term Loan (Canada)   4.718%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%
) 12/11/2026   15,044    15,198,502 
Total              36,326,911 
                 
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.20%                
American Axle and Manufacturing, Inc. Term Loan B   4.05%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25%) - 4.19%
  4/6/2024   32,369    32,449,534 
                 
Building Materials 0.25%                
Forterra Finance, LLC 2017 Term Loan B   4.799%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%
) 10/25/2023   25,049    24,568,999 
Yak Access, LLC 2018 1st Lien Term Loan B   6.792%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 5.00%
) 7/11/2025   17,781    17,219,813 
Total              41,788,812 
                 
Chemicals 0.22%                
Polar US Borrower, LLC 2018 1st Lien Term Loan   6.62%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.75%) - 6.69%
  10/15/2025   4,865    4,852,472(h) 
Starfruit Finco B.V 2018 USD Term Loan B (Netherlands)(e) 4.96%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 10/1/2025   31,440    31,505,110 
Total              36,357,582 
                 
Diversified Capital Goods 0.14%                
Granite Holdings US Acquisition Co. Term Loan B   7.211%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 5.25%
) 9/30/2026   22,445    22,557,465(h) 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 13
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Electric: Generation 0.56%                
                 
Astoria Energy LLC Term Loan B   5.80%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%
) 12/24/2021  $23,860   $23,845,441 
Edgewater Generation, L.L.C. Term Loan   5.549%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%
) 12/13/2025   25,175    24,214,773 
Frontera Generation Holdings LLC 2018 Term Loan B   5.99%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%
) 5/2/2025   18,528    16,026,406 
Lightstone Holdco LLC 2018 Term Loan B   5.549%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%
) 1/30/2024   13,171    12,143,992 
Lightstone Holdco LLC 2018 Term Loan C   5.549%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%
) 1/30/2024   743    684,940 
Moxie Patriot LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan B2   7.695%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 5.75%
) 12/19/2020   10,385    9,255,695 
Moxie Patriot LLC Term Loan B1   7.695%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 5.75%
) 12/19/2020   6,226    5,549,271 
Total              91,720,518 
                 
Electric: Integrated 0.42%                
Pacific Gas & Electric Company DIP Delayed Draw Term Loan  2.25%  12/31/2020   4,102    4,122,510(h) 
Pacific Gas & Electric Company DIP Term Loan   3.97%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.25%
) 12/31/2020   12,305    12,366,525(h) 
Pacific Gas & Electric Company Revolving Term Loan  (i) 4/27/2022   52,710    52,907,662(h) 
Total              69,396,697 
                 
Food & Drug Retailers 0.09%                
GOBP Holdings, Inc. 2019 Term Loan B   5.24%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%
) 10/22/2025   14,394    14,598,149 
                 
Food: Wholesale 0.10%                
United Natural Foods, Inc. Term Loan B  (i) 10/22/2025   18,812    16,166,576 
                 
Gaming 0.56%                
MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP 2016 Term Loan B  3.799%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.00%
) 3/3/2025   19,561    19,675,922 
PCI Gaming Authority Term Loan   4.299%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.50%
) 5/29/2026   12,237    12,338,008 
Playtika Holding Corp Term Loan B   7.799%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 6.00%
) 12/10/2024   32,344    32,748,655 
VICI Properties 1 LLC Replacement Term Loan B   3.785%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.00%
) 12/20/2024   27,044    27,209,104 
Total              91,971,689 

 

14 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Gas Distribution 0.17%                
                 
Buckeye Partners, L.P. 2019 Term Loan B   4.531%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%
) 11/1/2026  $15,315   $15,472,912 
Lower Cadence Holdings LLC Term Loan B   5.799%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%
) 5/22/2026   13,085    12,978,993 
Total              28,451,905 
                 
Health Services 0.83%                
Da Vinci Purchaser Corp. 2019 Term Loan  (i) 12/3/2026   16,312    16,352,573 
Emerald TopCo Inc Term Loan   5.299%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%
) 7/24/2026   23,963    24,131,522 
Global Medical Response, Inc. 2018 Term Loan B1   5.035%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 4/28/2022   17,957    17,645,652 
Parexel International Corporation Term Loan B   4.555%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%
) 9/27/2024   26,942    26,504,249 
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc. 2018 Term Loan B  6.299%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.50%
) 11/17/2025   26,883    27,134,882 
U.S. Renal Care, Inc. 2019 Term Loan B   6.813%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 5.00%
) 6/26/2026   25,271    25,147,850 
Total              136,916,728 
                 
Insurance Brokerage 0.19%                
Hub International Limited 2018 Term Loan B   4.69%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%
) 4/25/2025   31,934    31,965,066 
                 
Media: Content 0.20%                
Univision Communications Inc. Term Loan C5   4.549%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%
) 3/15/2024   34,121    33,768,355 
                 
Personal & Household Products 0.22%                
FGI Operating Company, LLC Exit Term Loan   11.945%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 10.00%
) 5/15/2022   1,061    848,424(h) 
Revlon Consumer Products Corporation 2016 Term Loan B  5.409%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%
) 9/7/2023   25,616    19,708,688 
TGP Holdings III, LLC 2018 1st Lien Term Loan   6.049%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%
) 9/25/2024   16,210    15,331,438 
Total              35,888,550 
                 
Rail 0.14%                
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (New) Term Loan  (i) 12/30/2026   23,411    23,665,637 
                 
Recreation & Travel 0.28%                
Alterra Mountain Company Term Loan B1   4.549%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%
) 7/31/2024   13,084    13,214,402 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 15
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Recreation & Travel (continued)               
Delta 2 (LUX) S.a.r.l. 2018 USD Term Loan (Luxembourg) 4.299%
(1 Mo. LIBOR +2.50%
) 2/1/2024  $16,211   $16,314,621 
Kingpin Intermediate Holdings LLC 2018 Term Loan B  5.30%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.50%
) 7/3/2024   15,793    15,892,013 
Total              45,421,036 
                 
Restaurants 0.21%                
IRB Holding Corp 1st Lien Term Loan   5.216%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 2/5/2025   19,305    19,453,679 
Panera Bread Co. Term Loan A   3.563%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%
) 7/18/2022   16,422    16,058,049 
Total              35,511,728 
                 
Software/Services 0.50%                
Ancestry.com Operations Inc. Non-Extended Term Loan B  5.55%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%
) 10/19/2023   9,629    9,525,036 
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2019 Extended Term Loan B 6.05%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.25%
) 8/27/2026   15,125    14,912,349 
Ellie Mae, Inc. Term Loan  5.945%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%
) 4/17/2026   25,747    25,955,905 
Tibco Software Inc. 2019 Term Loan B   5.71%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 4.00%
) 6/30/2026   15,831    15,922,907 
Ultimate Software Group Inc. (The) Term Loan B   5.549%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%
) 5/4/2026   16,221    16,350,629 
Total              82,666,826 
                 
Specialty Retail 0.41%                
BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. 2017 1st Lien Term Loan   4.491%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.75%
) 2/3/2024   21,802    21,979,556 
Claire’s Stores, Inc. 2019 Term Loan B  (i) 12/18/2026   11,763    10,645,877(h) 
Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. 2018 1st Lien Term Loan  5.049%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 3/20/2025   15,283    14,939,550 
Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. 2018 Delayed Draw Term Loan   5.049%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 3/20/2025   1,947    1,903,516 
PetSmart, Inc. Consenting Term Loan  (i) 3/11/2022   18,012    17,855,198 
Total              67,323,697 
                 
Support: Services 0.52%                
DG Investment Intermediate Holdings 2, Inc. 2018 1st Lien Term Loan 4.799%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.00%
) 2/3/2025   16,167    16,126,974 
NEP/NCP Holdco, Inc. 2018 1st Lien Term Loan  (i) 10/20/2025   17,160    16,902,308 
Pike Corporation 2019 Term Loan B   5.05%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 7/24/2026   21,991    22,144,187 

 

16 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
    Fair
Value
 
Support: Services (continued)               
Southern Graphics, Inc. 2018 Term Loan B  5.049%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
) 12/31/2022  $18,004   $11,266,713 
Trans Union, LLC 2019 Term Loan B5  3.549%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.75%
) 11/16/2026   19,034    19,134,939 
Total              85,575,121 
                 
Telecommunications: Satellite 0.06%                
Iridium Satellite LLC Term Loan (France)  5.542%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.75%
) 11/4/2026   9,844    9,982,674 
                 
Transportation: Infrastructure/Services 0.06%                
Commercial Barge Line Company 2015 1st Lien Term Loan 10.677%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 8.75%
) 11/12/2020   17,671    9,188,871 
Total Floating Rate Loans (cost $1,122,300,783)              1,114,573,574 
                 
FOREIGN BONDS(d) 0.22%                
                 
France 0.11%                
CMA CGM SA  5.25%  1/15/2025  EUR 19,617    17,676,345 
                 
Jersey 0.11%                
Aston Martin Capital Holdings Ltd.  5.75%  4/15/2022  GBP 14,541    18,514,642 
Total Foreign Bonds (cost $33,849,271)              36,190,987 
                 
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS 5.24%                
                 
Angola 0.32%                
Republic of Angola†(e)  8.25%  5/9/2028  $27,032    29,267,763 
Republic of Angola†(e)  9.375%  5/8/2048   20,485    22,533,623 
Total              51,801,386 
                 
Argentina 0.61%                
Ciudad Autonoma De Buenos Aires†(e)  7.50%  6/1/2027   26,645    25,912,262 
Province of Santa Fe†(e)  6.90%  11/1/2027   22,807    18,131,565 
Provincia de Cordoba†(e)  7.125%  6/10/2021   20,748    15,457,260 
Provincia de Cordoba†(e)  7.45%  9/1/2024   26,688    19,348,800 
Provincia de Mendoza†(e)  8.375%  5/19/2024   27,674    20,893,870 
Total              99,743,757 
                 
Australia 0.17%                
Australian Government(d)  4.25%  4/21/2026  AUD 33,642    28,057,585 
                 
Bahrain 0.15%                
Bahrain Government International Bond†(e)  6.75%  9/20/2029  $21,000    24,584,028 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 17
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Bermuda 0.18%                 
Government of Bermuda  4.138%   1/3/2023  $14,720   $15,443,856 
Government of Bermuda  4.75%   2/15/2029   12,997    14,707,373 
Total               30,151,229 
                  
Canada 0.60%                 
Province of British Columbia Canada(d)  2.85%   6/18/2025  CAD 44,800    35,943,155 
Province of Ontario Canada(e)  2.55%   2/12/2021  $63,053    63,579,924 
Total               99,523,079 
                  
Dominican Republic 0.23%                 
Dominican Republic†(e)  6.40%   6/5/2049   34,203    37,612,526 
                  
Egypt 0.25%                 
Arab Republic of Egypt†(e)  5.577%   2/21/2023   39,734    41,645,245 
                  
Honduras 0.13%                 
Honduras Government†(e)  6.25%   1/19/2027   19,384    21,207,986 
                  
Ivory Coast 0.10%                 
Ivory Coast Government International Bond†(d)  5.875%   10/17/2031  EUR 14,313    16,748,463 
                  
Jamaica 0.35%                 
Government of Jamaica(e)  6.75%   4/28/2028  $22,327    26,521,071 
Government of Jamaica(e)  8.00%   3/15/2039   23,326    31,803,485 
Total               58,324,556 
                  
Japan 0.35%                 
Japan Bank for International Corp.(e)  3.125%   7/20/2021   55,954    57,073,702 
                  
Kenya 0.24%                 
Republic of Kenya†(e)  7.25%   2/28/2028   22,576    24,602,083 
Republic of Kenya†(e)  8.25%   2/28/2048   14,447    15,524,009 
Total               40,126,092 
                  
Mongolia 0.17%                 
Development Bank of Mongolia LLC†(e)  7.25%   10/23/2023   26,519    28,108,767 
                  
Paraguay 0.20%                 
Republic of Paraguay†(e)  5.60%   3/13/2048   27,485    32,251,861 
                  
Qatar 0.17%                 
State of Qatar†(e)  3.25%   6/2/2026   27,091    28,572,607 

 

18 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Senegal 0.17%                 
Republic of Senegal†(e)  6.25%   7/30/2024  $25,031   $27,780,330 
                  
Suriname 0.07%                 
Republic of Suriname†(e)  9.25%   10/26/2026   14,321    11,282,764 
                  
Ukraine 0.30%                 
Ukraine Government†(e)  7.375%   9/25/2032   44,815    47,916,960 
Ukraine Government International Bond(e)  7.375%   9/25/2032   2,000    2,138,434 
Total               50,055,394 
                  
United Arab Emirates 0.30%                 
Abu Dhabi Government International†(e)  3.125%   5/3/2026   47,836    49,933,082 
                  
Vietnam 0.18%                 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam†(e)  4.80%   11/19/2024   27,091    29,559,063 
Total Foreign Government Obligations (cost $827,155,211)            864,143,502 
                  
GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES PASS-THROUGHS 11.36%       
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.(j)  3.00%   1/14/2050   224,000    227,053,160 
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.(j)  3.50%   1/14/2050   1,024,600    1,053,523,075 
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.(j)  4.50%   1/14/2050   562,100    591,799,875 
Total Government Sponsored Enterprises Pass-Throughs (cost $1,870,381,259)        1,872,376,110 
                  
HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BONDS 64.49%                 
                  
Advertising 0.09%                 
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.  9.25%   2/15/2024   13,740    15,245,698 
                  
Aerospace/Defense 0.88%                 
Signature Aviation US Holdings, Inc.  4.00%   3/1/2028   27,187    26,864,834 
Signature Aviation US Holdings, Inc.  5.375%   5/1/2026   12,746    13,446,170 
TransDigm, Inc.  6.25%   3/15/2026   31,374    34,024,601 
TransDigm, Inc.  6.375%   6/15/2026   33,411    35,497,851 
United Technologies Corp.  4.125%   11/16/2028   31,099    35,032,098 
Total               144,865,554 
                  
Air Transportation 1.18%                 
Air Canada 2013-1 Class A Pass Through Trust (Canada)†(e)  4.125%   11/15/2026   8,336    8,875,106 
Azul Investments LLP  5.875%   10/26/2024   37,100    38,581,217 
British Airways 2018-1 Class A Pass Through Trust (United Kingdom)†(e)  4.125%   3/20/2033   8,431    8,865,859 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 19
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Air Transportation (continued)                 
British Airways 2018-1 Class AA Pass Through Trust (United Kingdom)†(e)  3.80%   3/20/2033  $4,065   $4,315,824 
British Airways 2019-1 Class A Pass Through Trust (United Kingdom)†(e)  3.35%   6/15/2029   14,619    15,071,401 
British Airways 2019-1 Class AA Pass Through Trust (United Kingdom)†(e)  3.30%   6/15/2034   35,896    37,264,057 
Delta Air Lines 2019-1 Class AA Pass Through Trust  3.204%   10/25/2025   22,520    23,438,951 
Delta Air Lines, Inc.  3.75%   10/28/2029   26,929    26,936,002 
JetBlue 2019-1 Class A Pass Through Trust  2.95%   11/15/2029   13,467    13,472,217 
United Airlines 2019-2 Class AA Pass Through Trust  2.70%   11/1/2033   17,940    18,030,023 
Total               194,850,657 
                  
Auto Loans 0.07%                 
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC  3.81%   1/9/2024   10,744    10,906,845 
                  
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.29%                 
Adient US LLC  7.00%   5/15/2026   21,145    23,087,676 
Delphi Technologies plc (United Kingdom)†(e)  5.00%   10/1/2025   25,973    24,089,957 
Total               47,177,633 
                  
Automakers 1.67%                 
Aston Martin Capital Holdings Ltd. (Jersey)†(e)  6.50%   4/15/2022   16,077    15,335,047 
BMW US Capital LLC  3.10%   4/12/2021   14,012    14,223,227 
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC  5.584%   3/18/2024   133,289    144,267,768 
General Motors Co.  8.375%   7/15/2049   15,000    1,500(f) 
Navistar International Corp.  6.625%   11/1/2025   12,846    13,113,646 
Tesla, Inc.  5.30%   8/15/2025   91,041    88,536,462 
Total               275,477,650 
                  
Banking 6.12%                 
ABN AMRO Bank NV (Netherlands)†(e)  4.75%   7/28/2025   31,461    34,346,297 
AIB Group plc (Ireland)†(e)  4.263%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.87%
)# 4/10/2025   26,837    28,421,161 
AIB Group plc (Ireland)†(e)  4.75%   10/12/2023   31,394    33,720,076 
Ally Financial, Inc.  4.625%   3/30/2025   22,002    23,863,039 
Ally Financial, Inc.  8.00%   11/1/2031   35,632    49,526,698 
ANZ New Zealand Int’l Ltd. (United Kingdom)†(e)  2.125%   7/28/2021   14,890    14,926,876 
Associated Banc-Corp.  4.25%   1/15/2025   7,996    8,450,873 
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. (United Kingdom)†(e)  6.75%
(USD Swap + 5.17%
)# (k)  19,074    21,784,511 
Banco Mercantil del Norte SA  7.625%
(10 Yr Treasury CMT + 5.35%
)# (k)  14,326    15,336,484 

 

20 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Banking (continued)                 
Bank of America Corp.  2.369%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + .66%
)# 7/21/2021  $62,846   $62,988,458 
Bank of America Corp.  4.45%   3/3/2026   19,634    21,563,125 
Bank of Ireland Group plc (Ireland)†(e)  4.50%   11/25/2023   31,384    33,580,689 
BankUnited, Inc.  4.875%   11/17/2025   24,313    26,518,312 
BBVA Bancomer SA  5.125%
(5 Yr Treasury CMT + 2.65%
)# 1/18/2033   28,167    28,484,865 
BBVA USA  3.875%   4/10/2025   26,897    28,247,752 
CIT Group, Inc.  5.25%   3/7/2025   6,988    7,701,370 
CIT Group, Inc.  6.125%   3/9/2028   30,996    36,663,541 
Citigroup, Inc.  4.45%   9/29/2027   13,296    14,643,960 
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.  4.50%   8/15/2028   26,914    29,157,406 
Fifth Third Bancorp  8.25%   3/1/2038   8,042    12,276,434 
Global Bank Corp. (Panama)†(e)  5.25%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.30%
)# 4/16/2029   40,710    43,814,137 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)  3.50%   11/16/2026   13,667    14,374,619 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)  4.25%   10/21/2025   18,995    20,625,565 
Home BancShares, Inc.  5.625%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.58%
)# 4/15/2027   19,481    20,161,188 
Huntington Bancshares, Inc.  5.70%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 2.88%
)# (k)  15,381    15,968,785 
Huntington National Bank (The)  3.125%   4/1/2022   26,801    27,397,863 
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (Italy)†(e)  5.71%   1/15/2026   47,976    51,924,442 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.  3.54%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.38%
)# 5/1/2028   11,994    12,738,978 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.  3.90%   7/15/2025   17,386    18,775,263 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.  6.10%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.33%
)# (k)  12,752    13,925,375 
Leggett & Platt, Inc.  4.40%   3/15/2029   31,431    34,356,547 
Macquarie Bank Ltd. (United Kingdom)†(e)  6.125%
(5 Yr. Swap rate + 3.70%
)# (k)  34,980    36,235,782 
Morgan Stanley  3.125%   7/27/2026   18,976    19,588,482 
Morgan Stanley  3.625%   1/20/2027   24,804    26,404,540 
Popular, Inc.  6.125%   9/14/2023   15,922    17,182,465 
Santander UK Group Holdings plc (United Kingdom)†(e)  4.75%   9/15/2025   36,032    38,762,531 
US Bancorp  3.00%   7/30/2029   13,452    13,901,248 
Washington Mutual Bank(l)  6.875%   6/15/2011   22,500    2,250(f) 
Webster Financial Corp.  4.10%   3/25/2029   27,684    29,356,272 
Westpac Banking Corp. (Australia)(e)  4.11%
(5 Yr Treasury CMT + 2.00%
)# 7/24/2034   19,677    20,621,711 
Total               1,008,319,970 
                  
Beverages 0.99%                 
Bacardi Ltd.  2.75%   7/15/2026   20,151    19,830,455 
Bacardi Ltd.  4.70%   5/15/2028   32,381    35,284,055 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 21
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Beverages (continued)                 
Becle SAB de CV (Mexico)†(e)  3.75%   5/13/2025  $15,764   $16,183,474 
Brown-Forman Corp.  3.50%   4/15/2025   8,956    9,549,414 
Brown-Forman Corp.  4.50%   7/15/2045   18,174    22,282,652 
PepsiCo, Inc.  3.60%   3/1/2024   14,292    15,216,245 
Suntory Holdings Ltd. (Japan)†(e)  2.25%   10/16/2024   44,835    44,570,987 
Total               162,917,282 
                  
Building & Construction 0.80%                 
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.  7.25%   10/15/2029   15,808    16,914,955 
ITR Concession Co. LLC  5.183%   7/15/2035   7,658    7,710,319 
Lennar Corp.  4.75%   11/15/2022   15,303    16,095,389 
Lennar Corp.  4.75%   5/30/2025   8,420    9,069,056 
Lennar Corp.  4.75%   11/29/2027   7,613    8,217,092 
PulteGroup, Inc.  6.375%   5/15/2033   25,646    30,024,324 
Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp.  6.125%   4/1/2025   14,448    14,995,796 
Toll Brothers Finance Corp.  4.875%   3/15/2027   12,916    13,986,058 
Toll Brothers Finance Corp.  5.625%   1/15/2024   14,213    15,622,432 
Total               132,635,421 
                  
Building Materials 0.49%                 
Allegion plc (Ireland)(e)  3.50%   10/1/2029   11,813    12,032,169 
Hillman Group, Inc. (The)  6.375%   7/15/2022   16,692    15,570,498 
Owens Corning  4.30%   7/15/2047   22,857    21,673,626 
Owens Corning  4.40%   1/30/2048   15,778    15,272,623 
Vulcan Materials Co.  4.50%   6/15/2047   14,595    16,019,477 
Total               80,568,393 
                  
Cable & Satellite Television 2.90%                 
Altice France SA (France)†(e)  8.125%   2/1/2027   39,761    44,854,384 
Altice Luxembourg SA (Luxembourg)†(e)  10.50%   5/15/2027   22,837    26,077,570 
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.  5.125%   5/1/2027   83,655    88,410,787 
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.  5.75%   2/15/2026   61,221    64,702,638 
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.  5.875%   4/1/2024   15,739    16,303,007 
CSC Holdings LLC  5.50%   4/15/2027   27,834    29,941,034 
CSC Holdings LLC  5.75%   1/15/2030   15,440    16,501,500 
CSC Holdings LLC  6.50%   2/1/2029   13,352    14,912,515 
CSC Holdings LLC  10.875%   10/15/2025   16,727    18,723,785 
DISH DBS Corp.  7.75%   7/1/2026   91,736    97,353,913 
LCPR Senior Secured Financing DAC (Ireland)†(e)  6.75%   10/15/2027   15,074    16,006,327 

 

22 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Cable & Satellite Television (continued)                 
Ziggo BV (Netherlands)†(e)  5.50%   1/15/2027  $41,917   $44,614,359 
Total               478,401,819 
                  
Chemicals 0.75%                 
CF Industries, Inc.  4.50%   12/1/2026   23,920    26,039,865 
CF Industries, Inc.  4.95%   6/1/2043   3,074    3,212,637 
CF Industries, Inc.  5.15%   3/15/2034   5,096    5,704,208 
CNAC HK Finbridge Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong)(e)  4.125%   7/19/2027   31,514    33,116,542 
FMC Corp.  3.45%   10/1/2029   13,468    13,933,733 
OCI NV (Netherlands)†(e)  6.625%   4/15/2023   13,200    13,807,200 
Yingde Gases Investment Ltd. (Hong Kong)†(e)  6.25%   1/19/2023   27,120    28,085,361 
Total               123,899,546 
                  
Consumer/Commercial/Lease Financing 1.13%                 
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust (Ireland)(e)  3.65%   7/21/2027   8,842    9,108,718 
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust (Ireland)(e)  4.45%   4/3/2026   5,442    5,840,784 
American Tower Corp.  2.95%   1/15/2025   44,909    45,934,605 
General Electric Co.  2.894%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 1.00%
)# 3/15/2023   5,778    5,802,285 
Navient Corp.  6.125%   3/25/2024   22,447    24,410,888 
Navient Corp.  6.75%   6/25/2025   24,741    27,375,916 
Navient Corp.  6.75%   6/15/2026   25,021    27,546,870 
Quicken Loans, Inc.  5.25%   1/15/2028   15,000    15,559,838 
Springleaf Finance Corp.  5.375%   11/15/2029   23,337    24,402,334 
Total               185,982,238 
                  
Department Stores 0.29%                 
Kohl’s Corp.  5.55%   7/17/2045   15,291    15,578,788 
Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd. (Japan)†(e)  3.35%   9/17/2021   31,997    32,639,974 
Total               48,218,762 
                  
Discount Stores 0.94%                 
Amazon.com, Inc.  3.15%   8/22/2027   28,837    30,515,999 
Amazon.com, Inc.  4.25%   8/22/2057   20,632    25,111,535 
Amazon.com, Inc.  4.80%   12/5/2034   28,691    36,156,326 
Amazon.com, Inc.  5.20%   12/3/2025   53,869    62,797,764 
Total               154,581,624 
                  
Diversified Capital Goods 1.46%                 
BCD Acquisition, Inc.  9.625%   9/15/2023   15,903    16,419,688 
Dover Corp.  2.95%   11/4/2029   17,664    17,813,631 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 23
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Diversified Capital Goods (continued)                 
General Electric Co.  2.70%   10/9/2022  $42,741   $43,323,217 
General Electric Co.  3.10%   1/9/2023   25,636    26,193,424 
General Electric Co.  3.15%   9/7/2022   12,324    12,597,046 
General Electric Co.  5.00%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.33%
)# (k)  44,884    44,030,306 
Griffon Corp.  5.25%   3/1/2022   13,778    13,864,016 
Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV (Netherlands)†(e)  3.25%   5/27/2025   13,036    13,735,308 
SPX FLOW, Inc.  5.625%   8/15/2024   8,609    8,989,217 
SPX FLOW, Inc.  5.875%   8/15/2026   14,947    15,849,014 
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.  3.45%   11/15/2026   17,989    18,196,468 
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.  4.95%   9/15/2028   8,995    9,897,431 
Total               240,908,766 
                  
Electric: Distribution/Transportation 0.60%                 
Adani Transmission Ltd. (India)†(e)  4.25%   5/21/2036   13,508    13,688,696 
Atlantic City Electric Co.  4.00%   10/15/2028   13,493    15,047,353 
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.  3.85%   8/15/2047   10,634    11,028,894 
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.  4.15%   4/1/2047   11,379    12,376,960 
State Grid Overseas Investment 2016 Ltd.  3.50%   5/4/2027   45,150    47,285,611 
Total               99,427,514 
                  
Electric: Generation 1.64%                 
Acwa Power Management & Investments One Ltd. (Saudi Arabia)†(e)  5.95%   12/15/2039   14,814    15,843,573 
Adani Renewable Energy RJ Ltd./Kodangal Solar Parks Pvt Ltd/Wardha Solar Maharash (India)†(e)  4.625%   10/15/2039   8,400    8,532,300 
Calpine Corp.  5.75%   1/15/2025   15,219    15,656,546 
Clearway Energy Operating LLC  4.75%   3/15/2028   8,966    9,100,490 
Clearway Energy Operating LLC  5.75%   10/15/2025   15,737    16,596,004 
Greenko Solar Mauritius Ltd. (Mauritius)†(e)  5.95%   7/29/2026   17,957    18,151,424 
NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP  3.875%   10/15/2026   46,654    46,916,382 
NextEra Energy Operating Partners LP  4.50%   9/15/2027   19,300    20,165,074 
NRG Energy, Inc.  5.75%   1/15/2028   45,435    49,381,030 
NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings, Inc.  7.75%   12/15/2025   14,597    16,172,053 
Power Finance Corp. Ltd. (India)(e)  3.75%   12/6/2027   11,285    11,221,028 
TerraForm Power Operating LLC  4.75%   1/15/2030   19,948    20,333,994 
TerraForm Power Operating LLC  5.00%   1/31/2028   7,569    8,016,782 
Vistra Operations Co. LLC  4.30%   7/15/2029   14,580    14,871,146 
Total               270,957,826 

 

24 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Electric: Integrated 3.26%                 
AES Corp. (The)  4.50%   3/15/2023  $12,314   $12,647,525 
AES Corp. (The)  5.125%   9/1/2027   12,496    13,362,598 
Arizona Public Service Co.  2.95%   9/15/2027   13,385    13,741,938 
Ausgrid Finance Pty Ltd. (Australia)†(e)  4.35%   8/1/2028   13,786    15,015,747 
Avangrid, Inc.  3.80%   6/1/2029   6,282    6,662,891 
Black Hills Corp.  4.35%   5/1/2033   13,491    14,961,656 
Dayton Power & Light Co. (The)  3.95%   6/15/2049   10,775    11,055,525 
DPL, Inc.  4.35%   4/15/2029   17,956    17,323,289 
DTE Energy Co.  2.60%   6/15/2022   10,778    10,854,828 
El Paso Electric Co.  5.00%   12/1/2044   20,062    23,690,661 
Electricite de France SA (France)†(e)  3.625%   10/13/2025   13,500    14,326,181 
Electricite de France SA (France)†(e)  4.50%   9/21/2028   14,507    16,129,643 
Empresa de Transmision Electrica SA (Panama)†(e)  5.125%   5/2/2049   14,430    16,463,836 
Empresas Publicas de Medellin ESP (Colombia)†(e)  4.25%   7/18/2029   9,449    9,846,354 
Enel Finance International NV (Netherlands)†(e)  2.65%   9/10/2024   28,508    28,609,437 
Enel Finance International NV (Netherlands)†(e)  3.50%   4/6/2028   45,048    46,101,019 
Entergy Arkansas LLC  4.00%   6/1/2028   18,151    19,700,105 
Entergy Arkansas LLC  4.95%   12/15/2044   16,883    18,084,342 
Entergy Louisiana LLC  4.00%   3/15/2033   10,745    12,147,342 
Entergy Mississippi LLC  2.85%   6/1/2028   19,150    19,581,328 
Indianapolis Power & Light Co.  4.05%   5/1/2046   24,503    27,190,960 
Louisville Gas & Electric Co.  4.375%   10/1/2045   15,039    17,398,404 
Monongahela Power Co.  3.55%   5/15/2027   13,657    14,221,978 
NRG Energy, Inc.  3.75%   6/15/2024   27,446    28,379,648 
NRG Energy, Inc.  5.25%   6/15/2029   7,483    8,104,837 
Ohio Power Co.  4.00%   6/1/2049   13,988    15,682,939 
Ohio Power Co.  4.15%   4/1/2048   12,877    14,551,335 
Pacific Gas & Electric Co.(l)  6.05%   3/1/2034   30,350    31,847,772 
Puget Sound Energy, Inc.  4.223%   6/15/2048   13,467    15,493,462 
Rochester Gas & Electric Corp.  3.10%   6/1/2027   13,724    14,174,911 
Sierra Pacific Power Co.  2.60%   5/1/2026   9,730    9,782,691 
Total               537,135,182 
               
Electronics 1.16%                 
Amphenol Corp.  2.80%   2/15/2030   31,417    31,143,426 
KLA Corp.  4.10%   3/15/2029   29,229    32,008,436 
Lam Research Corp.  4.875%   3/15/2049   17,958    22,513,945 
Micron Technology, Inc.  5.327%   2/6/2029   25,257    28,978,368 
NVIDIA Corp.  3.20%   9/16/2026   29,939    31,431,820 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 25
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Electronics (continued)                 
Trimble, Inc.  4.75%   12/1/2024  $27,261   $29,442,423 
Xilinx, Inc.  2.95%   6/1/2024   15,096    15,530,345 
Total               191,048,763 
                  
Energy: Exploration & Production 4.42%                 
Apache Corp.  4.25%   1/15/2030   31,384    32,548,527 
Berry Petroleum Co. LLC  7.00%   2/15/2026   18,176    16,887,276 
Callon Petroleum Co.  6.125%   10/1/2024   17,958    18,343,020 
Centennial Resource Production LLC  5.375%   1/15/2026   24,877    24,512,490 
Centennial Resource Production LLC  6.875%   4/1/2027   27,922    29,103,729 
Continental Resources, Inc.  4.90%   6/1/2044   76,782    81,504,209 
Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc.  5.50%   1/30/2026   14,068    14,557,883 
Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc.  5.75%   1/30/2028   15,020    15,817,562 
HighPoint Operating Corp.  7.00%   10/15/2022   17,352    16,533,194 
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co.  5.00%   12/1/2024   19,212    18,633,431 
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co.  5.75%   10/1/2025   15,328    14,990,094 
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co.  6.25%   11/1/2028   21,123    20,126,998 
Hunt Oil Co. of Peru LLC Sucursal Del Peru (Peru)†(e)  6.375%   6/1/2028   23,608    26,041,985 
Indigo Natural Resources LLC  6.875%   2/15/2026   18,004    16,969,220 
Jagged Peak Energy LLC  5.875%   5/1/2026   15,687    16,233,731 
Laredo Petroleum, Inc.  5.625%   1/15/2022   17,160    16,693,454 
MEG Energy Corp. (Canada)†(e)  6.50%   1/15/2025   31,387    32,711,061 
MEG Energy Corp. (Canada)†(e)  7.00%   3/31/2024   33,590    33,869,973 
Murphy Oil Corp.  5.75%   8/15/2025   14,826    15,538,167 
Murphy Oil Corp.  5.875%   12/1/2027   15,253    16,034,716 
Murphy Oil Corp.  6.875%   8/15/2024   10,558    11,160,703 
Noble Energy, Inc.  3.85%   1/15/2028   23,774    25,112,890 
Oasis Petroleum, Inc.  6.25%   5/1/2026   22,968    19,121,434 
Oasis Petroleum, Inc.  6.875%   3/15/2022   16,738    16,152,170 
Oasis Petroleum, Inc.  6.875%   1/15/2023   17,507    17,156,860 
OGX Austria GmbH (Brazil)†(l)  8.50%   6/1/2018   20,000    400 
Parsley Energy LLC/Parsley Finance Corp.  5.625%   10/15/2027   23,096    24,466,748 
SM Energy Co.  6.625%   1/15/2027   17,859    17,594,285 
SM Energy Co.  6.75%   9/15/2026   17,841    17,534,982 
Southwestern Energy Co.  6.20%   1/23/2025   18,882    17,365,587 
SRC Energy, Inc.  6.25%   12/1/2025   23,073    23,303,499 
Texaco Capital, Inc.  8.625%   11/15/2031   11,023    17,442,425 
Tullow Oil plc (United Kingdom)†(e)  7.00%   3/1/2025   19,794    16,712,272 
W&T Offshore, Inc.  9.75%   11/1/2023   4,477    4,281,086 

 

26 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Energy: Exploration & Production (continued)                 
WPX Energy, Inc.  5.25%   10/15/2027  $15,243   $16,109,565 
WPX Energy, Inc.  5.75%   6/1/2026   7,175    7,675,976 
Total               728,841,602 
                  
Environmental 0.08%                 
Waste Pro USA, Inc.  5.50%   2/15/2026   13,381    13,980,770 
                  
Food: Wholesale 1.28%                 
Arcor SAIC (Argentina)†(e)  6.00%   7/6/2023   26,221    25,388,745 
BRF SA (Brazil)†(e)  4.875%   1/24/2030   17,826    18,409,980 
Chobani LLC/Chobani Finance Corp., Inc.  7.50%   4/15/2025   22,234    22,400,533 
FAGE International SA/FAGE USA Dairy Industry, Inc. (Luxembourg)†(e)  5.625%   8/15/2026   18,758    17,310,773 
JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Finance, Inc.  6.75%   2/15/2028   26,953    29,833,198 
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.  4.625%   11/1/2024   12,447    13,235,331 
McCormick & Co., Inc.  4.20%   8/15/2047   21,326    23,498,826 
MHP Lux SA (Luxembourg)†(e)  6.95%   4/3/2026   14,030    14,746,372 
Performance Food Group, Inc.  5.50%   10/15/2027   8,782    9,407,937 
Smithfield Foods, Inc.  5.20%   4/1/2029   32,791    36,348,233 
Total               210,579,928 
                  
Forestry/Paper 0.08%                 
Norbord, Inc. (Canada)†(e)  6.25%   4/15/2023   12,245    13,137,844 
                  
Gaming 1.53%                 
Boyd Gaming Corp.  6.00%   8/15/2026   13,793    14,849,509 
Eldorado Resorts, Inc.  6.00%   4/1/2025   7,234    7,628,868 
Eldorado Resorts, Inc.  6.00%   9/15/2026   13,521    14,915,340 
Everi Payments, Inc.  7.50%   12/15/2025   10,576    11,373,589 
GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc.  5.75%   6/1/2028   18,808    21,398,285 
Jacobs Entertainment, Inc.  7.875%   2/1/2024   7,022    7,463,789 
Las Vegas Sands Corp.  3.90%   8/8/2029   15,210    15,894,664 
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment  7.875%   10/15/2024   16,392    16,767,623 
Penn National Gaming, Inc.  5.625%   1/15/2027   25,676    27,207,637 
Scientific Games International, Inc.  7.00%   5/15/2028   16,124    17,282,509 
Scientific Games International, Inc.  7.25%   11/15/2029   16,014    17,444,851 
Stars Group Holdings BV/Stars Group US Co-Borrower LLC (Netherlands)†(e)  7.00%   7/15/2026   13,242    14,375,515 
Station Casinos LLC  5.00%   10/1/2025   27,359    27,906,180 
Wynn Macau Ltd. (Macau)†(e)  5.125%   12/15/2029   10,324    10,561,555 
Wynn Macau Ltd. (Macau)†(e)  5.50%   10/1/2027   25,695    26,782,477 
Total               251,852,391 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 27
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Gas Distribution 2.20%                 
Buckeye Partners LP  6.375%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 4.02%
)# 1/22/2078  $31,990   $23,630,533 
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC  3.70%   11/15/2029   11,222    11,457,545 
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC  5.125%   6/30/2027   23,796    26,342,886 
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC  5.875%   3/31/2025   14,002    15,773,883 
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC  7.00%   6/30/2024   8,783    10,139,754 
Cheniere Energy Partners LP  4.50%   10/1/2029   31,418    32,343,260 
Dominion Energy Gas Holdings LLC  3.60%   12/15/2024   12,050    12,649,723 
Florida Gas Transmission Co. LLC  4.35%   7/15/2025   18,069    19,479,849 
IFM US Colonial Pipeline 2 LLC  6.45%   5/1/2021   17,675    18,480,454 
Midwest Connector Capital Co. LLC  4.625%   4/1/2029   31,439    34,253,749 
NGPL PipeCo LLC  4.875%   8/15/2027   32,573    34,631,829 
Northern Natural Gas Co.  4.30%   1/15/2049   20,972    23,614,749 
ONE Gas, Inc.  4.50%   11/1/2048   13,497    16,014,388 
Sabal Trail Transmission LLC  4.246%   5/1/2028   20,166    21,993,758 
Southern Star Central Corp.  5.125%   7/15/2022   10,145    10,274,978 
Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.  4.25%   11/15/2023   8,725    8,830,442 
Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.  5.875%   4/15/2026   13,090    13,932,656 
Transportadora de Gas Internacional SA ESP (Colombia)†(e)  5.55%   11/1/2028   24,773    28,404,908 
Total               362,249,344 
                  
Health Facilities 2.13%                 
AHP Health Partners, Inc.  9.75%   7/15/2026   13,727    15,121,629 
Ascension Health  3.945%   11/15/2046   8,881    9,846,151 
Dignity Health  3.812%   11/1/2024   7,500    7,916,357 
HCA, Inc.  5.50%   6/15/2047   50,149    57,570,714 
HCA, Inc.  7.05%   12/1/2027   3,490    4,140,013 
HCA, Inc.  7.50%   2/15/2022   14,639    16,202,152 
HCA, Inc.  7.58%   9/15/2025   5,778    6,962,490 
HCA, Inc.  7.69%   6/15/2025   12,776    15,432,322 
HCA, Inc.  8.36%   4/15/2024   2,295    2,799,900 
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center  4.20%   7/1/2055   28,034    32,462,740 
Mount Sinai Hospitals Group, Inc.  3.737%   7/1/2049   21,163    21,184,240 
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.  5.00%   10/15/2027   14,011    14,887,038 
New York & Presbyterian Hospital (The)  4.063%   8/1/2056   16,078    17,707,730 
NYU Langone Hospitals  4.368%   7/1/2047   12,348    13,935,510 
Providence St. Joseph Health Obligated Group  2.532%   10/1/2029   14,960    14,686,587 
Rede D’or Finance Sarl (Luxembourg)†(e)  4.95%   1/17/2028   14,888    15,436,772 

 

28 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Health Facilities (continued)                 
RegionalCare Hospital Partners Holdings, Inc./LifePoint Health, Inc.  9.75%   12/1/2026  $20,282   $22,969,872 
Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.  10.00%   4/15/2027   6,932    7,627,609 
Tenet Healthcare Corp.  5.125%   5/1/2025   20,960    21,641,200 
Tenet Healthcare Corp.  4.875%   1/1/2026   11,230    11,776,340 
Tenet Healthcare Corp.  6.75%   6/15/2023   19,692    21,676,855 
Total               351,984,221 
                  
Health Services 0.84%                 
DaVita, Inc.  5.00%   5/1/2025   14,587    15,036,790 
Hadrian Merger Sub, Inc.  8.50%   5/1/2026   15,103    15,504,702 
Montefiore Obligated Group  5.246%   11/1/2048   18,042    20,302,109 
MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC  7.125%   6/1/2024   17,490    16,965,125 
NVA Holdings, Inc.  6.875%   4/1/2026   14,735    15,969,056 
Tenet Healthcare Corp.  6.25%   2/1/2027   26,891    28,975,053 
Verscend Escrow Corp.  9.75%   8/15/2026   23,792    26,082,575 
Total               138,835,410 
                  
Hotels 0.40%                 
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc.  4.875%   1/15/2030   14,549    15,447,073 
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc.  5.125%   5/1/2026   25,508    26,919,804 
Wyndham Destinations, Inc.  5.75%   4/1/2027   8,665    9,426,199 
Wyndham Destinations, Inc.  6.35%   10/1/2025   12,105    13,502,099 
Total               65,295,175 
                  
Insurance Brokerage 0.20%                 
Farmers Insurance Exchange  4.747%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 3.23%
)# 11/1/2057   15,790    16,509,708 
HUB International Ltd.  7.00%   5/1/2026   14,796    15,684,130 
Total               32,193,838 
                  
Integrated Energy 1.66%                 
Cenovus Energy, Inc. (Canada)(e)  5.40%   6/15/2047   70,023    81,710,418 
Cheniere Energy Partners LP  5.25%   10/1/2025   13,080    13,663,107 
Cheniere Energy Partners LP  5.625%   10/1/2026   22,487    23,822,143 
Exxon Mobil Corp.  3.043%   3/1/2026   23,752    24,914,370 
Hess Corp.  5.60%   2/15/2041   33,949    39,736,116 
Hess Corp.  5.80%   4/1/2047   25,860    31,630,445 
Rio Oil Finance Trust Series 2018–1 (Brazil)†(e)  8.20%   4/6/2028   13,958    16,161,375 
Shell International Finance BV (Netherlands)(e)  6.375%   12/15/2038   28,912    42,158,532 
Total               273,796,506 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 29
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Investments & Miscellaneous Financial Services 0.75%                  
AI Candelaria Spain SLU (Spain)†(e)  7.50%   12/15/2028  $14,296   $16,070,098 
Global Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd. PIK 7.25%  6.50%   9/15/2024   28,007    29,293,922 
MDGH - GMTN BV (Netherlands)†(e)  3.70%   11/7/2049   25,944    27,035,594 
Neuberger Berman Group LLC/Neuberger Berman Finance Corp.  4.875%   4/15/2045   26,876    27,612,991 
Power Finance Corp. Ltd. (India)†(e)  6.15%   12/6/2028   20,132    23,242,899 
Total               123,255,504 
                  
Life Insurance 0.45%                 
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. (The)  3.85%   9/30/2047   28,610    30,106,204 
Nuveen Finance LLC  4.125%   11/1/2024   7,927    8,612,059 
Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America  4.27%   5/15/2047   17,804    20,216,303 
Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America  4.90%   9/15/2044   12,705    15,602,327 
Total               74,536,893 
                  
Machinery 0.28%                 
Itron, Inc.  5.00%   1/15/2026   14,399    14,961,965 
Roper Technologies, Inc.  4.20%   9/15/2028   19,379    21,229,771 
Xylem, Inc.  3.25%   11/1/2026   8,884    9,196,540 
Total               45,388,276 
                  
Managed Care 0.65%                 
Centene Corp.  4.25%   12/15/2027   17,954    18,503,392 
Centene Corp.  4.625%   12/15/2029   16,030    16,922,871 
Centene Corp.  4.75%   1/15/2025   8,928    9,292,396 
Centene Corp.  5.375%   6/1/2026   20,972    22,295,333 
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals  4.15%   5/1/2047   17,628    20,124,926 
Molina Healthcare, Inc.  4.875%   6/15/2025   19,176    19,759,238 
Total               106,898,156 
                  
Media: Content 1.61%                 
AMC Networks, Inc.  4.75%   8/1/2025   27,032    27,189,732 
Diamond Sports Group LLC/Diamond Sports Finance Co.  5.375%   8/15/2026   21,419    21,706,571 
Diamond Sports Group LLC/Diamond Sports Finance Co.  6.625%   8/15/2027   32,729    31,889,501 
Gray Television, Inc.  5.875%   7/15/2026   9,833    10,478,045 
Netflix, Inc.(d)  3.625%   5/15/2027  EUR 45,197    54,427,286 
Netflix, Inc.†(d)  3.625%   6/15/2030  EUR 13,504    15,620,794 

 

30 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Media: Content (continued)                 
Netflix, Inc.†(d)  3.875%   11/15/2029  EUR 9,011   $10,726,731 
Netflix, Inc.  4.875%   4/15/2028  $24,655    25,671,402 
Netflix, Inc.  5.50%   2/15/2022   5,323    5,649,034 
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.  5.625%   7/15/2027   21,469    22,663,750 
Sirius XM Radio, Inc.  5.00%   8/1/2027   11,533    12,188,651 
Sirius XM Radio, Inc.  5.375%   7/15/2026   10,495    11,174,158 
Univision Communications, Inc.  5.125%   2/15/2025   15,550    15,413,937 
Total               264,799,592 
                  
Media: Diversified 0.24%                 
Cable Onda SA (Panama)†(e)  4.50%   1/30/2030   15,483    16,332,243 
TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp.  2.35%   12/1/2022   22,526    22,862,925 
Total               39,195,168 
                  
Medical Products 0.42%                 
Boston Scientific Corp.  7.00%   11/15/2035   16,135    22,733,709 
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.  4.30%   6/15/2028   27,927    31,040,932 
Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc./Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics SA  6.625%   5/15/2022   15,437    15,379,011 
Total               69,153,652 
                  
Metals/Mining (Excluding Steel) 0.96%                 
Baffinland Iron Mines Corp./Baffinland Iron Mines LP (Canada)†(e)  8.75%   7/15/2026   18,211    18,381,273 
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.  3.875%   3/15/2023   65,271    66,596,980 
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.  5.25%   9/1/2029   11,700    12,555,855 
Industrias Penoles SAB de CV (Mexico)†(e)  4.15%   9/12/2029   15,090    15,623,394 
Industrias Penoles SAB de CV (Mexico)†(e)  5.65%   9/12/2049   7,751    8,289,811 
Mirabela Nickel Ltd. (Australia)(e)  1.00%   9/10/2044   185    19(f) 
Novelis Corp.  5.875%   9/30/2026   8,892    9,482,673 
Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp.  7.25%   4/1/2025   13,954    13,596,917 
Warrior Met Coal, Inc.  8.00%   11/1/2024   12,995    13,198,047 
Total               157,724,969 
                  
Monoline Insurance 0.08%                 
MGIC Investment Corp.  5.75%   8/15/2023   11,820    13,095,555 
                  
Multi-Line Insurance 0.09%                 
Assurant, Inc.  3.70%   2/22/2030   14,558    14,768,434 
                  
Non-Electric Utilities 0.07%                 
Brooklyn Union Gas Co. (The)  3.407%   3/10/2026   11,916    12,389,392 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 31
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Oil Field Equipment & Services 0.71%                
Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline LLC (United Arab Emirates)†(e)  4.60%  11/2/2047  $28,472   $32,974,135 
Oceaneering International, Inc.  4.65%  11/15/2024   11,763    11,557,147 
Oceaneering International, Inc.  6.00%  2/1/2028   25,383    24,947,618 
Transocean Phoenix 2 Ltd.  7.75%  10/15/2024   6,547    6,959,011 
Transocean Pontus Ltd.  6.125%  8/1/2025   16,438    16,890,189 
Transocean Proteus Ltd.  6.25%  12/1/2024   9,275    9,580,287 
Transocean, Inc.  6.80%  3/15/2038   21,044    14,995,954 
Total              117,904,341 
                 
Oil Refining & Marketing 0.95%                
Citgo Holding, Inc.  9.25%  8/1/2024   21,838    23,475,850 
Phillips 66 Partners LP  2.45%  12/15/2024   17,951    17,969,676 
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Arabia)†(e)  2.75%  4/16/2022   41,446    41,905,895 
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Arabia)†(e)  4.375%  4/16/2049   66,832    72,971,240 
Total              156,322,661 
                 
Packaging 0.36%                
Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.  7.375%  12/15/2026   11,810    14,058,004 
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co.  7.25%  4/15/2025   24,443    24,198,326 
Sealed Air Corp.  6.875%  7/15/2033   12,427    14,699,246 
Trivium Packaging Finance BV (Netherlands)†(e)  5.50%  8/15/2026   6,566    6,931,227 
Total              59,886,803 
                 
Personal & Household Products 1.21%                
Coty, Inc.  6.50%  4/15/2026   19,236    20,294,461 
Energizer Holdings, Inc.  6.375%  7/15/2026   14,566    15,539,737 
Hasbro, Inc.  3.90%  11/19/2029   44,903    45,262,310 
Hasbro, Inc.  5.10%  5/15/2044   24,241    24,080,480 
Mattel, Inc.  6.75%  12/31/2025   14,059    15,139,926 
Newell Brands, Inc.  4.20%  4/1/2026   61,643    64,268,926 
SC Johnson & Son, Inc.  4.75%  10/15/2046   12,635    15,400,978 
Total              199,986,818 
                 
Pharmaceuticals 0.74%                
AbbVie, Inc.  3.20%  11/21/2029   26,942    27,425,182 
AbbVie, Inc.  4.25%  11/21/2049   14,179    14,986,340 
Bausch Health Americas, Inc.  8.50%  1/31/2027   18,551    21,160,198 
Bausch Health Cos, Inc.  5.00%  1/30/2028   8,405    8,647,820 
Bausch Health Cos, Inc.  5.25%  1/30/2030   10,346    10,754,667 
Bausch Health Cos., Inc.  5.875%  5/15/2023   2,568    2,592,075 

 

32 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Pharmaceuticals (continued)                
Bausch Health Cos., Inc.  6.125%  4/15/2025  $8,609   $8,913,027 
Bausch Health Cos., Inc.  7.00%  3/15/2024   12,232    12,746,784 
Zoetis, Inc.  3.90%  8/20/2028   13,486    14,627,538 
Total              121,853,631 
                 
Property & Casualty 0.31%                
Allstate Corp. (The)  3.28%  12/15/2026   13,471    14,228,511 
Arch Capital Finance LLC  4.011%  12/15/2026   13,319    14,625,825 
Selective Insurance Group, Inc.  5.375%  3/1/2049   19,241    22,864,870 
Total              51,719,206 
                 
Rail 0.40%                
Central Japan Railway Co. (Japan)†(e)  4.25%  11/24/2045   17,006    19,455,956 
China Railway Xunjie Co. Ltd. (China)(e)  3.25%  7/28/2026   13,800    13,936,271 
Rumo Luxembourg Sarl (Luxembourg)†(e)  5.875%  1/18/2025   20,674    22,215,970 
Watco Cos. LLC/Watco Finance Corp.  6.375%  4/1/2023   10,514    10,702,358 
Total              66,310,555 
                 
Real Estate Development & Management 0.15%                
Ontario Teachers’ Cadillac Fairview Properties Trust (Canada)†(e)  3.875%  3/20/2027   23,275    24,902,168 
                 
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1.79%                
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.  3.80%  4/15/2026   6,288    6,721,215 
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.  3.95%  1/15/2028   14,750    15,842,678 
Brixmor Operating Partnership LP  4.125%  5/15/2029   24,245    26,034,841 
EPR Properties  3.75%  8/15/2029   22,440    22,744,513 
EPR Properties  4.50%  6/1/2027   13,546    14,543,819 
EPR Properties  4.75%  12/15/2026   4,570    4,994,086 
EPR Properties  4.95%  4/15/2028   3,831    4,184,674 
Goodman US Finance Four LLC  4.50%  10/15/2037   12,258    13,181,181 
Goodman US Finance Three LLC  3.70%  3/15/2028   7,763    7,968,726 
Hudson Pacific Properties LP  3.25%  1/15/2030   35,901    35,711,130 
Hudson Pacific Properties LP  3.95%  11/1/2027   20,493    21,457,483 
Hudson Pacific Properties LP  4.65%  4/1/2029   8,167    8,986,444 
Liberty Property LP  4.375%  2/1/2029   12,550    14,279,799 
National Retail Properties, Inc.  4.30%  10/15/2028   20,243    22,393,600 
Prologis LP  3.875%  9/15/2028   8,980    9,903,458 
Spirit Realty LP  3.40%  1/15/2030   32,060    32,221,188 
Spirit Realty LP  4.00%  7/15/2029   14,692    15,469,944 
VEREIT Operating Partnership LP  4.875%  6/1/2026   17,065    18,900,755 
Total              295,539,534 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 33
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Recreation & Travel 0.25%                
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.  7.50%  10/15/2027  $16,918   $21,462,288 
Silversea Cruise Finance Ltd.  7.25%  2/1/2025   18,091    19,183,968 
Total              40,646,256 
                 
Reinsurance 0.57%                
AXIS Specialty Finance plc (United Kingdom)(e)  5.15%  4/1/2045   21,094    23,027,348 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.  2.75%  3/15/2023   7,903    8,103,738 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.  3.125%  3/15/2026   7,903    8,328,112 
PartnerRe Finance B LLC  3.70%  7/2/2029   26,944    28,024,980 
Transatlantic Holdings, Inc.  8.00%  11/30/2039   17,809    26,484,505 
Total              93,968,683 
                 
Restaurants 0.77%                
Darden Restaurants, Inc.  4.55%  2/15/2048   13,481    13,661,837 
IRB Holding Corp.  6.75%  2/15/2026   19,277    20,247,549 
KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC  4.75%  6/1/2027   25,312    26,699,667 
KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC  5.00%  6/1/2024   20,332    21,111,427 
Starbucks Corp.  4.45%  8/15/2049   39,350    45,568,432 
Total              127,288,912 
                 
Software/Services 1.76%                
Autodesk, Inc.  3.50%  6/15/2027   27,008    28,308,457 
Global Payments, Inc.  4.15%  8/15/2049   22,442    24,036,070 
Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC/GD Finance Co., Inc.  5.25%  12/1/2027   11,226    11,836,133 
j2 Cloud Services LLC/j2 Global Co-Obligor, Inc.  6.00%  7/15/2025   13,134    13,949,425 
Match Group, Inc.  5.00%  12/15/2027   22,260    23,269,435 
Microsoft Corp.  3.125%  11/3/2025   40,202    42,550,943 
Microsoft Corp.  3.30%  2/6/2027   26,383    28,200,308 
salesforce.com, Inc.  3.70%  4/11/2028   17,807    19,527,095 
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (China)†(e)  3.595%  1/19/2028   19,777    20,655,235 
Tencent Holdings Ltd. (China)†(e)  3.925%  1/19/2038   23,479    24,770,787 
VeriSign, Inc.  4.75%  7/15/2027   19,596    20,710,033 
VeriSign, Inc.  5.25%  4/1/2025   15,945    17,609,578 
Visa, Inc.  3.15%  12/14/2025   14,645    15,478,150 
Total              290,901,649 
                 
Specialty Retail 0.89%                
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.  6.00%  12/15/2024   13,310    13,770,326 
Best Buy Co., Inc.  4.45%  10/1/2028   18,906    20,740,463 

 

34 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Specialty Retail (continued)                
Murphy Oil USA, Inc.  4.75%  9/15/2029  $14,991   $15,859,279 
PetSmart, Inc.  5.875%  6/1/2025   15,768    16,103,070 
PetSmart, Inc.  7.125%  3/15/2023   17,395    17,090,588 
Tiffany & Co.  4.90%  10/1/2044   24,318    31,712,716 
Under Armour, Inc.  3.25%  6/15/2026   16,094    15,657,834 
WW International, Inc.  8.625%  12/1/2025   14,318    15,227,694 
Total              146,161,970 
                 
Steel Producers/Products 0.26%                
Allegheny Technologies, Inc.  7.875%  8/15/2023   17,595    19,757,689 
CSN Resources SA (Brazil)†(e)  7.625%  4/17/2026   15,335    16,360,068 
Joseph T Ryerson & Son, Inc.  11.00%  5/15/2022   6,884    7,279,782 
Total              43,397,539 
                 
Support: Services 2.06%                
Ahern Rentals, Inc.  7.375%  5/15/2023   14,275    11,354,549 
Aircastle Ltd.  4.25%  6/15/2026   14,970    15,848,206 
Ashtead Capital, Inc.  4.25%  11/1/2029   17,986    18,413,167 
Ashtead Capital, Inc.  4.375%  8/15/2027   15,655    16,267,071 
Ashtead Capital, Inc.  5.25%  8/1/2026   4,327    4,642,211 
Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc.  8.50%  7/15/2025   19,863    20,409,034 
Brink’s Co. (The)  4.625%  10/15/2027   27,980    28,884,384 
Cleveland Clinic Foundation (The)  4.858%  1/1/2114   8,223    10,242,713 
Cloud Crane LLC  10.125%  8/1/2024   9,910    10,426,162 
IHS Markit Ltd. (United Kingdom)†(e)  4.00%  3/1/2026   29,435    31,092,485 
IHS Markit Ltd. (United Kingdom)(e)  4.25%  5/1/2029   6,511    7,024,523 
IHS Markit Ltd. (United Kingdom)(e)  4.75%  8/1/2028   21,574    24,078,472 
Marble II Pte Ltd. (Singapore)†(e)  5.30%  6/20/2022   15,805    16,026,229 
Metropolitan Museum of Art (The)  3.40%  7/1/2045   26,471    27,294,644 
Ritchie Bros Auctioneers, Inc. (Canada)†(e)  5.375%  1/15/2025   13,118    13,702,866 
United Rentals North America, Inc.  4.625%  10/15/2025   11,437    11,782,226 
United Rentals North America, Inc.  4.875%  1/15/2028   21,596    22,526,356 
United Rentals North America, Inc.  5.875%  9/15/2026   6,713    7,218,321 
WeWork Cos., Inc.  7.875%  5/1/2025   50,858    42,084,486 
Total              339,318,105 
                 
Technology Hardware & Equipment 0.73%                
Apple, Inc.  1.80%  9/11/2024   22,440    22,295,699 
Apple, Inc.  3.00%  6/20/2027   26,927    28,218,380 
CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.  5.50%  12/1/2024   15,000    16,681,275 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 35
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Technology Hardware & Equipment (continued)             
Motorola Solutions, Inc.  4.60%  5/23/2029  $17,963   $19,599,134 
Western Digital Corp.  4.75%  2/15/2026   32,314    33,747,934 
Total              120,542,422 
                 
Telecommunications: Satellite 0.56%                
Connect Finco SARL/Connect US Finco LLC (Luxembourg)†(e)  6.75%  10/1/2026   29,167    31,099,314 
Hughes Satellite Systems Corp.  5.25%  8/1/2026   21,000    23,107,298 
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg)(e)  5.50%  8/1/2023   18,729    16,128,010 
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA (Luxembourg)†(e)  8.50%  10/15/2024   24,163    22,058,765 
Total              92,393,387 
                 
Telecommunications: Wireless 0.49%                
Sprint Capital Corp.  6.875%  11/15/2028   58,473    63,112,833 
T-Mobile USA, Inc.  6.50%  1/15/2026   16,855    18,103,281 
Total              81,216,114 
                 
Telecommunications: Wireline Integrated & Services 1.44%                
Altice Financing SA (Luxembourg)†(e)  7.50%  5/15/2026   27,191    29,280,628 
Altice France SA (France)†(e)  7.375%  5/1/2026   46,103    49,583,315 
DKT Finance ApS (Denmark)†(e)  9.375%  6/17/2023   19,351    20,646,549 
Equinix, Inc.(d)  2.875%  2/1/2026  EUR 37,001    43,139,320 
GCI LLC  6.875%  4/15/2025  $13,026    13,650,141 
Hellas Telecommunications Luxembourg II SCA (Luxembourg)†(e)(l)  6.054%
(3 Mo. LIBOR + 5.75%
) 1/15/2015   15,000    1,500(f) 
Motorola Solutions, Inc.  4.60%  2/23/2028   13,419    14,553,288 
Verizon Communications, Inc.  2.625%  8/15/2026   64,987    65,983,298 
Total              236,838,039 
                 
Transportation: Infrastructure/Services 0.96%                
Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. (India)†(e)  4.375%  7/3/2029   26,364    27,345,161 
Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen SA (Panama)†(e)  6.00%  11/18/2048   22,350    27,763,058 
Autopistas del Sol SA (Costa Rica)†(e)  7.375%  12/30/2030   12,055    12,270,674 
Autoridad del Canal de Panama (Panama)†(e)  4.95%  7/29/2035   8,750    10,223,894 
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.  4.20%  4/15/2028   20,351    22,213,795 
Mersin Uluslararasi Liman Isletmeciligi AS (Turkey)†(e)  5.375%  11/15/2024   22,508    23,223,578 
Promontoria Holding 264 BV†(d)  6.75%  8/15/2023  EUR 15,051    15,164,891 
Stena AB (Sweden)†(e)  7.00%  2/1/2024  $18,962    19,680,944 
Total              157,885,995 
Total High Yield Corporate Bonds (cost $10,098,181,706)           10,632,464,551 

 

36 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
MUNICIPAL BONDS 3.83%                
                 
Air Transportation 0.29%                
CT Airport Auth - Ground Trans Proj  4.282%  7/1/2045  $4,265   $4,525,847 
Los Angeles, CA  5.575%  5/15/2020   9,340    9,466,557 
Miami Dade Cnty, FL  3.982%  10/1/2041   13,915    14,528,373 
Miami-Dade Cnty, FL  4.28%  10/1/2041   18,040    19,328,778 
Total              47,849,555 
                 
Education 0.90%                
California State University  3.899%  11/1/2047   33,030    36,195,595 
Ohio Univ  5.59%  12/1/2114   11,104    14,345,924 
Permanent University Fund - Texas A&M University System  3.66%  7/1/2047   78,015    79,855,374 
Univ of California Bd of Regents  6.548%  5/15/2048   12,463    18,019,878 
Total              148,416,771 
                 
General Obligation 1.22%                
California  7.55%  4/1/2039   15,015    24,113,489 
Chicago Transit Auth, IL  6.899%  12/1/2040   11,826    15,991,472 
Chicago, IL  5.432%  1/1/2042   22,392    23,146,610 
Chicago, IL  6.314%  1/1/2044   22,402    25,495,716 
City of Portland  7.701%  6/1/2022   16,940    18,357,031 
District of Columbia  5.591%  12/1/2034   14,130    17,516,113 
Honolulu HI City & Cnty,  5.418%  12/1/2027   6,620    8,076,003 
Los Angeles Unif Sch Dist, CA  5.75%  7/1/2034   12,497    16,019,280 
Massachusetts  4.20%  12/1/2021   6,620    6,821,116 
New York City  5.985%  12/1/2036   10,161    13,206,150 
Ohio St Univ  4.048%  12/1/2056   6,271    7,253,854 
Pennsylvania  5.45%  2/15/2030   12,190    14,651,039 
The Bd of Governors of the Univ of North Carolina  3.847%  12/1/2034   9,595    10,845,612 
Total              201,493,485 
                 
Government Guaranteed 0.03%                
City & County of San Francisco CA  5.45%  6/15/2025   4,540    5,282,381 
                 
Lease Obligation 0.05%                
Wisconsin  3.294%  5/1/2037   7,145    7,412,580 
                 
Miscellaneous 0.57%                
Dallas Convention Center Hotel Dev Corp., TX  7.088%  1/1/2042   17,795    24,722,771 
New York City Indl Dev Agy  11.00%  3/1/2029   21,058    28,106,113 
Pasadena Public Fing Auth  7.148%  3/1/2043   26,795    41,008,140 
Total              93,837,024 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 37
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
Tax Revenue 0.36%                
Massachusetts Sch Bldg Auth  5.715%  8/15/2039  $20,055   $26,504,086 
Memphis-Shelby County Industrial Development Board, TN  7.00%  7/1/2045   12,890    13,934,219 
San Jose Redev Agy, CA  2.259%  8/1/2020   19,600    19,654,684 
Total              60,092,989 
                 
Transportation 0.07%                
Foothill-Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency  4.094%  1/15/2049   10,790    10,790,000 
                 
Transportation: Infrastructure/Services 0.23%                
Chicago Transit Auth, IL  6.20%  12/1/2040   12,385    16,225,712 
Port of Seattle, WA  3.571%  5/1/2032   7,305    7,521,447 
Port of Seattle, WA  3.755%  5/1/2036   13,905    14,405,024 
Total              38,152,183 
                 
Utilities 0.11%                
San Antonio, TX  5.718%  2/1/2041   13,240    17,640,447 
Total Municipal Bonds (cost $591,044,372)              630,967,415 
                 
NON-AGENCY COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES 1.75%             
BBCMS Mortgage Trust 2019-BWAY A  2.696%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + .96%
)# 11/25/2034   25,000    24,906,183 
Benchmark Mortgage Trust 2019-B12 WMA  4.246%#(m) 8/15/2052   35,544    35,611,178(a) 
BX Trust 2019-OC11 A  3.202%  12/9/2041   31,182    32,150,457 
BX Trust 2019-OC11 E  4.076%  12/9/2041   27,936    27,129,597 
CF Trust 2019-BOSS A1  4.953%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 3.25%
)# 12/15/2021   18,200    18,231,646(a) 
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust 2016-P3 D  2.804%#(m) 4/15/2049   9,991    8,739,720 
CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust 2019-C18 AS  3.321%  12/15/2052   17,548    17,781,379 
Great Wolf Trust 2019-WOLF A  2.756%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.03%
)# 12/15/2036   39,981    39,868,513 
Great Wolf Trust 2019-WOLF E  4.454%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.73%
)# 12/15/2036   32,620    32,651,022 
PFP Ltd. 2019–6 A  2.964%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 1.05%
)# 4/14/2037   25,000    25,007,542 
PFP Ltd. 2019–6 C  4.014%
(1 Mo. LIBOR + 2.10%
)# 4/14/2037   27,054    27,078,322 
Total Non-Agency Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $288,877,471)       289,155,559 
                   
   Dividend
Rate
     Shares
(000)
     
PREFERRED STOCK 0.00%               
                
Energy: Exploration & Production               
Templar Energy LLC
(cost $3,864,293)
  Zero Coupon       410    (a)

 

38 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
  Principal
Amount
(000)
   Fair
Value
 
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS 4.16%                 
U.S. Treasury Bond  2.25%  8/15/2049   $66,506   $64,460,049 
U.S. Treasury Bond  2.375%  11/15/2049    58,294    58,047,896 
U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Note(n)  0.50%  4/15/2024    324,478    329,775,644 
U.S. Treasury Note  2.75%  8/31/2023    225,720    234,426,930 
Total U.S. Treasury Obligations (cost $689,096,606)            686,710,519 
                  
   Exercise
Price
  Expiration
Date
   Shares
(000)
      
WARRANT 0.00%                 
                  
Personal & Household Products                 
Remington Outdoor Co., Inc.
(cost $871,457)
  $35.05  5/15/2022    165    1,651(f) 
Total Long-Term Investments (cost $16,976,783,489)            17,602,173,112 
                  
   Interest
Rate
  Maturity
Date
   Principal
Amount
(000)
      
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 3.79%                 
                  
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OBLIGATION 1.82%              
                  
Japan                 
Japan Treasury Discount Bill(d)
(cost $305,383,252)
  Zero Coupon  1/8/2020   JPY 32,625,800      300,276,441 
                     
HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND 0.45%                 
                  
Diversified Capital Goods                 
GE Capital International Funding Co. Unlimited Co. (Ireland)(e)
(cost $74,047,913)
  2.342%  11/15/2020   $74,048    74,119,404 
                  
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS 1.52%                 
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/2019, 1.50% due 1/2/2020 with JPMorgan Chase & Co. collateralized by $134,380,000 of U.S. Treasury Note at 2.625% due 2/28/2023; value: $139,697,055; proceeds: $137,011,417          137,000    137,000,000 
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/2019, 1.50% due 1/2/2020 with Toronto Dominion Grand Cayman collateralized by $106,860,000 of U.S. Treasury Note at 2.875% due 8/15/2028; value: $116,352,173; proceeds: $113,009,417          113,000    113,000,000 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 39
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Investments  Fair
Value
 
Total Repurchase Agreements (cost $250,000,000)  $250,000,000 
Total Short-Term Investments (cost $629,431,165)   624,395,845 
Total Investments in Securities 110.56% (cost $17,606,214,654)   18,226,568,957 
Less Unfunded Loan Commitments (0.04%) (cost $5,614,214)   (5,598,502)
Net Investments 110.52% (cost $17,600,600,440)   18,220,970,455 
Liabilities in Excess of Cash and Other Assets(o) (10.52%)   (1,734,838,987)
Net Assets 100.00%  $16,486,131,468 

 

AUD Australian dollar.
BRL Brazilian real.
CAD Canadian dollar.
DKK Danish Krone.
EUR Euro.
GBP British pound.
HKD Hong Kong dollar.
JPY Japanese yen.
ADR American Depositary Receipt.
CMT Constant Maturity Rate.
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate.
PIK Payment-in-kind.
Units More than one class of securities traded together.
  Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and, unless registered under such Act or exempted from registration, may only be resold to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2019, the total value of Rule 144A securities was $6,464,549,277, which represents 39.21% of net assets.
#   Variable rate security. The interest rate represents the rate in effect at December 31, 2019.
*   Non-income producing security.
(a)   Level 3 Investment as described in Note 2(p) in the Notes to Financials. Security valued utilizing third party pricing information without adjustment. Such valuations are based on unobservable inputs. A significant change in third party information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 investments.
(b)   Securities purchased on a when-issued basis (See Note 2(l)).
(c)   Variable Rate is Fixed to Float: Rate remains fixed until designated future date.
(d)   Investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities.
(e)   Foreign security traded in U.S. dollars.
(f)   Level 3 Investment as described in Note 2(p) in the Notes to Financials. Security fair valued by the Pricing Committee.
(g)   Floating Rate Loans in which the Fund invests generally pay interest at rates which are periodically re-determined at a margin above the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rate offered by major U.S. banks. The rate(s) shown is the rate(s) in effect at December 31, 2019.
(h)   Level 3 Investment as described in Note 2(p) in the Notes to Financials. Floating Rate Loans categorized as Level 3 are valued based on a single quotation obtained from a dealer. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America do not require the Fund to create quantitative unobservable inputs that were not developed by the Fund. Therefore, the Fund does not have access to unobservable inputs and cannot disclose such inputs in the valuation.
(i)   Interest rate to be determined.
(j)   To-be-announced (“TBA”). Security purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal and maturity date. Actual principal and maturity will be determined upon settlement when the specific mortgage pools are assigned.
(k)   Security is perpetual in nature and has no stated maturity.
(l)   Defaulted (non-income producing security).
(m)   Interest rate is based on the weighted average interest rates of the underlying mortgages within the mortgage pool.

 

40 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

(n)   Treasury Inflation Protected Security. A U.S. Treasury Note or Bond that offers protection from inflation by paying a fixed rate of interest on principal amount that is adjusted for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index.
(o)   Liabilities in Excess of Cash and Other Assets include net unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures contracts and swaps as follows:

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps on Indexes - Buy Protection at December 31, 2019(1)

 

Referenced
Index*
  Central
Clearing Party
  Fund Pays
(Quarterly)
  Termination
Date
  Notional
Amount
   Notional
Value
   Payments
Upfront(2)
 Unrealized
Depreciation(3)
 
Markit CDX. NA.IG.33(4)(5)  Credit Suisse  1.00%  12/20/2024   $693,604,000    $711,590,788   $(13,851,509)   $(4,135,279)
Markit CDX. NA.EM.32(4)(6)  Credit Suisse  1.00%  12/20/2024   86,700,000    83,786,212    4,244,538    (1,330,750)
                      $(9,606,971)   $(5,466,029)

 

(1)   If the Fund is a buyer of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities.
(2)   Upfront payments received by Central Clearing Party are presented net of amortization.
(3)   Total unrealized appreciation on Credit Default Swaps on Indexes amounted to $0. Total unrealized depreciation on Credit Default Swaps on Indexes amounted to $5,466,029.
(4)   Central Clearinghouse: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).
(5)   The Referenced Index is for the Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps on Indexes, which is comprised of a basket of investment grade securities.
(6)   The Referenced Index is for the Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swaps on Indexes, which is comprised of a basket of emerging markets sovereign issuers.

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 41
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Credit Default Swaps on Indexes - Sell Protection at December 31, 2019(1):

 

Referenced
Index/Issuer
  Swap
Counterparty
  Fund
Receives
(Quarterly)
  Termination
Date
  Notional
Amount
   Notional
Value
   Payments
Upfront(2)
 Unrealized
Appreciation(3)
 Credit
Default
Swap
Agreements
Payable at
Fair Value(4)
 
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.9*  Credit Suisse  3.00%  9/17/2058  $22,888,000   $22,752,556   $(1,623,180)  $1,487,736   $(135,444)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.10*  Credit Suisse  3.00%  11/17/2059   50,333,000    50,208,977    (2,981,455)   2,857,432    (124,023)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.9*  Deutsche Bank  3.00%  9/17/2058   36,637,000    36,420,195    (2,598,236)   2,381,431    (216,805)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.10*  Deutsche Bank  3.00%  11/17/2059   9,149,000    9,126,457    (541,937)   519,394    (22,543)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.11*  Deutsche Bank  3.00%  11/18/2054   9,162,000    9,028,494    (410,210)   276,704    (133,506)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.9*  Goldman Sachs  3.00%  9/17/2058   13,539,000    13,458,882    (960,164)   880,045    (80,119)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.10*  Goldman Sachs  3.00%  11/17/2059   38,427,000    38,332,314    (2,276,208)   2,181,522    (94,686)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.9*  Morgan Stanley  3.00%  9/17/2058   50,783,000    50,482,486    (3,601,445)   3,300,931    (300,514)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.10*  Morgan Stanley  3.00%  11/17/2059   65,947,000    65,784,504    (3,906,344)   3,743,848    (162,496)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.11*  Morgan Stanley  3.00%  11/18/2054   77,122,000    75,998,200    (3,452,985)   2,329,185    (1,123,800)
Markit CMBX. NA.BBB.11*  J.P. Morgan Chase  3.00%  11/18/2054   4,607,000    4,539,868    (206,269)   139,137    (67,132)
Tesla  J.P. Morgan Chase  1.00%  6/20/2020   15,704,000    15,700,628    (312,034)   308,662    (3,372)
                      $(22,870,467)  $20,406,027   $(2,464,440)

 

*   The Referenced Index is for Credit Default Swaps on Indexes, which comprised of a basket of commercial mortgage backed securities.
(1)   If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities.
(2)   Upfront payments received are presented net of amortization.
(3)   Total unrealized appreciation on Credit Default Swaps on Indexes/Issuers amounted to $20,406,027. Total unrealized depreciation on Credit Default Swaps on Indexes/Issuers amounted to $0.
(4)   Includes upfront payments received.

 

42 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

Open Futures Contracts at December 31, 2019:

 

Type  Expiration  Contracts   Position  Notional
Amount
   Notional
Value
 Unrealized
Appreciation
 
Euro-Bobl  March 2020   48   Short  EUR (6,449,675)   EUR(6,414,240)  $39,747 
U.S. 10-Year Ultra Treasury Note  March 2020   4,709   Short  $(670,067,127)  $(662,571,016)   7,496,111 
U.S. Long Bond  March 2020   7,157   Short   (1,137,396,280)   (1,115,821,032)   21,575,248 
U.S. Ultra Treasury Bond  March 2020   5,753   Short   (1,082,699,815)   (1,045,068,406)   37,631,409 
Total Unrealized Appreciation on Open Futures Contracts              $66,742,515 
                           
Type  Expiration   Contracts    Position  Notional
Amount
   Notional
Value
 Unrealized
Depreciation
 
U.S. 10-Year Treasury Note  March 2020   138   Long  $17,907,731   $17,722,219      $(185,512)
U.S. 2-Year Treasury Note  March 2020   19,581   Long   4,221,729,978    4,219,705,500    (2,024,478)
U.S. 5-Year Treasury Note  March 2020   8,745   Long   1,041,080,620    1,037,238,984    (3,841,636)
Total Unrealized Depreciation on Open Futures Contracts            $(6,051,626)

 

Open Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts at December 31, 2019:

 

Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
  Transaction
Type
  Counterparty  Expiration
Date
  Foreign
Currency
 U.S. $
Cost on
Origination
Date
 U.S. $
Current
Value
 Unrealized
Appreciation
 
Euro  Buy  Barclays Bank plc  3/9/2020   13,126,000   $14,670,859    $14,784,169    $113,310 
Japanese yen  Sell  Bank of America  1/8/2020   32,429,000,000    305,509,419    298,476,122    7,033,297 
Unrealized Appreciation on Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts            $7,146,607 
                              
Forward
Foreign
Currency
Exchange
Contracts
  Transaction
Type
  Counterparty  Expiration
Date
   Foreign
Currency
 U.S. $
Cost on
Origination
Date
 U.S. $
Current
Value
 Unrealized
Depreciation
 
Australian dollar  Sell  State Street Bank and Trust  2/24/2020   41,000,000   $27,935,916   $28,808,843       $(872,927)
Danish krone  Sell  State Street Bank and Trust  3/13/2020   115,539,000    17,266,961    17,427,439    (160,478)
Euro  Sell  Toronto Dominion Bank  3/9/2020   168,000,000    187,594,008    189,222,940    (1,628,932)
Euro  Sell  Morgan Stanley  3/9/2020   9,715,000    10,859,187    10,942,267    (83,080)
Euro  Sell  State Street Bank and Trust  3/9/2020   5,050,000    5,620,304    5,687,951    (67,647)
British pound  Sell  State Street Bank and Trust  3/5/2020   13,392,000    17,465,576    17,769,453    (303,877)
Japanese yen  Sell  Standard Chartered Bank  1/8/2020   177,371,000    1,621,575    1,632,521    (10,946)
Unrealized Depreciation on Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts            $(3,127,887)

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 43
 

Schedule of Investments (continued)

December 31, 2019

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2019 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at fair value(1):

 

Investment Type(2)  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Long-Term Investments                    
Asset-Backed Securities                    
Other  $   $457,847,895   $10,441,539   $468,289,434 
Remaining Industries       37,369,249        37,369,249 
Common Stocks                    
Auto Parts & Equipment       6,070,570        6,070,570 
Beverages   26,909,438    17,328,235        44,237,673 
Energy: Exploration & Production   36,471,660        33,346    36,505,006 
Electric: Integrated       363,683        363,683 
Gas Distribution       258,194        258,194 
Media: Content           1,931,885    1,931,885 
Personal & Household Products   16,487,056    135,092    12,560,985    29,183,133 
Software/Services   158,244,712            158,244,712 
Specialty Retail   59,389,763    9,856,842        69,246,605 
Remaining Industries   594,839,856            594,839,856 
Convertible Bond       29,049,244        29,049,244 
Floating Rate Loans                    
Chemicals       31,505,110    4,852,472    36,357,582 
Diversified Capital Goods           22,557,465    22,557,465 
Electric: Integrated           69,396,697    69,396,697 
Personal & Household Products       35,040,126    848,424    35,888,550 
Specialty Retail       56,677,820    10,645,877    67,323,697 
Remaining Industries       883,049,583        883,049,583 
Less Unfunded Commitments       (1,475,992)   (4,122,510)   (5,598,502)
Foreign Bonds       36,190,987        36,190,987 
Foreign Government Obligations       864,143,502        864,143,502 
Government Sponsored Enterprises Pass-Throughs       1,872,376,110        1,872,376,110 
High Yield Corporate Bonds                    
Automakers       275,476,150    1,500    275,477,650 
Banking       1,008,317,720    2,250    1,008,319,970 
Metals/Mining (Excluding Steel)       157,724,950    19    157,724,969 
Telecommunications: Wireline Integrated & Services       236,836,539    1,500    236,838,039 
Remaining Industries       8,954,103,923        8,954,103,923 
Municipal Bonds       630,967,415        630,967,415 
Non-Agency Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities       235,312,735    53,842,824    289,155,559 
Preferred Stock                
U.S. Treasury Obligations       686,710,519        686,710,519 
Warrant           1,651    1,651 
Short-Term Investments                    
Foreign Government Obligation       300,276,441        300,276,441 
High Yield Corporate Bond       74,119,404        74,119,404 
Repurchase Agreements       250,000,000        250,000,000 
Total  $892,342,485    $ 17,145,632,046     $182,995,924   $18,220,970,455 

 

44 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Schedule of Investments (concluded)

December 31, 2019

 

Investment Type(2)  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Other Financial Instruments                    
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Contracts                    
Assets   $   $   $   $ 
Liabilities       (5,466,029)       (5,466,029)
Credit Default Swap Contracts                    
Assets                
Liabilities       (2,464,440)       (2,464,440)
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts                    
Assets       7,146,607        7,146,607 
Liabilities       (3,127,887)       (3,127,887)
Futures Contracts                    
Assets   66,742,515            66,742,515 
Liabilities   (6,051,626)           (6,051,626)
Total  $60,690,889   $(3,911,749)  $   $56,779,140 

 

(1)   Refer to Note 2(p) for a description of fair value measurements and the three-tier hierarchy of inputs.
(2)   See Schedule of Investments for fair values in each industry and identification of foreign issuers and/or geography. The table above is presented by Investment Type. Industries are presented within an Investment Type should such Investment Type include securities classified as two or more levels within the three-tier fair value hierarchy. Each Level 3 security is identified on the Schedule of Investments along with the valuation technique utilized.

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments with unobservable inputs (Level 3) that were used in determining fair value:

 

Investment Type  Asset-
Backed
Securities
 Common
Stocks
 Floating
Rate
Loans
 High Yield
Corporate
Bonds
 Non-Agency
Commercial
Mortgage-
Backed
Securities
 Preferred
Stock
 Warrants 
Balance as of January 1, 2019  $   $13,179,430   $50,229,383   $5,269   $       $1,651 
Accrued Discounts (Premiums)           78,709        8,796         
Realized Gain (Loss)       664,980    (2,043,576)                
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)   (26,864)   891,272    5,137,681        188,418    (1,229,832)    
Purchases   6,952,810    16,154,520    166,494,450        53,645,610    94,543     
Sales       (16,624,500)   (115,718,222)                
Transfers into Level 3   3,515,593    260,514                1,135,289     
Transfers out of Level 3                            
Balance as of December 31, 2019  $10,441,539   $14,526,216   $104,178,425   $5,269   $53,842,824       $1,651 
Change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation for the year ended December 31, 2019, related to Level 3 investments held at December 31, 2019  $(26,864)  $891,272   $2,565,357   $   $188,418    (1,229,832)  $ 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 45
 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2019

 

ASSETS:     
Investments in securities, at fair value (cost $17,600,600,440)  $18,220,970,455 
Cash   159,202,485 
Deposits with brokers for futures collateral   48,407,553 
Deposits with brokers for forwards and swaps collateral   9,944,239 
Receivables:     
Interest and dividends   167,505,885 
Capital shares sold   114,367,101 
Investment securities sold   98,022,521 
Variation margin for futures contracts   6,843,944 
Variation margin for centrally cleared credit default swap agreements   73,150 
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts   7,146,607 
Prepaid expenses and other assets   393,920 
Total assets   18,832,877,860 
LIABILITIES:     
Payables:     
Investment securities purchased   2,243,684,005 
Capital shares reacquired   28,618,080 
Management fee   5,941,530 
12b-1 distribution plan   2,731,998 
Directors’ fees   1,580,050 
Fund administration   549,564 
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts   3,127,887 
Credit default swap agreements payable, at fair value (including upfront payments of $22,870,467)   2,464,440 
Unrealized depreciation on unfunded commitments   15,712 
Distributions payable   50,303,854 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities   7,729,272 
Total liabilities   2,346,746,392 
Commitments and contingent liabilities     
NET ASSETS  $16,486,131,468 
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS:     
Paid-in capital  $16,111,441,450 
Total distributable earnings (loss)   374,690,018 
Net Assets  $16,486,131,468 

 

46 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (concluded)

December 31, 2019

 

Net assets by class:     
Class A Shares  $5,246,569,608 
Class C Shares  $1,328,320,533 
Class F Shares  $5,743,483,086 
Class F3 Shares  $2,290,419,766 
Class I Shares  $1,401,117,882 
Class P Shares  $16,726,586 
Class R2 Shares  $6,687,898 
Class R3 Shares  $201,288,586 
Class R4 Shares  $48,228,628 
Class R5 Shares  $16,505,386 
Class R6 Shares  $186,783,509 
Outstanding shares by class:     
Class A Shares (1.8 billion shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   645,086,320 
Class C Shares (600 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   162,881,959 
Class F Shares (2.25 billion shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   707,236,460 
Class F3 Shares (900 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   282,921,884 
Class I Shares (900 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   173,227,889 
Class P Shares (160 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   2,010,380 
Class R2 Shares (478 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   822,173 
Class R3 Shares (478 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   24,790,356 
Class R4 Shares (478 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   5,927,657 
Class R5 Shares (478 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   2,038,250 
Class R6 Shares (478 million shares of common stock authorized, $.001 par value)   23,076,525 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share (Net assets divided by outstanding shares):     
Class A Shares-Net asset value   $8.13 
Class A Shares-Maximum offering price (Net asset value plus sales charge of 2.25%)   $8.32 
Class C Shares-Net asset value   $8.16 
Class F Shares-Net asset value   $8.12 
Class F3 Shares-Net asset value   $8.10 
Class I Shares-Net asset value   $8.09 
Class P Shares-Net asset value   $8.32 
Class R2 Shares-Net asset value   $8.13 
Class R3 Shares-Net asset value   $8.12 
Class R4 Shares-Net asset value   $8.14 
Class R5 Shares-Net asset value   $8.10 
Class R6 Shares-Net asset value   $8.09 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 47
 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019

 

Investment income:     
Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $42,226)  $9,278,076 
Interest and other   654,216,525 
Interest earned from Interfund Lending (See Note 11)   1,246 
Total investment income   663,495,847 
Expenses:     
Management fee   62,001,538 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class A   9,528,385 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class C   10,815,821 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class F   4,701,226 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class P   79,821 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class R2   40,550 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class R3   868,512 
12b-1 distribution plan-Class R4   77,891 
Shareholder servicing   10,047,985 
Fund administration   5,675,154 
Reports to shareholders   1,158,966 
Registration   844,100 
Professional   571,784 
Directors’ fees   392,223 
Custody   228,898 
Other   1,221,160 
Gross expenses   108,254,014 
Expense reductions (See Note 9)   (391,826)
Net expenses   107,862,188 
Net investment income   555,633,659 
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss):     
Net realized gain on investments   15,287,764 
Net realized loss on futures contracts   (169,874,831)
Net realized gain on forward foreign currency exchange contracts   10,871,757 
Net realized loss on swap contracts   (4,844,996)
Net realized gain on foreign currency related transactions   955,478 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments   1,175,711,120 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts   91,469,172 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts   6,634,616 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts   28,217,170 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies   47,051 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on unfunded commitments   63,043 
Net realized and unrealized gain   1,154,537,344 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting From Operations  $1,710,171,003 

 

48 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS  For the Year Ended
December 31, 2019
   For the Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
Operations:          
Net investment income  $555,633,659   $537,414,766 
Net realized gain (loss) on investments, futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swaps and foreign currency related transactions   (147,604,828)   27,477,503 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments, futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swaps, unfunded commitments and translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies   1,302,142,172    (1,073,407,115)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations   1,710,171,003    (508,514,846)
Distributions to shareholders:          
Class A   (194,859,155)   (273,541,757)
Class B       (36,443)
Class C   (45,095,077)   (82,853,966)
Class F   (195,649,540)   (255,883,833)
Class F3   (81,839,796)   (89,827,609)
Class I   (48,283,037)   (65,360,758)
Class P   (685,754)   (1,192,680)
Class R2   (250,541)   (416,429)
Class R3   (6,586,870)   (8,820,786)
Class R4   (1,241,702)   (909,635)
Class R5   (1,390,615)   (1,918,387)
Class R6   (6,028,037)   (6,994,963)
Class T       (249)
Total distributions to shareholders   (581,910,124)   (787,757,495)
Capital share transactions (Net of share conversions) (See Note 15):          
Net proceeds from sales of shares   5,924,604,430    4,366,086,058 
Reinvestment of distributions   514,580,185    696,869,024 
Cost of shares reacquired   (3,260,013,600)   (4,183,622,590)
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions   3,179,171,015    879,332,492 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets   4,307,431,894    (416,939,849)
NET ASSETS:          
Beginning of year  $12,178,699,574   $12,595,639,423 
End of year  $16,486,131,468   $12,178,699,574 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 49
 

Financial Highlights

 

      Per Share Operating Performance:
      Investment operations:  Distributions to
shareholders from:
          
   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
  Net
invest-
ment
income(a)
  Net
realized
and
unrealized
gain (loss)
  Total
from
invest-
ment
oper-
ations
  Net
investment
income
  Net
realized
gain
  Total
distri-
butions
                             
Class A                                   
12/31/2019     $7.47         $0.31         $0.68      $0.99       $(0.33)        $     $(0.33)  
12/31/2018   8.25    0.33    (0.63)   (0.30)   (0.36)   (0.12)   (0.48)
12/31/2017   7.93    0.33    0.39    0.72    (0.35)   (0.05)   (0.40)
12/31/2016   7.40    0.35    0.54    0.89    (0.36)       (0.36)
12/31/2015   7.93    0.32    (0.44)   (0.12)   (0.35)   (0.06)   (0.41)
                                    
Class C                                   
12/31/2019   7.49    0.26    0.69    0.95    (0.28)       (0.28)
12/31/2018   8.27    0.28    (0.63)   (0.35)   (0.31)   (0.12)   (0.43)
12/31/2017   7.95    0.28    0.39    0.67    (0.30)   (0.05)   (0.35)
12/31/2016   7.42    0.30    0.55    0.85    (0.32)       (0.32)
12/31/2015   7.95    0.27    (0.44)   (0.17)   (0.30)   (0.06)   (0.36)
                                    
Class F                                   
12/31/2019   7.46    0.32    0.67    0.99    (0.33)       (0.33)
12/31/2018   8.24    0.34    (0.64)   (0.30)   (0.36)   (0.12)   (0.48)
12/31/2017   7.92    0.34    0.39    0.73    (0.36)   (0.05)   (0.41)
12/31/2016   7.39    0.36    0.54    0.90    (0.37)       (0.37)
12/31/2015   7.91    0.33    (0.44)   (0.11)   (0.35)   (0.06)   (0.41)
                                    
Class F3                                   
12/31/2019   7.43    0.33    0.69    1.02    (0.35)       (0.35)
12/31/2018   8.21    0.35    (0.63)   (0.28)   (0.38)   (0.12)   (0.50)
4/4/2017 to 12/31/2017(c)   8.01    0.25    0.27    0.52    (0.27)   (0.05)   (0.32)
                                    
Class I                                   
12/31/2019   7.43    0.32    0.68    1.00    (0.34)       (0.34)
12/31/2018   8.21    0.34    (0.63)   (0.29)   (0.37)   (0.12)   (0.49)
12/31/2017   7.89    0.35    0.38    0.73    (0.36)   (0.05)   (0.41)
12/31/2016   7.36    0.36    0.55    0.91    (0.38)       (0.38)
12/31/2015   7.89    0.34    (0.45)   (0.11)   (0.36)   (0.06)   (0.42)
                                    
Class P                                   
12/31/2019   7.64    0.30    0.69    0.99    (0.31)       (0.31)
12/31/2018   8.44    0.31    (0.64)   (0.33)   (0.35)   (0.12)   (0.47)
12/31/2017   8.11    0.34    0.39    0.73    (0.35)   (0.05)   (0.40)
12/31/2016   7.57    0.35    0.56    0.91    (0.37)       (0.37)
12/31/2015   8.10    0.33    (0.45)   (0.12)   (0.35)   (0.06)   (0.41)

 

50 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
      Ratios to Average Net Assets:  Supplemental Data:
          
Net
asset
value,
end of
period
  Total
return(b)
(%)
  Total
expenses
(%)
  Net
investment
income
(%)
  Net
assets, end
of period
(000)
  Portfolio
turnover
rate
(%)
                            
$8.13    13.37         0.79          3.90         $5,246,570    217     
 7.47    (3.79)   0.79    4.11    4,252,132    147 
 8.25    9.21    0.81    4.10    4,491,809    113 
 7.93    12.35    0.81    4.57    4,263,801    119 
 7.40    (1.74)   0.82    4.10    4,183,669    119 
                            
 8.16    12.77    1.42    3.28    1,328,321    217 
 7.49    (4.38)   1.43    3.46    1,296,749    147 
 8.27    8.52    1.43    3.49    1,872,830    113 
 7.95    11.63    1.44    3.95    1,892,905    119 
 7.42    (2.35)   1.46    3.48    1,882,589    119 
                            
 8.12    13.64    0.69    3.97    5,743,483    217 
 7.46    (3.83)   0.69    4.20    3,827,057    147 
 8.24    9.32    0.71    4.16    3,793,021    113 
 7.92    12.46    0.71    4.65    2,607,811    119 
 7.39    (1.53)   0.72    4.20    1,893,642    119 
                            
 8.10    13.86    0.52    4.14    2,290,420    217 
 7.43    (3.57)   0.52    4.37    1,533,935    147 
 8.21    6.55(d)   0.53(e)   4.06(e)   1,093,748    113 
                            
 8.09    13.80    0.59    4.07    1,401,118    217 
 7.43    (3.77)   0.59    4.30    927,024    147 
 8.21    9.44    0.61    4.25    1,039,534    113 
 7.89    12.62    0.61    4.77    450,661    119 
 7.36    (1.59)   0.62    4.28    382,854    119 
                            
 8.32    13.16    1.04    3.67    16,727    217 
 7.64    (4.00)   0.95    3.94    17,453    147 
 8.44    9.18    0.86    4.07    32,370    113 
 8.11    12.27    0.87    4.53    36,825    119 
 7.57    (1.66)   0.87    4.06    35,632    119 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 51
 

Financial Highlights (concluded)

 

      Per Share Operating Performance:
      Investment operations:  Distributions to
shareholders from:
          
   Net asset
value,
beginning
of period
  Net
invest-
ment
income(a)
  Net
realized
and
unrealized
gain (loss)
  Total
from
invest-
ment
oper-
ations
  Net
investment
income
  Net
realized
gain
  Total
distri-
butions
                             
Class R2                                   
12/31/2019      $7.47          $0.28          $0.67         $0.95        $(0.29)      $       $(0.29
12/31/2018   8.25    0.30    (0.64)   (0.34)   (0.32)   (0.12)   (0.44)
12/31/2017   7.93    0.30    0.39    0.69    (0.32)   (0.05)   (0.37)
12/31/2016   7.40    0.31    0.55    0.86    (0.33)       (0.33)
12/31/2015   7.93    0.29    (0.44)   (0.15)   (0.32)   (0.06)   (0.38)
                                    
Class R3                                   
12/31/2019   7.46    0.29    0.67    0.96    (0.30)       (0.30)
12/31/2018   8.24    0.30    (0.63)   (0.33)   (0.33)   (0.12)   (0.45)
12/31/2017   7.92    0.31    0.38    0.69    (0.32)   (0.05)   (0.37)
12/31/2016   7.39    0.32    0.55    0.87    (0.34)       (0.34)
12/31/2015   7.91    0.30    (0.44)   (0.14)   (0.32)   (0.06)   (0.38)
                                    
Class R4                                   
12/31/2019   7.47    0.30    0.69    0.99    (0.32)       (0.32)
12/31/2018   8.25    0.33    (0.64)   (0.31)   (0.35)   (0.12)   (0.47)
12/31/2017   7.93    0.33    0.38    0.71    (0.34)   (0.05)   (0.39)
12/31/2016   7.40    0.34    0.55    0.89    (0.36)       (0.36)
6/30/2015 to 12/31/2015(f)   7.99    0.16    (0.52)   (0.36)   (0.17)   (0.06)   (0.23)
                                    
Class R5                                   
12/31/2019   7.43    0.33    0.68    1.01    (0.34)       (0.34)
12/31/2018   8.21    0.34    (0.63)   (0.29)   (0.37)   (0.12)   (0.49)
12/31/2017   7.86    0.35    0.41    0.76    (0.36)   (0.05)   (0.41)
12/31/2016   7.36    0.21    0.67    0.88    (0.38)       (0.38)
6/30/2015 to 12/31/2015(f)   7.95    0.17    (0.52)   (0.35)   (0.18)   (0.06)   (0.24)
                                    
Class R6                                   
12/31/2019   7.43    0.33    0.68    1.01    (0.35)       (0.35)
12/31/2018   8.21    0.35    (0.63)   (0.28)   (0.38)   (0.12)   (0.50)
12/31/2017   7.89    0.35    0.39    0.74    (0.37)   (0.05)   (0.42)
12/31/2016   7.37    0.37    0.53    0.90    (0.38)       (0.38)
6/30/2015 to 12/31/2015(f)   7.95    0.17    (0.51)   (0.34)   (0.18)   (0.06)   (0.24)

 

(a) Calculated using average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return for Classes A and C does not consider the effects of sales loads and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions. Total return for all other classes assumes the reinvestment of all distributions.
(c) Commenced on April 4, 2017.
(d) Not annualized.
(e) Annualized.
(f) Commenced on June 30, 2015.

 

52 See Notes to Financial Statements.
 
      Ratios to Average Net Assets:  Supplemental Data:
          
Net
asset
value,
end of
period
  Total
return(b)
(%)
  Total
expenses
(%)
  Net
investment
income
(%)
  Net
assets, end
of period
(000)
  Portfolio
turnover
rate
(%)
                      
  $8.13     12.93             1.19               3.51        $6,688           217    
 7.47    (4.17)   1.19    3.71    6,460    147 
 8.25    8.78    1.21    3.68    9,066    113 
 7.93    11.91    1.21    4.05    5,324    119 
 7.40    (2.13)   1.22    3.71    4,075    119 
                            
 8.12    13.20    1.09    3.60    201,289    217 
 7.46    (4.21)   1.09    3.81    152,743    147 
 8.24    8.90    1.10    3.80    151,842    113 
 7.92    12.03    1.11    4.19    128,317    119 
 7.39    (1.91)   1.12    3.82    107,581    119 
                            
 8.14    13.46    0.84    3.80    48,229    217 
 7.47    (3.83)   0.84    4.09    18,847    147 
 8.25    9.16    0.86    3.98    8,420    113 
 7.93    12.29    0.86    4.40    2,072    119 
 7.40    (4.59)(d)   0.87(e)   4.27(e)   207    119 
                            
 8.10    13.79    0.59    4.13    16,505    217 
 7.43    (3.63)   0.59    4.32    30,204    147 
 8.21    9.46    0.61    4.29    27,302    113 
 7.86    12.62    0.61    2.70    386    119 
 7.36    (4.50)(d)   0.62(e)   4.39(e)   10    119 
                            
 8.09    13.73    0.52    4.16    186,784    217 
 7.43    (3.56)   0.52    4.39    116,094    147 
 8.21    9.54    0.52    4.31    69,028    113 
 7.89    12.56    0.53    4.83    15,346    119 
 7.37    (4.36)(d)   0.54(e)   4.49(e)   10,994    119 

 

  See Notes to Financial Statements. 53
 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

1. ORGANIZATION  

 

Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund was organized in 1970 and incorporated under Maryland law on January 23, 1976.

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to seek high current income and the opportunity for capital appreciation to produce a high total return. The Fund has eleven active classes of shares: Class A, C, F, F3, I, P, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, each with different expenses and dividends. A front-end sales charge is normally added to the net asset value (“NAV”) for Class A shares. There is no front-end sales charge in the case of Class C, F, F3, I, P, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 shares, although there may be a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) in certain cases as follows: Class A shares purchased without a sales charge and redeemed before the first day of the month in which the one-year anniversary of the purchase falls (subject to certain exceptions as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus); Class C shares redeemed before the first anniversary of purchase. Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares on the 25th day of the month (or, if the 25th day is not a business day, the next business day thereafter) following the tenth anniversary of the month on which the purchase order was accepted. The Fund’s Class P shares are closed to substantially all new investors, with certain exceptions as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  

 

(a) Investment ValuationUnder procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (“Lord Abbett”), the Fund’s investment manager, has formed a Pricing Committee to administer the pricing and valuation of portfolio investments and to ensure that prices utilized reasonably reflect fair value. Among other things, these procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers and other market sources to determine fair value.
   
  Securities actively traded on any recognized U.S. or non-U.S. exchange or on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC are valued at the last sale price or official closing price on the exchange or system on which they are principally traded. Events occurring after the close of trading on non-U.S. exchanges may result in adjustments to the valuation of foreign securities to reflect their fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Fund may utilize an independent fair valuation service in adjusting the valuations of foreign securities. Unlisted equity securities are valued at the last quoted sale price or, if no sale price is available, at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices. Fixed income securities are valued based on evaluated prices supplied by independent pricing services, which reflect broker/dealer supplied valuations and the independent pricing services’ own electronic data processing techniques. Floating rate loans are valued at the average of bid and ask quotations obtained from dealers in loans on the basis of prices supplied by independent pricing services. Exchange traded options and futures contracts are valued at the last quoted

 

54

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

  sale price in the market where they are principally traded. If no sale has occurred, the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices is used. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued using daily forward exchange rates. Swaps are valued daily using independent pricing services or quotations from broker/dealers to the extent available.
   
  Securities for which prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined by the Pricing Committee. The Pricing Committee considers a number of factors, including observable and unobservable inputs, when arriving at fair value. The Pricing Committee may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values, yield curves, broker quotes, observable trading activity, option adjusted spread models and other relevant information to determine the fair value of portfolio investments. The Board or a designated committee thereof regularly reviews fair value determinations made by the Pricing Committee and may employ techniques such as reviewing related market activity, reviewing inputs and assumptions, and retrospectively comparing prices of subsequent purchases and sales transactions to fair value determinations made by the Pricing Committee.
   
  Short-term securities with 60 days or less remaining to maturity are valued using the amortized cost method, which approximates fair value.
   
(b) Security TransactionsSecurity transactions are recorded as of the date that the securities are purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses on sales of portfolio securities are calculated using the identified-cost method. Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets at the beginning of the day.
   
(c) Investment IncomeDividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis as earned. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized using the effective interest method and are included in Interest and other income on the Statement of Operations. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends and interest have been provided for in accordance with the applicable country’s tax rules and rates. Investment income is allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets at the beginning of the day.
   
(d) Income Taxes-It is the policy of the Fund to meet the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all taxable income and capital gains to its shareholders. Therefore, no income tax provision is required.
   
  The Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The statute of limitations on the Fund’s filed U.S. federal tax returns remains open for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 through December 31, 2019. The statutes of limitations on the Fund’s state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction.
   
(e) ExpensesExpenses, excluding class-specific expenses, are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative proportion of net assets at the beginning of the day. Class A, C, F, P, R2, R3 and R4 shares bear their class-specific share of all expenses and fees relating to the Fund’s 12b-1 Distribution Plan.
   
(f) Foreign TransactionsThe books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars and transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in the Fund’s records at the rate prevailing when earned or recorded. Asset and liability accounts that are denominated in

 

55

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

  foreign currencies are adjusted daily to reflect current exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss), if applicable, is included in Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies on the Fund’s Statement of Operations. The resultant exchange gains and losses upon settlement of such transactions, if applicable, are included in Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency related transactions on the Fund’s Statement of Operations. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes in market prices of the securities.
   
  The Fund uses foreign currency exchange contracts to facilitate transactions in foreign-denominated securities. Losses from these transactions may arise from changes in the value of the foreign currency or if the counterparties do not perform under the contracts’ terms.
   
(g) Forward Foreign Currency Exchange ContractsThe Fund may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to reduce exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on foreign portfolio holdings, or gain or reduce exposure to foreign currency solely for investment purposes. A forward foreign currency exchange contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated rate. The contracts are valued daily at forward exchange rates and any unrealized gain (loss) is included in Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts on the Fund’s Statement of Operations. The gain (loss) arising from the difference between the U.S. dollar cost of the original contract and the value of the foreign currency in U.S. dollars upon closing of such contracts is included in Net realized gain (loss) on forward foreign currency exchange contracts on the Fund’s Statement of Operations.
   
(h) Futures ContractsThe Fund may purchase and sell futures contracts to enhance returns, to attempt to economically hedge some of its investment risk, or as a substitute position in lieu of holding the underlying asset on which the instrument is based. At the time of entering into a futures transaction, an investor is required to deposit and maintain a specified amount of cash or eligible securities called “initial margin.” Subsequent payments made or received by the Fund called “variation margin” are made on a daily basis as the market price of the futures contract fluctuates. The Fund will record an unrealized gain (loss) based on the amount of variation margin. When a contract is closed, a realized gain (loss) is recorded equal to the difference between the opening and closing value of the contract.
   
(i) Credit Default SwapsThe Fund may enter into credit default swap contracts in order to hedge credit risk or for speculation purposes. As a seller of a credit default swap contract (“seller of protection”), the Fund is required to pay the notional amount or other agreed-upon value of a referenced debt obligation to the counterparty in the event of a default by or other credit event involving the referenced issuer, obligation or index. In return, the Fund receives from the counterparty a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract.
   
  As a purchaser of a credit default swap contract (“buyer of protection”), the Fund would receive the notional amount or other agreed upon value of a referenced debt obligation from the counterparty in the event of default by or other credit event involving the referenced issuer, obligation or index. In return, the Fund would make periodic payments to the counterparty over the term of the contracts, provided no event of default has occurred. These credit default swaps may have as a reference obligation corporate or sovereign issuers or credit indexes. These credit indexes are comprised of a basket of securities representing a particular sector of the market.

 

56

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

  Credit default swaps are fair valued based upon quotations from counterparties, brokers or market-makers and the change in value, if any, is recorded as an unrealized appreciation or depreciation. For a credit default swap sold by the Fund, payment of the agreed-upon amount made by the Fund in the event of default of the referenced debt obligation is recorded as the cost of the referenced debt obligation purchased/received. For a credit default swap purchased by the Fund, the agreed-upon amount received by the Fund in the event of default of the referenced debt obligation is recorded as proceeds from sale/delivery of the referenced debt obligation and the resulting gain or loss realized on the referenced debt obligation is recorded as such by the Fund.
   
  Any upfront payments made or received upon entering a credit default swap contract would be amortized or accreted over the life of the swap and recorded as realized gains or losses. Collateral, in the form of cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the custodian bank or broker in accordance with the swap agreement. The value and credit rating of each credit default swap where the Fund is the seller of protection, are both measures of the current payment/performance risk of the swap. As the value of the swap changes as a positive or negative percentage of the total notional amount, the payment/performance risk may decrease or increase, respectively. The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Fund as a seller of protection could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement, or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements entered into by the Fund for the same referenced entity or entities.
   
  Entering into credit default swaps involves credit and market risk. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreements, and that there may be unfavorable changes in interest rates, and that Lord Abbett does not correctly predict the creditworthiness of the issuers of the reference obligation on which the credit default swap is based. For the centrally cleared credit default swaps, there was minimal counterparty risk to the Fund, since such credit default swaps entered into were traded through a central clearinghouse, which guarantees against default.
   
(j) Mortgage Dollar RollsThe Fund may enter into mortgage dollar rolls in which the Fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts with the same counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon and maturity) but not identical securities on a specified future date. During the roll period, the Fund loses the right to receive principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold.
   
(k) Total Return SwapsThe Fund may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market. The Fund may agree to make payments that are the equivalent of interest in exchange for the right to receive payments equivalent to any appreciation in the value of an underlying security, index or other asset, as well as receive payments equivalent to any distributions made on that asset, over the term of the swap. If the value of the asset underlying a total return swap declines over the term of the swap, the Fund also may be required to pay an amount equal to that decline in value to their counterparty.

 

57

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

(l) When-Issued, Forward Transactions or To-Be-Announced (“TBA”) TransactionsThe Fund may purchase portfolio securities on a when-issued or forward basis. When-issued, forward transactions or TBA transactions involve a commitment by a fund to purchase securities, with payment and delivery (“settlement”) to take place in the future, in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price or yield at the time of entering into the transaction. During the period between purchase and settlement, the fair value of the securities will fluctuate and assets consisting of cash and/or marketable securities (normally short-term U.S. Government or U.S. Government sponsored enterprise securities) marked to market daily in an amount sufficient to make payment at settlement will be segregated at the Fund’s custodian in order to pay for the commitment. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the liability for the purchase and fair value of the security in determining its NAV. The Fund, generally, has the ability to close out a purchase obligation on or before the settlement date rather than take delivery of the security. Under no circumstances will settlement for such securities take place more than 120 days after the purchase date.
   
(m) Repurchase AgreementsThe Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with respect to securities. A repurchase agreement is a transaction in which a fund acquires a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller (a bank or securities dealer) at an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon date. The Fund requires at all times that the repurchase agreement be collateralized by cash, or by securities of the U.S. Government, its agencies, its instrumentalities, or U.S. Government sponsored enterprises having a value equal to, or in excess of, the value of the repurchase agreement (including accrued interest). If the seller of the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the underlying securities at a time when the fair value of these securities has declined, the Fund may incur a loss upon disposition of the securities.
   
(n) Reverse Repurchase AgreementsThe Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells a security to a securities dealer or bank for cash and also agrees to repurchase the same security later at a set price. Reverse repurchase agreements expose the Fund to credit risk (that is, the risk that the counterparty will fail to resell the security to the Fund). Engaging in reverse repurchase agreements also may involve the use of leverage, in that the Fund may reinvest the cash it receives in additional securities. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities to be repurchased by the Fund may decline below the repurchase price
   
  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the average interest rate, the amount of interest and the average principal amount for the days borrowed in the period were as follows:
   
          Average
          Interest   Average   Amount
  Rate   Interest   Borrowed
  6.00%   $27,062   $1,867,331
   
(o) Floating Rate LoansThe Fund may invest in floating rate loans, which usually take the form of loan participations and assignments. Loan participations and assignments are agreements to make money available to U.S. or foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities (the “Borrower”) in a specified amount, at a specified rate and within a specified time. A loan is typically originated, negotiated and structured by a U.S. or foreign bank, insurance company or other financial institution (the “Agent”) for a group of loan investors (“Loan Investors”). The

 

58

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

  Agent typically administers and enforces the loan on behalf of the other Loan Investors in the syndicate and may hold any collateral on behalf of the Loan Investors. Such loan participations and assignments are typically senior, secured and collateralized in nature. The Fund records an investment when the Borrower withdraws money and records interest as earned. These loans pay interest at rates which are periodically reset by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread. These base lending rates are generally the prime rate offered by a designated U.S. bank or London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).
   
  The loans in which the Fund invests may be subject to some restrictions on resale. For example, the Fund may be contractually obligated to receive approval from the Agent and/or Borrower prior to the sale of these investments. The Fund generally has no right to enforce compliance with the terms of the loan agreement with the Borrower. As a result, the Fund assumes the credit risk of the Borrower, the selling participant and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the Borrower (“Intermediate Participants”). In the event that the Borrower, selling participant or Intermediate Participants become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy, the Fund may incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment or may suffer a loss of principal and/or interest.
   
  Unfunded commitments represent the remaining obligation of the Fund to the Borrower. At any point in time, up to the maturity date of the issue, the Borrower may demand the unfunded portion. Until demanded by the Borrower, unfunded commitments are not recognized as an asset on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Unrealized appreciation/depreciation on unfunded commitments, if any, on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities represents mark to market of the unfunded portion of the Fund’s floating rate notes. As of December 31, 2019 the Fund had the following unfunded loan commitments:
   
          Mavis Tire Services Corp. $ 1,509,966
  Pacific Gas and Electric Company DIP Delayed Draw Term Loan 4,102,000
  Total $ 5,611,966
   
(p) Fair Value MeasurementsFair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment or transferring a liability in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. A three-tier hierarchy is used to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk—for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value (such as a pricing model) and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Observable inputs are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs are based on the best information available in the circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level of inputs that is significant to the fair value measurement, and is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:

 

59

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

          Level 1 –  unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments;
       
  Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and
       
  Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
   
  A summary of inputs used in valuing the Fund’s investments and other financial instruments as of December 31, 2019 and, if applicable, Level 3 rollforwards for the fiscal year then ended is included in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments.
   
  Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the three-tier hierarchy. The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
   
3. MANAGEMENT FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES  

 

Management Fee

The Fund has a management agreement with Lord Abbett, pursuant to which Lord Abbett supplies the Fund with investment management services and executive and other personnel, provides office space and pays for ordinary and necessary office and clerical expenses relating to research and statistical work and supervision of the Fund’s investment portfolio.

 

The management fee is based on the Fund’s average daily net assets at the following annual rate:

 

First $500 million .50%
Next $9.5 billion .45%
Over $10 billion .40%

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the effective management fee was at an annualized rate of .44% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

In addition, Lord Abbett provides certain administrative services to the Fund pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement in return for a fee at an annual rate of .04% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

12b-1 Distribution Plan

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan with respect to Class A, C, F, P, R2, R3 and R4 shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act, which provides for the payment of ongoing distribution and service fees to Lord Abbett Distributor LLC (the “Distributor”), an affiliate of Lord Abbett. The following annual rates have been authorized by the Board pursuant to the plan:

 

Fees* Class A Class C(1) Class F(2) Class P Class R2 Class R3 Class R4
Service .15% .25% .25% .25% .25% .25%
Distribution .05% .75% .10% .20% .35% .25%

 

* The Fund may designate a portion of the aggregate fee as attributable to service activities for purposes of calculating Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) sales charge limitations.
(1) The Rule 12b-1 fee the Fund pays on Class C shares is a blended rate based on 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares held for less than one year and .80% (.25% service, .55% distribution) of the Fund’s average daily net assets attributable to Class C shares held for one year or more. All Class C shareholders of the Fund will bear Rule 12b-1 fees at the same rate.
(2) The Class F share Rule 12b-1 fee may be designated as a service fee in limited circumstances as described in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

Class F3, I, R5 and R6 shares do not have a distribution plan.

 

60

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Commissions

Distributor received the following commissions on sales of shares of the Fund, after concessions were paid to authorized dealers, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019:

 

Distributor   Dealers’
Commissions   Concessions
$713,600   $4,680,364

 

Distributor received CDSCs of $61,761 and $86,907 for Class A and Class C shares, respectively, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

 

One Director and certain of the Fund’s officers have an interest in Lord Abbett.

 

4. DISTRIBUTIONS AND CAPITAL LOSS CARRYFORWARDS  

 

Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared daily and paid monthly. Taxable net realized gains from investment transactions, reduced by allowable capital loss carryforwards, if any, are declared and distributed to shareholders at least annually. The capital loss carryforward amount, if any, is available to offset future net capital gains. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amounts of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These book/tax differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the components of net assets based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions, which exceed earnings and profits for tax purposes, are reported as a tax return of capital.

 

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was as follows:

 

    Year Ended   Year Ended
    12/31/2019   12/31/2018
Distributions paid from:        
Ordinary income   $581,910,124   $649,203,158
Net long-term capital gains     138,554,337
Total distributions paid   $581,910,124   $787,757,495

 

As of December 31, 2019, the components of accumulated gains (losses) on a tax-basis were as follows:

 

Capital loss carryforwards*  $(217,198,660)
Temporary differences   (5,714,443)
Unrealized gains – net   597,603,121 
Total accumulated gains – net  $374,690,018 
   
* The capital losses will carry forward indefinitely.

 

At the Fund’s election, certain losses incurred within the taxable year (Qualified Late- Year Losses) are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The Fund incurred and will elect to defer late-year ordinary losses of $939,480 during fiscal year 2019.

 

61

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate unrealized security gains and losses on investments and other financial instruments, if any, based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

Tax cost  $17,703,030,367 
Gross unrealized gain   811,151,797 
Gross unrealized loss   (213,577,814)
Net unrealized security gain  $597,573,983 

 

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized gains (losses) is attributable to the tax treatment of amortization of premium, certain securities, other financial instruments, and wash sales.

 

5. PORTFOLIO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS  

 

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 were as follows:

 

U.S.  Non-U.S.  U.S.  Non-U.S.
Government  Government  Government  Government
Purchases* Purchases  Sales* Sales
$24,332,993,090  $11,656,475,684  $23,147,810,847  $9,708,272,715
   
* Includes U.S. Government sponsored enterprises securities.

 

The Fund is permitted to purchase and sell securities (“cross-trade”) from and to other Lord Abbett funds or client accounts pursuant to procedures approved by the Board in compliance with Rule 17a-7 under the Act (the “Rule”). Each cross-trade is executed at a fair market price in compliance with provisions of the Rule. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund engaged in cross-trades purchases of $6,550,768 and sales of $174,365,105 which resulted in net realized gains of $3,064,038.

 

6. DISCLOSURES ABOUT DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES  

 

The Fund entered into forward foreign currency exchange contracts for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (as described in note 2(g)). A forward foreign currency exchange contract reduces the Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will deliver (or settle in cash) and increases its exposure to changes in the value of the currency it will receive (or settle in cash) for the duration of the contract. The Fund’s use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts involves the risk that Lord Abbett will not accurately predict currency movements, and the Fund’s returns could be reduced as a result. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are subject to the risk that those currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, or, in the case of hedged positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline relative to the currency being hedged. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time. The Fund’s risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

The Fund entered into futures contracts for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (as described in note 2(h)) to economically hedge against changes in interest rates. The Fund bears the risk of interest rates moving unexpectedly, in which case the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the futures contracts and realize a loss. There is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees futures against default.

 

62

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

The Fund entered into credit default swaps for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (as described in note 2(i)) to economically hedge credit risk. Credit default swaps involve the exchange of a fixed rate premium for protection against the loss in value of an underlying security within the index in the event of a defined credit event, such as payment default or bankruptcy. Under a credit default swap one party acts as a guarantor by receiving the fixed periodic payment in exchange for the commitment to purchase the underlying security at par if the defined credit event occurs. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, either as the protection seller or as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract. For the centrally cleared credit default swaps, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since these credit default swaps are traded through a central clearinghouse. As a counterparty to all centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearinghouse guarantees credit default swaps against default.

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Fund had the following derivatives at fair value, grouped into appropriate risk categories that illustrate the Fund’s use of derivative instruments:

 

   Interest   Foreign     
   Rate   Currency   Credit 
Asset Derivatives  Contracts   Contracts   Contracts 
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts(1)      $7,146,607     
Futures Contracts(2)  $66,742,515         
                
Liability Derivatives               
Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Contracts(3)          $5,466,029 
Credit Default Swap Contracts(4)           2,464,440 
Futures Contracts(2)  $6,051,626         
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts(5)      $3,127,887     
   
(1) Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
(2) Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(3) Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swap contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(4) Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Credit default swap agreements payable, at fair value.
(5) Statement of Assets and Liabilities location: Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

63

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Transactions in derivative instruments for the year ended December 31, 2019, were as follows:

 

   Interest   Foreign         
   Rate   Currency   Equity   Credit 
   Contracts   Contracts   Contracts   Contracts 
Net Realized Gain (Loss)                    
Credit Default Swap Contracts(1)             $(3,971,953)
Total Return Swap Contracts(1)          $(873,043)    
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts(2)      $10,871,757         
Futures Contracts(3)  $(169,874,831)            
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation                    
Credit Default Swap Contracts(4)             $29,198,978 
Total Return Swap Contracts(4)          $(981,808)    
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts(5)      $6,634,616         
Futures Contracts(6)  $91,469,172             
Average Number of Contracts/Notional Amounts*                    
Credit Default Swap Contracts(7)             $1,647,414,826 
Total Return Swap Contracts(7)          $4,905,769     
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts(7)      $408,281,076         
Futures Contracts(8)   41,648             
   
* Calculated based on the number of contracts or notional amounts for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
(1) Statement of Operations location: Net realized loss on swap contracts.
(2) Statement of Operations location: Net realized gain on forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
(3) Statement of Operations location: Net realized loss on futures contracts.
(4) Statement of Operations location: Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on swap contracts.
(5) Statement of Operations location: Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts.
(6) Statement of Operations location: Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts.
(7) Amount represents notional amounts in U.S. dollars.
(8) Amount represents number of contracts.

 

7. DISCLOSURES ABOUT OFFSETTING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES  

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) requires disclosures intended to help better assess the effect or potential effect of offsetting arrangements on a fund’s financial position. The following tables illustrate gross and net information about recognized assets and liabilities eligible for offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities; and disclose such amounts subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement, by counterparty. A master netting agreement is an agreement between the Fund and a counterparty which provides for the net settlement of amounts owed under all contracts traded under that agreement, as well as cash collateral, through a single payment by one party to the other in the event of default on or termination of any one contract. The Fund’s accounting policy with respect to balance sheet offsetting is that, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the master netting agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of

 

64

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

financial assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty:

 

       Gross Amounts   Net Amounts of 
       Offset in the   Assets Presented 
   Gross Amounts of   Statement of Assets   in the Statement of 
Description  Recognized Assets   and Liabilities   Assets and Liabilities 
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts    $7,146,607     $     $7,146,607 
Repurchase Agreements     250,000,000            250,000,000 
Total    $257,146,607     $     $257,146,607 

 

   Net Amounts
of Assets
Presented in
   Amounts Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
     
   the Statement       Cash   Securities     
   of Assets and   Financial   Collateral   Collateral   Net 
Counterparty  Liabilities   Instruments   Received(a)   Received(a)   Amount(b) 
Bank of America    $7,033,297     $     $(7,033,297)    $     $ 
Barclays Bank plc     113,310            (113,310)            
JPMorgan Chase & Co.     137,000,000                  (137,000,000)      
Toronto Dominion Grand Cayman     113,000,000                  (113,000,000)      
Total    $257,146,607     $     $(7,146,607)    $(250,000,000)    $ 

 

       Gross Amounts   Net Amounts of 
       Offset in the   Liabilities Presented 
   Gross Amounts of   Statement of Assets   in the Statement of 
Description  Recognized Liabilities   and Liabilities   Assets and Liabilities 
Credit Default Swap Contract     $2,464,440     $      $2,464,440 
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts     3,127,887            3,127,887 
Total     $5,592,327     $      $5,592,327 

 

   Net Amounts
of Liabilities
Presented in
  Amounts Not Offset in the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
     
   the Statement       Cash   Securities     
   of Assets and   Financial   Collateral   Collateral   Net 
Counterparty  Liabilities   Instruments   Pledged(a)   Pledged(a)   Amount(c) 
Credit Suisse    $259,467     $     $(259,467)    $     $ 
Deutsche Bank     372,854            (372,854)            
Goldman Sachs     174,805            (130,000)           44,805 
J.P. Morgan Chase     70,504            (70,504)            
Morgan Stanley     1,669,890            (1,440,000)           229,890 
Standard Chartered Bank     10,946                        10,946 
State Street Bank and Trust     1,404,929            (967,000)           437,929 
Toronto Dominion Bank     1,628,932            (1,320,000)           308,932 
Total    $5,592,327     $     $(4,559,825)    $     $1,032,502 
   
(a) Collateral disclosed is limited to an amount not to exceed 100% of the net amount of assets (liabilities) presented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, for each respective counterparty.
(b) Net amount represents the amount owed to the Fund by the counterparty as of December 31, 2019.
(c) Net amount represents the amount owed by the Fund to the counterparty as of December 31, 2019.

 

65

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

8. DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION  

 

The Fund’s officers and one Director, who are associated with Lord Abbett, do not receive any compensation from the Fund for serving in such capacities. Independent Directors’ fees are allocated among all Lord Abbett-sponsored funds based on the net assets of each fund. There is an equity-based plan available to all Independent Directors under which Independent Directors must defer receipt of a portion of, and may elect to defer receipt of an additional portion of Directors’ fees. The deferred amounts are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in the Fund. Such amounts and earnings accrued thereon are included in Directors’ fees on the Statement of Operations and in Directors’ fees payable on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes until such amounts are paid.

 

9. EXPENSE REDUCTIONS  

 

The Fund has entered into an arrangement with its transfer agent and custodian, whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances are used to reduce a portion of the Fund’s expenses.

 

10. LINE OF CREDIT  

 

For the period ended August 7, 2019, the Fund and certain other funds managed by Lord Abbett (collectively, the “Participating Funds”) entered into a Syndicated Facility with various lenders for $1.1 billion whereas State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”) participated as a lender and as agent for the lenders. The Participating Funds are subject to graduated borrowing limits of one-third of Fund net assets (if Fund net assets are less than $750 million), $250 million, $300 million, $350 million, or $1 billion, based on past borrowings and likelihood of future borrowings, among other factors.

 

Effective August 8, 2019, the Participating Funds entered into a Syndicated Facility with various lenders for $1.17 billion whereas SSB participates as a lender and as agent for the lenders. The Participating Funds are subject to graduated borrowing limits of one-third of Fund net assets (if net assets are less than $750 million), $250 million, $300 million, $500 million, or $1 billion, based on past borrowings and likelihood of future borrowings, among other factors.

 

For the period ended August 7, 2019, the Participating Funds entered into an additional line of credit facility with SSB for $250 million (the “Bilateral Facility” and together with the Syndicated Facility, the “Facilities”). Under the Bilateral Facility, each Participating Fund may borrow up to the lesser of $250 million or one-third of Fund net assets.

 

Effective August 8, 2019, the Participating Funds entered into a Bilateral Facility with SSB for $330 million ($250 million committed and $80 million uncommitted). Under the Bilateral Facility, the Participating Funds are subject to graduated borrowing limits of one-third of Fund net assets (if net assets are less than $750 million), $250 million, $300 million, or $330 million, based on past borrowings and likelihood of future borrowings, among other factors.

 

The Facilities are to be used for temporary or emergency purposes as an additional source of liquidity to satisfy redemptions.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund did not utilize the Facilities.

 

11. INTERFUND LENDING PROGRAM  

 

Pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC exemptive order”), certain registered open-end management investment companies managed by

 

66

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Lord Abbett, including the Fund, participate in a joint lending and borrowing program (the “Interfund Lending Program”). The SEC exemptive order allows the Fund to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes subject to the limitations and conditions.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund participated as a lender in the Interfund Lending Program. For the period in which the loan was outstanding, the average amount loaned, interest rate and interest income were as follows:

 

Average  Average  Interest
Loan  Interest Rate  Income*
$20,715,965  2.195%  $1,246
   
* Statement of Operations location: Interest earned from Interfund Lending.

 

12. CUSTODIAN AND ACCOUNTING AGENT  

 

SSB is the Fund’s custodian and accounting agent. SSB performs custodial, accounting and recordkeeping functions relating to portfolio transactions and calculating the Fund’s NAV.

 

13. SECURITIES LENDING AGREEMENT  

 

The Fund has established a securities lending agreement with Citibank, N.A. for the lending of securities to qualified brokers in exchange for securities or cash collateral equal to at least the market value of securities loaned, plus interest, if applicable. Cash collateral is invested in an approved money market fund. In accordance with the Fund’s securities lending agreement, the market value of securities on loan is determined each day at the close of business and any additional collateral required to cover the value of securities on loan is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. As with other extensions of credit, the Fund may experience a delay in the recovery of their securities or incur a loss should the borrower of the securities breach its agreement with the Fund or become insolvent at a time when the collateral is insufficient to cover the cost of repurchasing securities on loan. Any income earned from lending securities will be noted on the Statement of Operations.

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund did not loan any securities.

 

14. INVESTMENT RISKS  

 

The Fund is subject to the general risks and considerations associated with investing in debt securities and to the changing prospects of individual companies and/or sectors in which the Fund invests. The value of an investment will change as interest rates fluctuate and in response to market movements. When interest rates rise, the prices of debt securities are likely to decline; when rates fall, such prices tend to rise. Longer-term debt securities are usually more sensitive to interest rate changes. There is also the risk that an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest to the Fund, a risk that is greater with high-yield securities (sometimes called “lower-rated bonds” or “junk bonds”), in which the Fund may substantially invest. Some issuers, particularly of high-yield securities, may default as to principal and/or interest payments after the Fund purchases its securities. A default, or concerns in the market about an increase in risk of default, may result in losses to the Fund. High-yield securities are subject to greater price fluctuations, as well as additional risks. The market for below investment grade securities may be less liquid, which may make such securities more difficult to sell at an acceptable price, especially during periods of financial distress, increased market volatility, or significant market decline.

 

67

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

The Fund is subject to the risk of investing in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies and instrumentalities (such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”)). Unlike Ginnie Mae securities, securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government-related organizations such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government would provide financial support to its agencies and instrumentalities if not required to do so by law. Consequently, the Fund may be required to look principally to the agency issuing or guaranteeing the obligation.

 

The mortgage-related and asset-backed securities in which the Fund may invest may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults. These changes can affect the value, income, and/or liquidity of such positions. When interest rates are declining, the value of these securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed income securities. Early principal repayment may deprive the Fund of income payments above current market rates. Alternatively, rising interest rates may cause prepayments to occur at a slower-than-expected rate, extending the duration of a security and typically reducing its value. The payment rate will thus affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security. In addition, the Fund may invest in non-agency asset backed and mortgage related securities, which are issued by private institutions, not by government-sponsored enterprises.

 

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in equity securities, the value of which fluctuates in response to movements in the equity securities markets in general, the changing prospects of individual companies in which the Fund invests, or an individual company’s financial condition.

 

The Fund may invest in convertible securities, which have both equity and fixed income risk characteristics, including market, credit, liquidity, and interest rate risks. Generally, convertible securities offer lower interest or dividend yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality and less potential for gains or capital appreciation in a rising equity securities market than equity securities. They tend to be more volatile than other fixed income securities and the market for convertible securities may be less liquid than the markets for stocks or bonds. A significant portion of convertible securities have below investment grade credit ratings and are subject to increased credit and liquidity risks.

 

Due to the Fund’s investment exposure to foreign companies and American Depositary Receipts, the Fund may experience increased market, industry and sector, liquidity, currency, political, information, and other risks. The securities of foreign companies also may be subject to inadequate exchange control regulations, the imposition of economic sanctions or other government restrictions, higher transaction and other costs, and delays in settlement to the extent they are traded on non-U.S. exchanges or markets.

 

The Fund is subject to the risks associated with derivatives, which may be different from and greater than the risks associated with directly investing in securities. Derivatives may be subject to risks such as liquidity risk, leveraging risk, interest rate risk, market risk, and credit risk. Illiquid securities may lower the Fund’s returns since the Fund may be unable to sell these securities at their desired time or price. Derivatives also may involve the risk of mispricing or improper valuation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the value of the underlying asset, rate or index. Whether the Fund’s use of derivatives is successful will depend on, among other things, the Fund’s ability to correctly forecast market movements and other factors. Losses may also arise from the failure of a derivative counterparty to meet its contractual

 

68

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

obligations. If the Fund incorrectly forecasts these and other factors, the Fund’s performance could suffer. The Fund’s use of derivatives could result in a loss exceeding the amount of the Fund’s investment in these instruments.

 

The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in floating rate or adjustable rate senior loans, including bridge loans, novations, assignments, and participations, which are subject to increased credit and liquidity risks. Senior loans are business loans made to borrowers that may be U.S. or foreign corporations, partnerships or other business entities. The senior loans in which the Fund invests may consist primarily of senior loans that are rated below investment grade or, if unrated, deemed by Lord Abbett to be equivalent to below investment grade securities. Below investment grade senior loans, as in the case of high-yield debt securities, or junk bonds, are usually more credit sensitive than interest rate sensitive, although the value of these instruments may be impacted by broader interest rate swings in the overall fixed income market. In addition, senior loans may be subject to structural subordination.

 

These factors can affect the Fund’s performance.

 

15. SUMMARY OF CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS  

 

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:

 

   Year Ended
December 31, 2019
   Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
Class A Shares  Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount 
Shares sold   133,918,244   $1,069,217,883    89,042,771   $715,517,851 
Converted from Class B*           725,710    5,954,085 
Converted from Class C**   26,275,240    209,115,573    42,540,947    341,584,436 
Reinvestment of distributions   22,444,062    179,194,884    32,122,488    253,143,937 
Shares reacquired   (106,980,010)   (849,818,557)   (139,461,180)   (1,109,191,945)
Increase   75,657,536   $607,709,783    24,970,736   $207,008,364 
                     
Class B Shares                    
Shares sold      $    350   $1,372 
Reinvestment of distributions           3,780    31,162 
Shares reacquired           (84,851)   (694,589)
Converted to Class A*           (723,417)   (5,954,085)
Decrease      $    (804,138)  $(6,616,140)
                     
Class C Shares                    
Shares sold   43,768,575   $350,928,819    31,268,208   $251,885,686 
Reinvestment of distributions   5,027,837    40,211,441    9,385,524    74,297,016 
Shares reacquired   (32,888,087)   (261,619,288)   (51,447,004)   (411,326,771)
Converted to Class A**   (26,206,544)   (209,115,573)   (42,435,232)   (341,584,436)
Decrease   (10,298,219)  $(79,594,601)   (53,228,504)  $(426,728,505)
                     
Class F Shares                    
Shares sold   346,791,388   $2,762,309,640    253,719,826   $2,036,261,266 
Reinvestment of distributions   19,369,737    154,501,880    25,443,252    200,126,782 
Shares reacquired   (172,184,295)   (1,365,130,514)   (226,304,503)   (1,785,567,950)
Increase   193,976,830   $1,551,681,006    52,858,575   $450,820,098 

 

69

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

   Year Ended
December 31, 2019
   Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
Class F3 Shares  Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount 
Shares sold   106,494,546   $845,843,853    94,593,905   $756,207,322 
Reinvestment of distributions   10,303,012    81,952,647    11,496,201    89,940,220 
Shares reacquired   (40,243,536)   (318,286,371)   (32,893,600)   (259,525,702)
Increase   76,554,022   $609,510,129    73,196,506   $586,621,840 
                     
Class I Shares                    
Shares sold   85,849,333   $681,803,971    54,051,383   $431,982,693 
Reinvestment of distributions   5,557,418    44,150,983    7,780,452    61,042,373 
Shares reacquired   (43,011,770)   (338,928,271)   (63,691,245)   (502,420,870)
Increase (decrease)   48,394,981   $387,026,683    (1,859,410)  $(9,395,804)
                     
Class P Shares                    
Shares sold   237,182   $1,913,910    249,640   $2,045,598 
Reinvestment of distributions   83,645    682,350    146,936    1,187,883 
Shares reacquired   (595,234)   (4,849,340)   (1,948,530)   (16,225,112)
Decrease   (274,407)  $(2,253,080)   (1,551,954)  $(12,991,631)
                     
Class R2 Shares                    
Shares sold   279,426   $2,219,423    365,702   $2,951,667 
Reinvestment of distributions   19,950    159,371    30,106    237,641 
Shares reacquired   (342,140)   (2,715,689)   (629,724)   (5,053,425)
Decrease   (42,764)  $(336,895)   (233,916)  $(1,864,117)
                     
Class R3 Shares                    
Shares sold   6,315,210   $50,436,576    4,877,246   $39,068,672 
Reinvestment of distributions   826,117    6,583,665    1,121,177    8,808,906 
Shares reacquired   (2,839,181)   (22,473,168)   (3,945,159)   (31,669,016)
Increase   4,302,146   $34,547,073    2,053,264   $16,208,562 
                     
Class R4 Shares                    
Shares sold   4,187,331   $33,496,348    2,255,095   $18,064,120 
Reinvestment of distributions   118,504    949,841    84,687    662,989 
Shares reacquired   (901,293)   (7,212,781)   (837,046)   (6,630,028)
Increase   3,404,542   $27,233,408    1,502,736   $12,097,081 
                     
Class R5 Shares                    
Shares sold   1,391,831   $11,010,329    1,820,043   $14,564,194 
Reinvestment of distributions   173,880    1,380,566    243,244    1,907,052 
Shares reacquired   (3,589,909)   (28,601,514)   (1,324,437)   (10,494,608)
Increase (decrease)   (2,024,198)  $(16,210,619)   738,850   $5,976,638 
                     
Class R6 Shares                    
Shares sold   14,483,680   $115,423,678    12,151,378   $97,535,616 
Reinvestment of distributions   605,469    4,812,557    701,225    5,482,843 
Shares reacquired   (7,633,285)   (60,378,107)   (5,638,275)   (44,812,345)
Increase   7,455,864   $59,858,128    7,214,328   $58,206,114 

 

70

 

Notes to Financial Statements (concluded)

 

   Year Ended
December 31, 2019
   Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
Class T Shares(a)  Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount 
Shares sold      $       $ 
Reinvestment of distributions           27    220 
Shares reacquired           (1,274)   (10,229)
Decrease      $    (1,247)  $(10,009)
   
* Automatic conversion of Class B shares occurred on the 25th day of the month (or, if the 25th day was not a business day, the next business day thereafter) following the eighth anniversary of the day on which the purchase order was accepted. Class B shares were closed on April 25, 2018.
** Automatic conversion of Class C shares occurs on the 25th day of the month (or, if the 25th day was not a business day, the next business day thereafter) following the tenth anniversary of the day on which the purchase order was accepted.
(a) Closed on July 24, 2018.

 

71

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the shareholders and Board of Directors of Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2019, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 26, 2020

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more Lord Abbett Family of Funds’ investment companies since 1932.

 

72

 

Supplemental Proxy Information (unaudited)

 

A joint special meeting of shareholders of the Fund was held on August 26, 2019. The joint special meeting was held for the purpose of electing members of the Fund’s Board of Directors. Shareholders elected the following ten (10) Directors at the joint special meeting:

 

Eric C. Fast
Evelyn E. Guernsey
Julie A. Hill
Kathleen M. Lutito
James M. McTaggart
Charles O. Prince
Karla M. Rabusch
Mark A. Schmid
Douglas B. Sieg
James L.L. Tullis

 

The results of the proxy solicitation on the preceding matter were as follows:

 

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund, Inc.

Nominee Votes Votes For Votes Withheld
Eric C. Fast 1,562,158,637.934 32,271,906.548
Evelyn E. Guernsey 1,562,131,152.873 32,299,391.609
Julie A. Hill 1,561,840,831.123 32,589,713.359
Kathleen M. Lutito 1,563,535,439.807 30,895,104.675
James M. McTaggart 1,561,421,811.134 33,008,733.348
Charles O. Prince 1,560,503,226.004 33,927,318.478
Karla M. Rabusch 1,561,936,925.173 32,493,619.309
Mark A. Schmid 1,562,575,160.314 31,855,384.168
Douglas B. Sieg 1,563,033,586.626 31,396,957.856
James L.L. Tullis 1,560,404,222.921 34,026,321.561

 

73

 

Basic Information About Management

 

The Board is responsible for the management of the business and affairs of the Fund in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. The Board elects officers who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Fund and who execute policies authorized by the Board. The Board also approves an investment adviser to the Fund and continues to monitor the cost and quality of the services the investment adviser provides, and annually considers whether to renew the contract with the investment adviser. Generally, each Director holds office until his/her successor is elected and qualified or until his/her earlier resignation or removal, as provided in the Fund’s organizational documents.

 

Lord Abbett, a Delaware limited liability company, is the Fund’s investment adviser. Designated Lord Abbett personnel are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Interested Director

Mr. Sieg is affiliated with Lord Abbett and is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the Act. Mr. Sieg is director/trustee of each of the 12 investment companies in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds, which consist of 57 investment portfolios. Mr. Sieg is an officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds.

 

Name, Address and
Year of Birth
  Current Position and
Length of Service
with the Fund
  Principal Occupation and Other Directorships
During the Past Five Years
Douglas B. Sieg
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1969)
  Director since 2016; President and Chief Executive Officer since 2018  

Principal Occupation: Managing Partner (since 2018) and was formerly Head of Client Services, joined Lord Abbett in 1994.

 

Other Directorships: None.

 

 

 

Independent Directors

The following Independent Directors also are directors/trustees of each of the 12 investment companies in the Lord Abbett Family of Funds, which consist of 57 investment portfolios.

 

Name, Address and
Year of Birth
  Current Position and
Length of Service
with the Fund
  Principal Occupation and Other Directorships
During the Past Five Years
Evelyn E. Guernsey
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1955)
  Director since 2011  

Principal Occupation: None.

 

Other Directorships: None.

         
Julie A. Hill
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1946)
  Director since 2004  

Principal Occupation: Owner and CEO of The Hill Company, a business consulting firm (since 1998).

 

Other Directorships: Currently serves as director of Anthem, Inc., a health benefits company (since 1994).

         
Kathleen M. Lutito
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1963)
  Director since 2017  

Principal Occupation: President and Chief Investment Officer of CenturyLink Investment Management Company (since 2006).

 

Other Directorships: None.

 

74

 

Basic Information About Management (continued)

 

Name, Address and
Year of Birth
  Current Position and
Length of Service

with the Fund
  Principal Occupation and Other Directorships
During the Past Five Years
James M. McTaggart
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1947)
  Director since 2012  

Principal Occupation: Independent management advisor and consultant (since 2012).

 

Other Directorships: Blyth, Inc., a home products company (2004–2015).

         
Charles O. Prince
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1950)
  Director since 2019  

Principal Occupation: None. Formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup, Inc.

 

Other Directorships: Currently serves as director of Johnson & Johnson (2006–Present). Previously served as director of Xerox Corporation (2008–2018).

         
Karla M. Rabusch
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street.
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1959)
  Director since 2017  

Principal Occupation: President and Director of Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (2003–2017); President of Wells Fargo Funds (2003–2016).

 

Other Directorships: None

         
Mark A. Schmid
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1959)
  Director since 2016  

Principal Occupation: Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the University of Chicago (since 2009).

 

Other Directorships: None.

         
James L.L. Tullis
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC
c/o Legal Dept.
90 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(1947)
  Director since 2006; Chairman since 2017  

Principal Occupation: Chairman of Tullis Health Investors—FL LLC (since 2018); CEO of Tullis-Dickerson and Co. Inc., a venture capital management firm (1990–2016).

 

Other Directorships: Currently serves as director of Crane Co. (since 1998), Alphatec Spine, Inc. (since 2018), and electroCore, Inc. (since 2018).

 

 

 

Officers

None of the officers listed below have received compensation from the Fund. All of the officers of the Fund also may be officers of the other Lord Abbett Funds and maintain offices at 90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Unless otherwise indicated, the position(s) and title(s) listed under the “Principal Occupation During the Past Five Years” column indicate each officer’s position(s) and title(s) with Lord Abbett. Each officer serves for an indefinite term (i.e., until his or her death, resignation, retirement, or removal).

 

Name and
Year of Birth
  Current Position
with the Fund
  Length of Service
of Current
Position
  Principal Occupation
During the Past Five Years
Douglas B. Sieg
(1969)
  President and Chief Executive Officer   Elected as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2018   Managing Partner of Lord Abbett (since 2018) and was formerly Head of Client Services, joined Lord Abbett in 1994.

 

75

 

Basic Information About Management (concluded)

 

Name and
Year of Birth
  Current Position
with the Fund
  Length of Service
of Current
Position
  Principal Occupation
During the Past Five Years
Jackson C. Chan
(1964)
  AML Compliance Officer   Elected in 2018   Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Regulatory Affairs, joined Lord Abbett in 2014.
             
Pamela P. Chen
(1978)
  Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Privacy Officer   Elected as Vice President and Assistant Secretary in 2018 and Privacy Officer in 2019   Associate General Counsel, joined Lord Abbett in 2017 and was formerly Special Counsel at Schulte, Roth & Zabel LLP (2005–2017).
             
John T. Fitzgerald
(1975)
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   Elected in 2018   Deputy General Counsel, joined Lord Abbett in 2018 and was formerly Deputy Head of U.S. Funds Legal, Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase (2005–2018).
             
Vito A. Fronda
(1969)
  Treasurer   Elected in 2018   Partner and Director of Fund Treasury and Tax, joined Lord Abbett in 2003.
             
Bernard J. Grzelak
(1971)
  Chief Financial Officer Vice President   Elected in 2017   Partner and Chief Operating Officer, Global Funds and Risk, joined Lord Abbett in 2003.
             
Linda Y. Kim
(1980)
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   Elected in 2016   Counsel, joined Lord Abbett in 2015.
             
Joseph M. McGill
(1962)
  Chief Compliance Officer   Elected in 2014   Partner and Chief Compliance Officer, joined Lord Abbett in 2014.
             
Amanda S. Ryan
(1978)
  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   Elected in 2018   Counsel, joined Lord Abbett in 2016 and was formerly a Director and Corporate Counsel at PGIM Investments (2012–2016).
             
Lawrence B. Stoller
(1963)
  Vice President, Secretary and Chief Legal Officer   Elected as Vice President and Secretary in 2007 and Chief Legal Officer in 2019   Partner and General Counsel, joined Lord Abbett in 2007.

 

Please call 888-522-2388 for a copy of the statement of additional information, which contains further information about the Fund’s Directors. It is available free upon request.

 

76

 

Approval of Advisory Contract

 

The Board, including all of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund or of Lord Abbett, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Directors”), annually considers whether to approve the continuation of the existing management agreement between the Fund and Lord Abbett (the “Agreement”). In connection with its most recent approval, the Board reviewed materials relating specifically to the Agreement, as well as numerous materials received throughout the course of the year, including information about the Fund’s investment performance compared to the performance of its benchmarks. Before making its decision as to the Fund, the Board had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information, taking into account its knowledge of Lord Abbett gained through its meetings and discussions. These meetings and discussions included reviews of Fund performance conducted by members of the Contract Committee, the deliberations of the Contract Committee, and discussions between the Contract Committee and Lord Abbett’s management. The Independent Directors also met with their independent legal counsel in various private sessions at which no representatives of management were present.

 

The materials received by the Board included, but were not limited to: (1) information provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions (“Broadridge”) regarding the investment performance of the Fund compared to the investment performance of certain funds with similar investment styles as determined by Broadridge, based, in part, on the Fund’s Morningstar category (the “performance peer group”), and the investment performance of two appropriate benchmarks; (2) information provided by Broadridge regarding the expense ratios, contractual and actual management fee rates, and other expense components for the Fund and certain funds in the same Morningstar category, with generally the same or similar share classes and operational characteristics, including asset size (the “expense peer group”); (3) certain supplemental investment performance information provided by Lord Abbett; (4) information provided by Lord Abbett on the expense ratios, management fee rates, and other expense components for the Fund; (5) sales and redemption information for the Fund; (6) information regarding Lord Abbett’s financial condition; (7) an analysis of the relative profitability of the Agreement to Lord Abbett; (8) information provided by Lord Abbett regarding the investment management fee schedules for Lord Abbett’s other advisory clients maintaining accounts with a similar investment strategy as the Fund; and (9) information regarding the personnel and other resources devoted by Lord Abbett to managing the Fund.

 

Investment Management and Related Services Generally. The Board considered the services provided by Lord Abbett to the Fund, including investment research, portfolio management, and trading, and Lord Abbett’s commitment to compliance with all applicable legal requirements. The Board also observed that Lord Abbett was solely engaged in the investment management business and accordingly did not experience the conflicts of interest that may result from being engaged in other lines of business. The Board considered the investment advisory services provided by Lord Abbett to other clients, the fees charged for the services, and the differences in the nature of the services provided to the Fund and other Lord Abbett Funds, on the one hand, and the services provided to other clients, on the other. After reviewing these and related factors, the Board concluded that the Fund was likely to continue to benefit from the nature, extent and quality of the investment services provided by Lord Abbett under the Agreement.

 

Investment Performance. The Board reviewed the Fund’s investment performance in relation to that of the performance peer group and two appropriate benchmarks as of various periods ended June 30, 2019. The Board observed that the Fund’s investment performance was above the median of the performance peer group for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods. The Board further considered Lord Abbett’s performance and reputation generally, the performance of other Lord

 

77

 

Approval of Advisory Contract (continued)

 

Abbett-managed funds overseen by the Board, and the willingness of Lord Abbett to take steps intended to improve performance when appropriate. After reviewing these and related factors, the Board concluded that the Fund’s Agreement should be continued.

 

Lord Abbett’s Personnel and Methods. The Board considered the qualifications of the personnel providing investment management services to the Fund, in light of its investment objective and discipline, and other services provided to the Fund by Lord Abbett. Among other things, the Board considered the size, experience, and turnover of Lord Abbett’s staff, Lord Abbett’s investment methodology and philosophy, and Lord Abbett’s approach to recruiting, training, and retaining personnel.

 

Nature and Quality of Other Services. The Board considered the nature, quality, and extent of compliance, administrative, and other services performed by Lord Abbett and the nature and extent of Lord Abbett’s supervision of third party service providers, including the Fund’s transfer agent and custodian.

 

Expenses. The Board considered the expense level of the Fund, including the contractual and actual management fee rates, and the expense levels of the Fund’s expense peer group. It also considered how the expense level of the Fund related to those of the expense peer group and the amount and nature of the fees paid by shareholders. The Board observed that the net total expense ratio of the Fund was below the median of the expense peer group. After reviewing these and related factors, the Board concluded, within the context of its overall approval of the Agreement, that the management fees paid by, and expense level of, the Fund were reasonable in light of all of the factors it considered and supported the continuation of the Agreement.

 

Profitability. The Board considered the level of Lord Abbett’s operating margin in managing the Fund, including a review of Lord Abbett’s methodology for allocating its costs to its management of the Fund. It considered whether the Fund was profitable to Lord Abbett in connection with the Fund’s operation, including the fee that Lord Abbett receives from the Fund for providing administrative services to the Fund. The Board also considered the profits realized from other business segments of Lord Abbett, which may benefit from or be related to the Fund’s business. The Board considered Lord Abbett’s profit margins excluding Lord Abbett’s marketing and distribution expenses. The Board also considered Lord Abbett’s profit margins, without those exclusions, in comparison with available industry data and how those profit margins could affect Lord Abbett’s ability to recruit and retain personnel. The Board recognized that Lord Abbett’s overall profitability was a factor in enabling it to attract and retain qualified personnel to provide services to the Fund. After reviewing these and related factors, the Board concluded, within the context of its overall approval of the Agreement, that Lord Abbett’s profitability with respect to the Fund was not excessive.

 

Economies of Scale. The Board considered the extent to which there had been economies of scale in managing the Fund, whether the Fund’s shareholders had appropriately benefited from such economies of scale, and whether there was potential for realization of any further economies of scale. The Board concluded that the existing management fee schedule, with its breakpoints in the level of the management fee, adequately addressed any economies of scale in managing the Fund.

 

Other Benefits to Lord Abbett. The Board considered the amount and nature of the fees paid by the Fund and the Fund’s shareholders to Lord Abbett and the Distributor for services other than investment advisory services, such as the fee that Lord Abbett receives from the Fund for providing administrative services to the Fund. The Board also considered the revenues and profitability of Lord Abbett’s investment advisory business apart from its mutual fund business, and the intangible

 

78

 

Approval of Advisory Contract (concluded)

 

benefits enjoyed by Lord Abbett by virtue of its relationship with the Fund. The Board observed that the Distributor receives 12b-1 fees from certain of the Lord Abbett Funds as to shares held in accounts for which there is no other broker of record, may retain a portion of the 12b-1 fees it receives, and receives a portion of the sales charges on sales and redemptions of some classes of shares of the Lord Abbett Funds. In addition, the Board observed that Lord Abbett accrues certain benefits for its business of providing investment advice to clients other than the Lord Abbett Funds, but that business also benefits the Funds. The Board also noted that Lord Abbett, as disclosed in the prospectus of the Fund, has entered into revenue sharing arrangements with certain entities that distribute shares of the Lord Abbett Funds. The Board also took into consideration the investment research that Lord Abbett receives as a result of client brokerage transactions.

 

Alternative Arrangements. The Board considered whether, instead of approving continuation of the Agreement, it might be in the best interests of the Fund to implement one or more alternative arrangements, such as continuing to employ Lord Abbett, but on different terms. After considering all of the relevant factors, the Board unanimously found that continuation of the Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders and voted unanimously to approve the continuation of the Agreement. In considering whether to approve the continuation of the Agreement, the Board did not identify any single factor as paramount or controlling. Individual Directors may have evaluated the information presented differently from one another, giving different weights to various factors. This summary does not discuss in detail all matters considered.

 

79

 

Householding

 

The Fund has adopted a policy that allows it to send only one copy of the Fund’s prospectus, proxy material, annual report and semiannual report to certain shareholders residing at the same “household.” This reduces Fund expenses, which benefits you and other shareholders. If you need additional copies or do not want your mailings to be “householded,” please call Lord Abbett at 888-522-2388 or send a written request with your name, the name of your fund or funds and your account number or numbers to Lord Abbett Family of Funds, P.O. Box 219336, Kansas City, MO 64121.

 

Proxy Voting Policies, Procedures and Records

 

A description of the policies and procedures that Lord Abbett uses to vote proxies related to the Fund’s portfolio securities, and information on how Lord Abbett voted the Fund’s proxies during the 12-month period ended December 31 are available without charge, upon request, (i) by calling 888-522-2388; (ii) on Lord Abbett’s Website at www.lordabbett.com; and (iii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Website at www.sec.gov.

 

Shareholder Reports and Quarterly Portfolio Disclosure

 

The Fund is required to file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for its first and third fiscal quarters as an attachment to Form N-PORT. Copies of the filings are available without charge, upon request on the SEC’s Website at www.sec.gov and may be available by calling Lord Abbett at 888-522-2388.

 

Tax Information

 

2% of the ordinary income distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 is qualified dividend income. For corporate shareholders, 2% of the Fund’s ordinary income distributions qualified for the dividend received deduction.

 

For foreign shareholders, 73% of the net investment income distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 represents interest-related dividends.

 

80

 

 

 

This report, when not used for the general information of shareholders of the Fund, is to be distributed only if preceded or accompanied by a current fund prospectus.        
         
Lord Abbett mutual fund shares are distributed by       LABD-2
LORD ABBETT DISTRIBUTOR LLC.   Lord Abbett Bond-Debenture Fund, Inc.   (2/20)
 
Item 2:Code of Ethics.

 

(a)In accordance with applicable requirements, the Registrant adopted a Sarbanes-Oxley Code of Ethics on June 19, 2003 that applies to the principal executive officer and senior financial officers of the Registrant (“Code of Ethics”). The Code of Ethics was in effect during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Period”).
   
(b)Not applicable.
   
(c)The Registrant has not amended the Code of Ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the Period.
   
(d)The Registrant has not granted any waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics as described in Form N-CSR during the Period.
   
(e)Not applicable.
   
(f)See Item 12(a)(1) concerning the filing of the Code of Ethics.

 

Item 3:Audit Committee Financial Expert.
  
 The Registrant’s board of directors has determined that each of the following independent directors who are members of the audit committee is an audit committee financial expert: Evelyn E. Guernsey, Karla M. Rabusch and Mark A. Schmid. Each of these persons is independent within the meaning of the Form N-CSR.
  
Item 4:Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

In response to sections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Item 4, the aggregate fees billed to the Registrant for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 by the Registrant’s principal accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and their respective affiliates (collectively, “Deloitte”) were as follows:

 

   Fiscal year ended: 
   2019   2018 
Audit Fees {a}   $79,100    $76,800 
Audit-Related Fees   - 0 -    - 0 - 
Total audit and audit-related fees   79,100    76,800 
           
Tax Fees {b}   7,556    12,046 
All Other Fees   - 0 -    - 0 - 
           
Total Fees   $86,656    $88,846 
 
 

 

{a} Consists of fees for audits of the Registrant’s annual financial statements.

 

{b} Fees for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 consist of fees for preparing the U.S. Income Tax Return for Regulated Investment Companies, New Jersey Corporation Business Tax Return, New Jersey Annual Report Form, U.S. Return of Excise Tax on Undistributed Income of Investment Companies, IRS Forms 1099-MISC and 1096 Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns.

 

(e) (1) Pursuant to Rule 2-01(c) (7) of Regulation S-X, the Registrant’s Audit Committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures. Such policies and procedures generally provide that the Audit Committee must pre-approve:

 

·any audit, audit-related, tax, and other services to be provided to the Lord Abbett Funds, including the Registrant, and
·any audit-related, tax, and other services to be provided to the Registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to one or more Funds comprising the Registrant if the engagement relates directly to operations and financial reporting of a Fund, by the independent auditor to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditor’s independence.

 

The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chairman, subject to a fee limit of $10,000 per event, and not to exceed $25,000 annually. The Chairman will report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Unless a type of service to be provided by the independent auditor has received general pre-approval, it must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

 

(e) (2) The Registrant’s Audit Committee has approved 100% of the services described in this Item 4 (b) through (d).

 

(f) Not applicable.

 

(g) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Deloitte for services rendered to the Registrant are shown above in the response to Item 4 (a), (b), (c) and (d) as “All Other Fees”.

 

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Deloitte for services rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (“Lord Abbett”), for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were:

 

   Fiscal year ended: 
   2019  2018
All Other Fees {a}   $215,383    $200,339 
 
 

 

{a} Consist of fees for Independent Services Auditors’ Report on Controls Placed in Operation and Tests of Operating Effectiveness related to Lord Abbett’s Asset Management Services (“SOC-1 Report”).

 

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by Deloitte for services rendered to entities under the common control of Lord Abbett for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were:

   Fiscal year ended: 
   2019  2018
All Other Fees   $ - 0 -    $ - 0- 

 

 

 

(h) The Registrant’s Audit Committee has considered the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01 (c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X and has determined that the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining Deloitte’s independence.

 

Item 5: Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
   
  Not applicable.
   
Item 6: Investments.
   
  Not applicable.
   
Item 7: Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
   
  Not applicable.
   
Item 8: Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
   
  Not applicable.
   
Item 9: Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
   
  Not applicable.
   
Item 10: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
   
  Not applicable.
   
Item 11: Controls and Procedures.
 
(a)Based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and effective to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.
   
(b)There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12:Exhibits.

 

(a)(1)The Lord Abbett Family of Funds Sarbanes Oxley Code of Ethics for the Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers is attached hereto as part of Ex-99. CODEETH.
   
(a)(2)Certification of each Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 is attached hereto as a part of EX-99.CERT.
   
(b)Certification of each Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant as required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is provided as a part of EX-99.906CERT.
 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  LORD ABBETT BOND-DEBENTURE FUND, INC.
             
  By:  /s/ Douglas B. Sieg  
   

Douglas B. Sieg

President and Chief Executive Officer

       
Date: February 26, 2020      
       
  By: /s/ Bernard J. Grzelak  
    Bernard J. Grzelak  
    Chief Financial Officer and Vice President  
       
Date: February 26, 2020      
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

  By:  /s/ Douglas B. Sieg  
    Douglas B. Sieg  
    President and Chief Executive Officer  
       
Date: February 26, 2020      
       
  By: /s/ Bernard J. Grzelak  
    Bernard J. Grzelak  
    Chief Financial Officer and Vice President
       
Date: February 26, 2020